UPDATE 9:45 a.m. Sunday: Snow's Done, Plows Out

UPDATE 9:45 a.m. Sunday: Snow plows were out in force Sunday morning to clear the several inches of snow that fell on Apple Valley and the rest of the metropolitan area Saturday and early Sunday.

An email from the City of Apple Valley says plow crews were dispatched at 2:30 a.m. to begin the task of clearing streets. Major streets and roads would be dealt with first, followed by collector streets and then residential streets.

Plowing should be complete by 11:30 a.m., the email says.

The National Weather Service in Chanhassen said the metropolitan area received four inches of snow during this weekend's storm system.

It might be the only white stuff we see for a while, though. No snow is in the forecast through Thursday night, when there is a chance for flurries.

Today's forecast calls for cloud skies and a high near 28.

For the updated weather service forecast for Apple Valley, click here.

______________________________

UPDATE 5 p.m. Saturday: As predicted by the National Weather Service, snow arrived in Apple Valley this afternoon. And with the snow came hazardous roads.

Late this afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Transportation—on its www.511mn.org website—was reporting "difficult driving conditions" through the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Interstates 35, 35W and 35E through Dakota County, as well as Cedar Avenue through Apple Valley, were hazardous because of the accumulating snow.

The weather services says snow—heavy at times—will continue in Apple Valley through today and into the early morning hours of Sunday. Up to four inches is possible overnight, on top of the snow received this afternoon.

Apple Valley and the rest of the southern metro is under a winter weather advisory.

The forecast looks more promising for Sunday, with sunshine after a cloudy start. The high will be near 28.

For the updated weather service forecast for Apple Valley, click here.

______________________________

UPDATE 9 a.m. Saturday: Apple Valley could receive as much as several inches of snow on Saturday.

In its Saturday morning forecast, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Apple Valley and rest of Dakota County for this afternoon and tonight.

The weather service is calling for snow to arrive after noon today and accumulate about an inch before nightfall. Tonight, snow is expected to become heavy at times. Before the white stuff stops falling in the wee hours of Sunday, we could get another two to four inches.

Whatever amount of snow we pick up today, by careful out there. Slow down if you head out on the roads and observe snow driving tips found here.

______________________________

If you have errands to run on Saturday, it might be wise to do so in the morning.

Snow appears to be on its way to Apple Valley, and there is the possibility we might see a couple of inches of the white stuff on the ground before it’s all over late tomorrow night.

How much we could get isn't certain, however.

Throughout the day Friday, the National Weather Service updated its snow total for Apple Valley and the rest of Dakota County. It began the day calling for less than an inch for the entirety of Saturday.

But by late this afternoon, the weather service predicted less than an inch during the daytime hours Saturday, then another one to three inches before the snow-producing system moves out of the area after midnight.

On the KSTP-TV website, meteorologist Patrick Hammer echoed the prediction made by the weather service Friday afternoon by calling for two to three inches of snow for the southern metropolitan area.

Considering the uncertainty of the coming storm front, the weather service’s forecast could change again before the flakes start falling tomorrow.

As of late Friday afternoon, it appeared Apple Valley would just miss the brunt of this weekend’s weather system. Dakota County’s neighbor to the south, Rice County, was under a winter storm watch.

The weather service’s forecast for Northfield, about 30 miles south of Apple Valley, was calling for three to six inches of snow between 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday.

Partly sunny skies are expected to return Sunday, with a high neear 30.