Sleet, snow forecast for tonight

There’s going to be snow. And rain. And sleet. And cold. But it’s the wind that will remind Albert Leans it still is December.

A band of freezing rain is expected to turn to snow through much of western and central Minnesota, prompting the National Weather Service to issue freezing rain advisories, winter storm warnings and hazardous weather outlooks throughout those portions of the state.

Meanwhile, not-so-nice weather is on its way for Freeborn County, too.  The area remained in a dense fog advisory until noon today, with a high reaching 47 degrees. The afternoon was forecast to bring between a quarter and a half inch of rain.

Tonight, that precipitation could turn to snow but with the possibility of getting freezing rain and sleet. The low tonight is forecast at 23 by the weather service. The nighttime is expected to have a blustery northwest wind of 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 and 25 mph, with gusts hitting 35. The amount of snow accumulated overnight is predicted to be less than a half inch.

Tuesday looks to be windy and sunny, with temperatures falling to 21 by 5 p.m. Highs throughout the week are expected to be in the 20s until Saturday, when the mercury could climb to 30.

Will there be a white Christmas? The climatologists with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources have done some calculations for key cities throughout the state.

They found that Albert Lea has a 69 percent likelihood of having at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, based on 45 years of record-keeping. There is a 33 percent probability for 5 inches and 16 percent for 10 inches.

Austin’s percentages were 67 for 1 inch, 29 for 5 inches and 13 for 10 inches, with 52 years of record-keeping.

Not all cities were listed. Here are some others: Wells was at 72, 28 and 14. Fairmont 76, 29, 12. Bricelyn 71, 25, 12. Faribault 78, 33, 17. Grand Meadow 75, 50, 30. Harmony 76, 41, 24. International Falls 97, 73, 43. Lake City 59, 27, 14. Lanesboro 73, 34, 17. Owatonna 71, 29, 17. Roseau 100, 66, 31. St. Paul 80, 36, 20. Winona 78, 34, 7. Worthington 76, 24, 14.