Will Albert Lea see snow this evening?

The National Weather Service forecasts 1 to 2 inches of snow overnight for what’s expected to be the first accumulation of snow for Minnesota. But what Albert Leans mostly can expect today is cold November rain.

A winter weather advisory is in place for several counties on a line from the southwest corner of the state to the Twin Cities and Chisago County — but not Freeborn County.

The weather service says a heavy band of snow will form from near Windom through Mankato and the Twin Cities to Rice Lake, Wis. Light snow is expected in southwestern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa around 3 p.m. today, with rain in Albert Lea and in south central and southeastern Minnesota. Rain is expected in northern Iowa and southern Wisconsin, too.

The heavy band of snow is forecast to develop around 6 p.m. and grow stronger to about 9 p.m.

By midnight, that band will shift over Albert Lea, Rochester and Wabasha but deliver a mix of rain and snow, according to a National Weather Service simulation.

The local forecast for Albert Lea says the snow could start as late as 3 a.m. and last until 7 a.m.

Faribault, Steele and Waseca counties are in the winter weather advisory. Freeborn is just out of it, as are the Iowa counties of Winnebago and Worth.

Faribault, Steele and Waseca counties could see 2 to 4 inches beginning late this afternoon and running through the night.

Places on the band, such as Mankato and Minneapolis, could see 3 to 5 inches of the white stuff.

The high for Wednesday is forecast at 36 degrees. Snow returns to the forecast for Friday morning and again Friday night.