It looks like Mother Nature plans to dump heavy snowfall on much of central Minnesota. The National Weather Service map for the state looks like a skunk’s back.

From Moorhead through Fergus Falls and St. Cloud to Cambridge and Center City, there is a winter storm warning in effect until 3 p.m. For the one or two tier of counties north and south of that band, there is a winter weather advisory in effect until 3 p.m. That includes places such as Ada, Brainerd, Hinckley, Morris, Willmar and the Twin Cities.

Albert Lea is in the clear of that mess, but snow is forecast nevertheless. It seems the Albert Lea area will get the peripheral weather from that system — most notably the wind.

There is a 50 percent chance of snow for today, with an accumulation of less than 1 inch, according to the National Weather Service. It will be blustery, with a north northwest wind between 13 and 23 mph, with gusts of up to 32 mph. The high will be 25 degrees. The snow will taper off tonight, but the winds will continue late, with wind chill possibly reaching 16 below.

Wednesday should be sunny, the forecast says, with a calmer wind of 5 to 9 mph.

More snow and wind is forecast for New Year’s Day in the Albert Lea area.

The wind will pick up New Year’s Eve, 9 to 18 mph, with gusts up to 26 mph. The National Weather Service calls for a 50 percent chance of snow Thursday with a south southeast wind of 17 to 20 mph, becoming a westerly wind. Gusts might reach as high as 26 mph.

Anyone headed north can expect some wintry weather. The Fergus Falls area can expect 4 to 6 inches of snow beginning late tonight and carrying on through Tuesday afternoon, said meteorologist Amanda Homann.

Temperatures will likely remain above zero tonight, with an overnight low of 7 degrees.

Winds are expected to pick up Tuesday afternoon after the snowfall dies down, with gusts of up to 18 mph. Tuesday night temperatures will dip down below zero, with lows expected around -9 degrees and wind chills around -19 degrees.