UPDATED: NWS issues blizzard warning for Beltrami County
A blizzard warning has been issued for Beltrami County by the National Weather Service.
The warning is expected to stay in effect until 3 a.m. Friday.
The first of the two expected snowstorms meandered its way into the area Thursday bringing freezing rain and light snow for a little bit Thursday morning before letting up for a couple of hours. The snow started again around the noon hour.
A second, stronger storm has the potential of brining blizzard-like conditions, according to the NWS. That storm is expected to arrive Friday afternoon and last through Saturday morning.
The Bemidji area did not receive snow accumulation Wednesday night, however, 3-5 inches of snow fell north of Minot, N.D., to Grafton, N.D., to Roseau, Minn.
"The weather pattern for (Thursday) remains very complex," the NWS stated on its website.
As much as 5-8 inches of snow was expected with the first snow, throughout the region. The Beltrami County Office of Emergency Management said the first snowstorm could bring 4-8 inches of snow to the area.
The second, more powerful storm could bring heavy snow and high winds, creating blizzard conditions.
"This system is a perfect track to bring snow to eastern North Dakota and most of northwest and west central Minnesota," the NWS said.
