An early spring storm system has signated a winter storm warning for this area and is expected to dump as much as 10 inches of snow in some areas beginning this evening and extending into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Portions of southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and far southwest Wisconsin will experience heavy snow, making travel difficult. Visibility will also be reduced in the snow. The warning begins at 7 p.m. and will end at noon on Saturday.

The system will start with rain this afternoon and transition to snow in the early evening hours. Hourly snow rates of 1 to 2 inches are expected during this time frame. Five to 8 inches of snow, with as much as 10 inches in some areas, are expected south of Dodge Center, and extending southeast, to Dubuque, Iowa. There will be a sharp decrease in the snow amounts north and east of that line. Any shift in the storm track will have a large impact on the location of the heaviest snowfall, according to the NWS.

The combination of gusty winds and the heavy, wet snow could lead to minor tree damage.