By Albert Lea Tribune and Associated Press

March is promising to go out like a lion as a storm front bearing heavy snow and high winds moved into Minnesota.

Forecasts this morning called for accumulations of up to 8 inches in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota, and 3 to 6 inches in Duluth and other parts of northern Minnesota.

Snow is already falling this morning in western Minnesota, and the system was expected to hit the Twin Cities between 8 and 10 a.m. Temperatures are supposed to reach the mid-30s, meaning the snow will be the wet, heavy stuff.

In Albert Lea, a mix of rain and snow is expected. Probably, it will rain until it turns to snow tonight. The National Weather Services calls for sleet, and it says the possible snow accumulation for Albert Lea is 1 to 3 inches.

Lows for Albert Lea will be in the mid-20s with winds north at 14 to 17 mph, according to KIMT forecasters.

There was light rain falling as of 8 a.m. this morning. There were winds from the east at 13 mph at the Albert Lea Municipal Airport. The air temperature was 37 degrees.

The National Weather Service this morning had Albert Lea in a winter weather advisory, while much of the state as far north as St. Cloud was in a heavy snow warning. The warning included Blue Earth, Waseca and Faribault counties.

Blue Earth, the seat of Faribault County, was expected to get between 3 and 5 inches. The same was forecast for Mankato.

The heavy snow warning stretched eastward to Menomomie, Wis.

On Easter weekend, when a snowstorm was forecast as being a major storm, the result was less than what had been predicted. The snow fell and soon melted.