The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Albert Lea and much of the surrounding area as heavy snow is expected to begin Sunday afternoon and continue through Monday morning.

Six to 9 inches of snow are expected in the warning area, with wind chills as low as 20 below zero.

The Weather Service states conditions will cause significant travel impacts, especially Sunday night through the Monday morning commute, as patchy blowing snow could reduce visibility.

Extremely cold air follows the snowfall with wind chill warnings likely to appear.

According to the weather agency, wind chills are expected to fall to 25 degrees below zero on Monday night and could reach 35 to 55 degrees below zero between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Wind chill values of 30 to 45 degrees below zero are forecasted during the day Wednesday.

The Weather Service states wind chills could cause frostbite to exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes.