Winter Storm 'Draco' Should Bypass Burnsville

This time, it looks like Burnsville will dodge the weather bullet.

Winter storm Draco, now howling through the Rockies, will hit the Midwest today through Thursday, bringing up to a foot of snow in parts of Iowa and Wisconsin and gusts of wind up to 35 mph. Dakota County, however, should see only the faintest edge of the passing storm, with a few snow showers today, cloudy skies Wednesday and moderately strong winds of about 20 mph Thursday. The National Weather Service in Chanhassen advises that travel in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and the Dakotas could become dangerous or even life threatening as the remains of the freezing hurricane sweep through the region.  

The system will pass to the east by Thursday evening, and skies are expected to be sunny for the last weekend of holiday shopping.

Temperatures will remain below the freezing point through Dec. 25, however. Dakota County residents can therefore be assured of a white Christmas. And more snow flurries are expected to begin Dec. 26.

"Draco" is the fourth system to be given a name since the Weather Channel began giving strong winter storms official titles in October.