Blizzard Warning Issued for Martin, Faribault, and Freeborn Counties Through Monday Morning
This alert is no longer in effect.
NOAA issued it on April 6, 2026, 4 months ago. Warnings of this kind stay in effect for hours to a few days, so this page is a historical record of what was issued, not a current warning. For conditions where you are right now, check weather.gov (US), weather.gc.ca (Canada), the Met Office (UK), or the Bureau of Meteorology (Australia).
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A powerful winter storm is expected to bring blizzard conditions, heavy mixed precipitation, and wind gusts up to 55 mph to southern Minnesota, making travel potentially life-threatening.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Blizzard Warning
- Affected area
- Southern Minnesota
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Twin Cities
Winter notices differ by expected impact and timing. The original notice carries the forecast window and any travel guidance for the named area.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southern Minnesota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN has issued a Blizzard Warning and a Winter Storm Warning for southern Minnesota. The alert is classified as an extreme severity event with likely certainty.
Affected Areas
The warning specifically impacts the following counties in Minnesota:
- Martin
- Faribault
- Freeborn
What You Should Do
Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit in your vehicle. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. Residents are urged to prepare for potential road closures and to shelter in place once conditions worsen. If interstate highways are closed, assume state and county roads are also impassable. For updated road conditions, call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org.
Expected Conditions
Conditions will begin with a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet. Expected accumulations include:
- Ice: Up to one-tenth of an inch.
- Sleet: Approximately one-quarter of an inch.
- Snow: Total accumulations between 3 and 5 inches during the blizzard phase, following initial mixed precipitation.
- Wind: Northwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching up to 55 mph.
These conditions will create whiteout visibility and treacherous, potentially life-threatening travel. The heavy water content of the snow may also lead to infrastructure damage and health hazards during snow removal.
Timeline
- Winter Storm Warning: In effect from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT Sunday.
- Blizzard Warning: In effect from 1:00 PM Sunday to 4:00 AM CDT Monday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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