Blizzard Warning Issued for Renville, Nicollet, and Blue Earth Counties Through Wednesday Evening

Source: NOAA · Southwest Minnesota

This alert is no longer in effect.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).

Areazine synthesizes this NWS weather alert directly from NOAA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.

The National Weather Service warns of life-threatening whiteout conditions and 55 mph wind gusts across southwest Minnesota through 6 PM CST.

Read this weather record in 30 seconds

Record type
Blizzard Warning
Affected area
Southwest 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 Southwest Minnesota.

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of southwest Minnesota. The alert is in effect immediately as blizzard conditions are already occurring along the Minnesota River.

Affected Areas

The warning specifically covers the following counties in Minnesota:

  • Renville
  • Nicollet
  • Blue Earth

Blizzard conditions are reported in areas extending from Granite Falls and Olivia to Redwood Falls, New Ulm, and Mankato.

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for the following hazardous conditions:

  • Visibility: Visibilities are remaining less than 1/4 mile in areas along the Minnesota River.
  • Wind: Gusts are reaching between 45 and 55 mph.
  • Snowfall: Additional snow accumulations of up to 3 inches are expected.
  • Impacts: Whiteout conditions are expected to make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Hazardous conditions will specifically impact the Wednesday evening commute. Additionally, gusty winds could bring down tree branches.

What You Should Do

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, ensure you have a winter survival kit with you. If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle. For the latest road conditions in Minnesota, call 5-1-1 or visit 511mn.org.

Timeline

The Blizzard Warning is effective until 6:00 PM CST this evening, Wednesday, February 18. Light to moderate snow is expected to continue resulting in travel impacts throughout the duration of the alert.

Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this NWS weather alert.

What is this NWS weather alert about?
The National Weather Service warns of life-threatening whiteout conditions and 55 mph wind gusts across southwest Minnesota through 6 PM CST.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by NOAA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Southwest Minnesota. Check with NOAA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Weather Alerts updates?
Browse the full Weather Alerts feed on Areazine at areazine.com/weather/ for the latest updates from NOAA and other agencies.