Blizzard Warning Issued for West Central Minnesota: Up to 15 Inches of Snow and 45 MPH Gusts Expected
This alert is no longer in effect.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.
A major winter storm will bring heavy snow and blizzard conditions to west central Minnesota, with travel expected to become impossible by Sunday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Blizzard Warning
- Affected area
- West Central 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 West Central Minnesota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN has issued a Blizzard Warning for west central Minnesota. This follows an initial Winter Storm Warning as a powerful system moves through the Upper Midwest, bringing extreme snow accumulations and dangerous wind speeds.
Affected Areas
The following Minnesota counties are under the warning:
- Stevens
- Pope
- Lac Qui Parle
- Swift
- Chippewa
- Kandiyohi
- Yellow Medicine
- Renville
Expected Conditions
A major winter storm is on track to deliver significant hazards to the region:
- Snowfall: Total snow accumulations between 10 and 15 inches are expected. Snowfall rates may reach 2 to 2.5 inches per hour late tonight.
- Winds: Wind gusts will reach up to 35 mph during the initial storm phase, increasing to 45 mph during the blizzard phase on Sunday.
- Visibility: Whiteout conditions are expected due to the combination of falling and blowing snow, making travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening.
- Infrastructure: The high water content will make the snow very heavy, leading to potential infrastructure damage and health hazards for those shoveling.
Timeline
- Winter Storm Warning: In effect from 4:00 PM Saturday, March 14, until 10:00 AM CDT Sunday, March 15.
- Blizzard Warning: In effect from 10:00 AM Sunday, March 15, until 4:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16.
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 should prepare now for potential road closures and shelter in place once conditions worsen. For updated road conditions, call 5 1 1 or visit 511mn.org.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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