High Wind Warning Issued for Southwest Minnesota and East Central South Dakota
This alert is no longer in effect.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 has issued a High Wind Warning for parts of Minnesota and South Dakota, with gusts up to 60 mph expected through midday Wednesday.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- High Wind Warning
- Affected area
- Southwest Minnesota and East Central South Dakota
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Sioux Falls SD
Wind notices are issued against local thresholds and a defined time window. Confirm both in the original notice before making a current-condition decision.
Record status: historical. It was issued 4 months ago; use the issuing agency's live warning service for current conditions in Southwest Minnesota and East Central South Dakota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a High Wind Warning for portions of southwest Minnesota and east central South Dakota. This alert is issued when sustained winds or frequent gusts are expected to reach speeds that could cause damage or pose a significant safety risk. A Wind Advisory will follow the expiration of the warning.
Affected Areas
The warning and subsequent advisory affect the following regions:
- Minnesota: Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, and Pipestone counties.
- South Dakota: Brookings, Lake, and Moody counties.
What You Should Do
Residents in the affected areas should use extra caution. Winds of this magnitude will make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. It is recommended to secure outdoor objects that could be blown around. Be prepared for the possibility of scattered power outages caused by downed tree branches or limbs.
Expected Conditions
- Wind Speeds: During the High Wind Warning, west winds of 35 to 45 mph are expected, with gusts reaching up to 60 mph.
- Advisory Conditions: During the subsequent Wind Advisory, west winds will range from 30 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph.
- Impacts: Damaging winds are likely to blow down tree branches and unsecured objects. Travel will be hazardous for high-profile vehicles.
Timeline
- High Wind Warning: In effect until 12:00 PM CST today, February 18.
- Wind Advisory: In effect from 12:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST this afternoon, February 18.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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