High Wind Warning Issued for Twin Cities Metro and Central Minnesota Through Friday Morning

Source: NOAA · Central and Southern Minnesota

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The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning for central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with gusts up to 60 mph expected to cause potential power outages.

What this NWS weather alert tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by NOAA on March 26, 2026 and geographically references Central and Southern Minnesota. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Weather Alerts — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly NOAA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized NWS weather alert is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (weather, alert, HighWindWarning, Minnesota) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Alert Details

A High Wind Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN. This alert is currently in effect and remains active until 10:00 AM CDT on Friday, March 13, 2026.

Affected Areas

The warning impacts the following counties in Minnesota:

  • Morrison
  • Benton
  • Sherburne
  • Wright
  • Hennepin
  • Anoka
  • Ramsey
  • Washington
  • Carver
  • Scott
  • Dakota
  • Le Sueur
  • Rice
  • Goodhue
  • Steele

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are urged to take the following actions:

  • Secure loose outdoor objects that could be blown around or damaged by the wind.
  • Exercise caution while traveling, particularly if operating high-profile vehicles, as the wind will make driving difficult.
  • Prepare for the possibility of power outages due to downed lines.

Expected Conditions

  • Wind Speed: Sustained northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected.
  • Wind Gusts: Peak gusts may reach up to 60 mph.
  • Hazardous Impacts: Damaging winds are capable of blowing down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible across the affected region.

Timeline

The High Wind Warning is effective immediately and is expected to conclude at 10:00 AM CDT on Friday, March 13, 2026.

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 has issued a High Wind Warning for central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, with gusts up to 60 mph expected to cause potential power outages.
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 Central and Southern 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.