Winter Storm and Blizzard Warnings Issued for Martin, Faribault, and Freeborn Counties
This alert is no longer in effect.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 will bring heavy mixed precipitation followed by blizzard conditions and 55 mph wind gusts to southern Minnesota starting Sunday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Southern Minnesota
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS Twin Cities
Storm notices can cover different combinations of wind, hail, lightning, and rainfall. Use the original notice for the hazards and boundaries attached to this specific record.
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 has issued a Winter Storm Warning followed by a Blizzard Warning for portions of southern Minnesota. This alert sequence addresses a major winter storm on track to bring extreme snow accumulations, ice, and dangerous winds to the region.
Affected Areas
The warnings are in effect for the following geographic regions in Minnesota:
- Martin County
- Faribault County
- Freeborn County
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. Residents should prepare now for potential road closures and infrastructure damage. Delay travel and shelter in place once conditions worsen. For updated road conditions, call 5-1-1 or visit 511mn.org.
Expected Conditions
- Precipitation: During the Winter Storm Warning, heavy mixed precipitation is expected including total snow accumulations up to two inches, sleet accumulations around one-quarter of an inch, and ice accumulations up to one-tenth of an inch. During the Blizzard Warning, additional snow accumulations between 3 and 5 inches are expected.
- Wind: Winds are expected to gust as high as 45 mph during the morning, increasing to 55 mph by Sunday afternoon.
- Impacts: Whiteout conditions are expected, making travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Widespread blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility. The weight of the snow and strength of the winds could cause extensive damage to trees and power lines.
Timeline
- Winter Storm Warning: Effective from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM CDT Sunday, March 15.
- Blizzard Warning: Effective from 1:00 PM Sunday, March 15, to 4:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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