Winter Storm and Blizzard Warnings Issued for Meeker and McLeod 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This alert is no longer in effect.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 is forecast to bring up to 15 inches of snow and blizzard conditions to central Minnesota, making travel impossible through Monday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Central 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 Central Minnesota.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued a Winter Storm Warning and a subsequent Blizzard Warning for Meeker and McLeod counties. The Winter Storm Warning is effective from 4:00 PM Saturday, March 14, through 10:00 AM Sunday, March 15. A Blizzard Warning will follow immediately, lasting until 4:00 AM Monday, March 16.
Affected Areas
This alert specifically covers Meeker and McLeod counties in Minnesota. The broader storm system is expected to impact central Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
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 and call 511 or visit 511mn.org for road conditions. Residents should prepare for potential road closures and shelter in place once conditions worsen. Note that if interstate highways are closed, state and county roads will also be impassable.
Expected Conditions
- Snowfall: Heavy snow is expected with rates of 2 to 2.5 inches per hour likely late Saturday night. Total accumulations between 11 and 15 inches are forecast for the warned area, though some parts of central Minnesota may see up to 18 inches.
- Wintry Mix: A mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet is expected tonight before transitioning to all snow Sunday morning.
- Wind and Visibility: Northwest winds will increase to 30 to 40 mph on Sunday, with gusts as high as 45 to 55 mph possible. This will create whiteout conditions and significant blowing snow.
- Impacts: Travel is expected to be very difficult to impossible. The heavy water content of the snow may lead to infrastructure damage and poses a health hazard for those shoveling.
Timeline
- Winter Storm Warning: 4:00 PM Saturday to 10:00 AM Sunday.
- Blizzard Warning: 10:00 AM Sunday to 4:00 AM Monday.
- Peak Impact: Conditions are expected to deteriorate late Saturday night, with blizzard conditions persisting through Sunday evening.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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