Winter Storm Warning Issued for Northwest Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks, ND, has issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of north central and northwest Minnesota, as well as northeast North Dakota. The alert indicates that hazardous winter weather conditions are likely and travel will be significantly impacted.

Affected Areas

The warning covers a broad geographic area including:

• Minnesota: West Polk, Kittson, Roseau, Lake Of The Woods, West Marshall, East Marshall, North Beltrami, Pennington, Red Lake, East Polk, North Clearwater, and South Beltrami.
• North Dakota: Towner, Cavalier, Pembina, Benson, Ramsey, Eastern Walsh County, Nelson, Grand Forks, and Western Walsh County.

Expected Conditions

Residents should prepare for heavy mixed precipitation and significant winter weather hazards:

• Snow Accumulation: Total snow accumulations are expected between 5 and 10 inches, with locally higher amounts possible.
• Ice Accumulation: A glaze of ice is expected from mixed precipitation.
• Wind Speeds: Wind gusts are forecast to reach as high as 40 mph, causing areas of blowing snow.
• Visibility: Falling and blowing snow will lead to quick and sudden reductions in visibility, particularly in rural areas prone to drifting.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is effective starting at 6:00 PM CST this evening, Tuesday, February 17. The hazardous conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday, with the warning set to expire at 12:00 AM CST on Thursday, February 19. The storm is expected to significantly impact both the Wednesday morning and evening commutes.

What You Should Do

Travel will be very difficult. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.