Winter Storm Warning Issued for Parts of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin Through Friday Morning
This alert is no longer in effect.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.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for portions of the Upper Midwest as heavy snow and high winds threaten to create hazardous travel conditions through Friday morning.
Read this weather record in 30 seconds
- Record type
- Winter Storm Warning
- Affected area
- Upper Midwest
- Issued
- April 6, 2026
- Issuing authority
- NWS La Crosse WI
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 Upper Midwest.
Alert Details
The National Weather Service in La Crosse, WI, has issued a Winter Storm Warning effective through 9:00 AM CST Friday, February 20. This alert was issued as a band of moderate to heavy snow develops across the region, with snowfall rates expected to exceed 1 inch per hour at times.
Affected Areas
The warning impacts portions of north central and northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and west central Wisconsin. Specific counties included in the alert are:
- Iowa: Howard, Winneshiek, Floyd, and Chickasaw.
- Minnesota: Houston.
- Wisconsin: La Crosse and Vernon.
The NWS indicates that the heaviest snow is forecast to fall in a relatively narrow band, with confidence in the highest amounts centered in far southwest Wisconsin and adjacent areas of northeast Iowa.
Expected Conditions
- Snow Accumulation: Additional snow accumulations between 5 and 7 inches are expected.
- Wind: Winds are forecast to gust as high as 40 mph.
- Snowfall Rates: Heavy snow may fall at rates exceeding 1 inch per hour, quickly leading to snow-covered and slippery roads.
- Impacts: Hazardous conditions are expected to significantly impact the Friday morning commute.
What You Should Do
If you must travel, the National Weather Service advises keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Residents are encouraged to check local road conditions before departing:
- Iowa: Visit 511ia.org
- Minnesota: Visit 511mn.org
- Wisconsin: Visit 511wi.gov
Timeline
The Winter Storm Warning is currently in effect and will remain active until 9:00 AM CST Friday. The snow is expected to last through the overnight hours, departing the region between sunrise and mid-morning on Friday.
Original source: NOAA Official Notice ↗
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