Winter Storm Warning Issued for Twin Cities Metro and Central Minnesota

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued a Winter Storm Warning for a powerful weather system expected to bring extreme snow accumulations and blizzard conditions to the region. The alert is classified as a severe threat with likely certainty.

Affected Areas

The warning covers several counties in central Minnesota and the Twin Cities metropolitan area, including:

• Stearns
• Sherburne
• Wright
• Hennepin
• Anoka
• Ramsey
• Washington
• Carver

What You Should Do

Residents are advised that travel may become very difficult to impossible starting late Saturday night. If you must travel, the NWS recommends keeping an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle for emergencies. For the latest road conditions, call 5-1-1 or visit 511mn.org. Additionally, the heavy, wet nature of the snow poses a health hazard for those shoveling and may cause infrastructure damage.

Expected Conditions

• Snowfall: Total accumulations between 10 and 18 inches are expected. Some areas may see rates of 2 inches per hour on Saturday night.
• Wind: Northeast winds of 20 to 30 mph will shift to the northwest on Sunday, with gusts reaching 35 to 45 mph.
• Visibility: Widespread blowing snow will significantly reduce visibility, creating periods of blizzard conditions on Sunday.
• Snow Type: The snow will be wet and very heavy due to high water content.

Timeline

The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 7:00 PM CDT Saturday, March 14, through 7:00 AM CDT Monday, March 16. The heaviest snowfall is expected Saturday evening and overnight, with hazardous conditions impacting the Monday morning commute.