'Avoid Non-Essential Travel' As Heavy Snow And Blizzard Conditions Slam Minnesota

MINNESOTA — A powerful storm is slamming Minnesota Tuesday night with heavy snow, rapidly deteriorating roads, and wind gusts approaching 50 mph. A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for most of central and southern Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, through 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Rain has already transitioned to snow from west to east, with snowfall rates approaching 1 inch per hour in the heaviest band north of Interstate 94. Intense northwesterly winds are combining with the falling snow to produce blowing snow, whiteouts, and hazardous travel conditions across the state.

Travel Already Impacted

Troopers in western Minnesota report multiple jackknifed semis and pileups on Interstate 94 near Moorhead and Downer, with westbound lanes blocked at times Tuesday afternoon. No life-threatening injuries were reported, but traffic has been diverted around several crash scenes.

Road cameras show near-zero visibility in portions of west-central Minnesota as winds pick up and temperatures fall.

How Much Snow

Forecast totals vary sharply from south to north:

• Twin Cities: 3 to 6 inches expected, with a low-end of 2 inches and a high-end potential near 7 inches.
• Cambridge / St. Cloud corridor: 5 to 8 inches likely, with locally higher totals.
• Brainerd / Hinckley / Rice Lake: 7 to 12 inches possible.
• Southern Minnesota (Mankato, Albert Lea, Fairmont): 1 to 4 inches.

Probability guidance shows a 94 percent chance the Twin Cities exceeds 1 inch, a 62 percent chance of topping 4 inches, and a 28 percent chance of more than 6 inches.

Wind Gusts 40–50 MPH

NWS wind-gust forecasts show widespread 40 to 45 mph gusts across the Twin Cities overnight, with higher gusts west of the metro. The combination of heavy snow and strong winds will create brief whiteout periods, especially where snowfall rates spike.

Timing: Worst Conditions Tuesday Night

Tonight: Snow becomes heavy after 10 p.m. in the metro, with widespread blowing snow.
Overnight: Visibility will drop significantly as winds peak.
Wednesday Morning: A chance of light snow before 7 a.m., with blowing snow lingering and travel impacts continuing for the morning commute.

MSP Airport reported 38 degrees and fog earlier Tuesday evening as the transition began. Temperatures will fall into the mid-20s overnight as snow intensifies.

Advisories And Warnings

• Winter Storm Warning: Most of central and southern Minnesota, including Minneapolis–St. Paul.
• Winter Weather Advisory: Far southern Minnesota and parts of western Wisconsin.
• Wind Advisory: Along the I-90 corridor into Wednesday morning.

NWS Message To Drivers

The National Weather Service continues to urge Minnesotans to avoid non-essential travel once snow begins, especially north of I-94 where the heaviest band is setting up. Motorists should expect sudden drops in visibility and rapidly worsening road conditions.

Here's the full NWS forecast from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport:

Tonight: Snow, possibly mixed with rain, becoming all snow after 10pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Widespread blowing snow, mainly between 11pm and 5am. Low around 26. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches possible.

Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly before 7am. Areas of blowing snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Wednesday Night: Patchy blowing snow before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 20. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thanksgiving Day: Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind around 15 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 25. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Snow likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 19. East southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday: Snow likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 25. East wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 10. Northwest wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 17. West northwest wind around 10 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 2. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 15. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 1. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 16. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.