St. Paul declares snow emergency after 7.6" storm
St. Paul has declared a snow emergency starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, after MSP Airport recorded 7.6 inches of snow — the Twin Cities’ largest snowfall of the season. All signed Night Plow Routes, including downtown and streets marked 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE' or 'NIGHT PLOW ROUTE THIS SIDE OF STREET,' must be clear of parked cars by 9 p.m. Thursday or vehicles will be ticketed and towed; unsigned Day Plow Routes must be clear by 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The snow emergency will remain in effect for 96 hours, through 9 p.m. Feb. 23, and Mayor Kaohly Her has formally suspended her earlier towing moratorium until Feb. 24, warning that this event will bring full ticketing and towing back into play. Her said she won’t "risk relying on unpredictable spring weather" to clear streets after weeks of ice ruts and is counting on plow and ticketing crews to restore passable pavement. Residents who don’t pay attention to the new emergency face a rude awakening in the form of impound bills on top of already‑steep winter costs.
📌 Key Facts
- MSP Airport measured 7.6 inches of snow Wednesday, the largest Twin Cities snowfall of the season.
- St. Paul’s snow emergency begins 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 for Night Plow Routes and 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20 for Day Plow Routes.
- The emergency lasts 96 hours, until 9 p.m. Feb. 23, and the city’s prior towing ban is suspended until Feb. 24 so ticketing and towing will resume for violations.
📊 Relevant Data
The average snowfall for February in Minneapolis is 9.5 inches over 7.3 days, while St. Paul averages 12.3 inches over 3.6 days, meaning a single 7.6-inch storm represents a significant portion of the typical monthly total.
Average Snowfall for Minnesota in February — Current Results
In the Twin Cities, the average number of days per year with snowfall of at least 5 inches is 1.4, and at least 10 inches is 0.3, indicating that storms producing 7.6 inches or more occur roughly once every few years on average.
Minneapolis MN Snowfall Totals & Snow Accumulation Averages — Current Results
The February 2026 snowstorm in the Twin Cities was caused by a deep low-pressure system tracking from north of Omaha, Nebraska, to around Duluth, Minnesota, bringing heavy snow, with additional lake-effect snow enhancement along the North Shore of Lake Superior due to moisture from the warmer lake waters interacting with cold air.
February 2026 Blizzard Freezes Travel Across the North — The Traveler
The Twin Cities average about 4 snowstorms per year, but only 4% of documented storms since 1884 have produced 13 inches or more, suggesting that a 7.6-inch event is relatively common but still significant for the season.
Big, historic Minnesota snowstorm? Yes, it was. — Bring Me The News
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