Blizzard conditions, 2–3"/hr snow possible as weekend storm hits metro
A potent March winter storm will impact the Twin Cities this weekend, with NWS winter storm warnings in effect Saturday evening through Monday morning and blizzard warnings just outside the metro; travel is expected to become very difficult to impossible late Saturday night into Sunday. Forecasts call for heavy, wet snow — including localized rates of 2–3 inches per hour and narrow spring bands that could produce double‑digit totals (highest odds in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin) — prompting airline waivers and cancellations at MSP and Gov. Walz to authorize the National Guard for storm response.
📌 Key Facts
- A March storm driven by upper‑level energy will drop a low from eastern Colorado into Iowa/Wisconsin, pulling Gulf moisture north and setting up a classic narrow, high‑end “tournament snow” band that can produce double‑digit totals; highest odds for 18"+ are southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin, with pockets of heavy snow possible in the greater Twin Cities.
- The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Twin Cities metro from 4 p.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Monday, and adjacent blizzard warnings for much of southwestern and south‑central Minnesota where white‑out conditions are possible; NWS warns travel could become “very difficult or impossible” late Saturday night into Sunday.
- NWS warns snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour are possible in the heaviest band, with some locations receiving over a foot of heavy, wet snow in the bullseye.
- Timing and impacts: snow should begin Saturday evening near sunset, with the heaviest bands and gusty east winds Saturday night into Sunday (blowing snow), tapering by Sunday evening but with difficult travel potentially lingering into Monday morning and bitter cold afterward.
- Forecasters emphasize high uncertainty in the storm track and phasing typical of March systems, meaning exact county totals may not be knowable until just hours before onset; residents are urged to focus on timing and travel risk rather than early totals maps.
- Air travel disruptions are already underway: MSP reported many cancellations (e.g., 35 departures and 31 arrivals canceled as of early Saturday), and multiple carriers (Delta, Sun Country, American, United) have issued travel waivers; Sun Country is offering one‑time free rebooking for tickets to/from Minneapolis and certain Wisconsin cities scheduled for Sunday, March 15 if purchased before March 12.
- State response: Gov. Tim Walz issued an emergency executive order authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to assist local governments (the order says local resources are inadequate); Steele County has requested Guard help and more counties are expected to seek assistance as the storm unfolds.
📊 Relevant Data
Climate change is contributing to more intense snowstorms in Minnesota by allowing warmer air to hold more moisture, leading to heavier snowfall in individual events.
How climate change supercharged a routine clipper into a Minnesota snowstorm — Bring Me The News
In a February 2026 winter storm, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 409 crashes, 25 injury crashes, and 316 vehicles off the road, highlighting travel risks from snowy conditions.
MN winter weather whiplash: 409 crashes in Minnesota storm — FOX 9
Climate projections indicate that by mid-century, the number of days per year with a snow cover depth greater than 1 inch is expected to decline by 12 days in Minnesota due to warming trends.
Climate Change in Minnesota — University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership
Of the 25 largest snowstorms on record in the Twin Cities from 1884-2025, seven occurred in March, which is more than any other month.
Top 25 Snowfalls in the Twin Cities: 1884-2025 — Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
📰 Source Timeline (9)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 14, 2026
12:34 PM
MN winter storm live updates: Heavy snow later Saturday, dangerous travel possible
New information:
- National Weather Service is now explicitly warning that snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour are possible in this storm.
- The heaviest snow band is expected to set up over southern Minnesota, near the Twin Cities, and into Wisconsin.
- A formal blizzard warning has been issued for portions of western and southern Minnesota, with the NWS saying travel could be difficult to nearly impossible by early Sunday morning.
12:33 PM
Minnesota weather: What to expect with this weekend's winter storm
New information:
- More concrete timeline for the Twin Cities: cloudy and seasonable Saturday with flakes arriving near sunset, heavy snow and gusty east winds Saturday night, blowing snow and heavy snow Sunday tapering by evening, and bitter cold with lingering difficult travel Monday.
- FOX 9 reiterates that the storm could be the biggest of the season, emphasizing the potential for 2–3 inches per hour and some locations over a foot of heavy wet snow, with the heaviest band focused on southern Minnesota, near the Twin Cities, and into Wisconsin.
- Specific NWS alert window for the metro: winter storm warning from 4 p.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Monday, with an adjacent blizzard warning area in southwest and south‑central Minnesota expected to see white‑out conditions.
11:34 AM
Walz authorizes National Guard to help with snow storm
New information:
- Gov. Tim Walz has issued an emergency executive order authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to support local governments during this weekend’s winter storm.
- The order explicitly states that local and county government resources are 'inadequate' to meet expected public-safety demands from heavy snow, gusty winds, dangerous travel and potential power outages.
- Steele County has already formally requested Guard assistance, and the order anticipates additional counties will likely seek help as the widespread storm unfolds.
- The National Weather Service has a winter storm warning in effect for the Twin Cities metro from 4 p.m. Saturday through 4 a.m. Monday, with a blizzard warning just outside the metro in much of southwestern and south‑central Minnesota.
10:51 AM
Live updates: Canceled flights at MSP Airport due to winter storm
New information:
- As of 5:40 a.m. Saturday, MSP reports 35 departures and 31 arrivals already canceled.
- MSP’s website is explicitly warning that some airlines are proactively canceling flights and offering waivers due to the storm.
- Delta, Sun Country, American Airlines, and United Airlines have all issued travel waivers for flights affected by the current winter storm.
March 13, 2026
5:57 PM
MN weather: Biggest snow storm of season coming Saturday-Sunday
New information:
- FOX 9 now characterizes this as likely the biggest snow of the season for Minnesota, including the Twin Cities.
- Confirms a winter storm watch and winter storm warning go into effect for the Twin Cities and much of Minnesota at 7 p.m. Saturday and run through Monday due to lingering travel impacts.
- Details the expected timing: snow starting Saturday evening, heaviest bands Saturday night into Sunday, with conditions improving Sunday afternoon but difficult travel potentially continuing into Monday morning.
- Notes that a classic narrow spring band could produce double‑digit totals, with current highest odds for 18"+ in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin, while 'pockets of heavy snow' are explicitly possible in the greater Twin Cities as the storm intensifies Sunday morning.
- Reiterates high forecast uncertainty typical of a March storm track and stresses that exact totals may not be knowable until just hours before onset.
5:06 PM
Live updates on MN winter storm: Airport conditions
New information:
- Delta Air Lines has issued weather waivers allowing customers affected by the Minnesota/Upper Midwest winter storm to reschedule flights without normal penalties.
- Sun Country Airlines is allowing one‑time free rebooking for tickets to or from Minneapolis and several Wisconsin cities (Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton) where the original trip was scheduled for Sunday, March 15 and tickets were bought before March 12.
- The article frames these airline actions as advance preparation for a winter storm expected to make travel 'very difficult or impossible' late Saturday night into Sunday under the existing NWS winter storm warning.
3:00 PM
MN weather: Winter storm warning issued; dangerous travel conditions possible this weekend
New information:
- The National Weather Service has upgraded from a winter storm watch to a winter storm warning for the Twin Cities and a broad swath of central and southern Minnesota.
- Warning is in effect from 7 p.m. Saturday to 7 a.m. Monday, explicitly covering the bulk of the storm and Monday morning commute risk.
- NWS language now states travel is expected to become 'very difficult or impossible' late Saturday night and Sunday due to heavy snow.
- Storm setup is described in more detail: an upper‑level energy packet that originated over Russia, dropping into the Upper Midwest and spawning a low tracking from eastern Colorado into Iowa/Wisconsin, pulling Gulf moisture north.
- Forecasters reiterate that this is a March "tournament snow" system with a narrow, high‑end band that can produce double‑digit totals, with the most likely bullseye in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin but with potential heavy pockets in the greater Twin Cities as the low intensifies early Sunday.
- Meteorologists emphasize high uncertainty in exact track and totals until just hours before onset, warning residents to focus on timing and travel risk rather than fixating on early snow‑amount maps.
1:15 PM
MN weather: Weekend will bring heavy snow to parts of Minnesota
New information:
- Forecasters now say the storm setup is one that 'often brings double‑digit totals' in the heaviest snow band.
- Current highest likelihood for those double‑digit amounts is southeast Minnesota into southwest Wisconsin, but pockets of heavy snow are possible in the greater Twin Cities as the low intensifies early Sunday.
- FOX 9 stresses that the track and exact phasing remain highly uncertain for a March storm, meaning snow totals for any given county can’t be nailed down until just hours before onset.
March 12, 2026