Twin Cities blizzard cleanup: metro roads mostly clear, MSP back to normal, southern MN still shut down
After a powerful March blizzard that brought narrow, high‑end snow bands and blizzard warnings, Twin Cities road crews have mostly cleared highways—though ramps, bridges, parking lots and sidewalks remain slippery—and MSP is largely back to normal after hundreds of flight cancellations Sunday and short security waits Monday. Southern and southwest Minnesota, however, still face no‑travel advisories, road closures and white‑out/blizzard conditions with southeast Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin seeing 14–20" (southern metro 10–14", northern metro 6–10"), prompting National Guard activation and school and service disruptions.
📌 Key Facts
- An intense spring storm — driven by upper‑level energy that tracked from Russia into the Upper Midwest and a low moving from eastern Colorado into Iowa/Wisconsin that pulled Gulf moisture north — set up a narrow, high‑end “tournament snow” band capable of double‑digit totals; forecasters stressed high track/total uncertainty and said pockets of heavy snow were possible in the greater Twin Cities though the highest odds were in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin.
- The National Weather Service upgraded alerts: winter storm warnings covered the Twin Cities and much of central/southern Minnesota from Saturday evening into early Monday, and blizzard warnings were issued for large portions of southwestern and south‑central Minnesota where white‑out conditions were expected.
- Very heavy snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour occurred in the heaviest bands; final metro totals were roughly 6–10 inches in the northern Twin Cities, 10–14 inches in the southern metro, and 14–20 inches in much of southeast Minnesota and into Wisconsin, with many site reports (e.g., Elko New Market 8", Apple Valley 7.5", MSP 5").
- Timing and impacts: snow began Saturday evening with the heaviest bands Saturday night into Sunday, tapering northwest to southeast Sunday afternoon/evening, but increasing northwest winds maintained blizzard or near‑blizzard conditions into Sunday night and left travel potentially dangerous into Monday.
- State and local officials advised against travel across large parts of southern Minnesota (including I‑90 and corridors near Marshall, Pipestone, Faribault, Owatonna, Rochester and Winona); many southwest and southeast routes remained closed or impassable (Winona County reported Highway 14 near Lewiston as impassable).
- MSP Airport and airlines were heavily impacted Sunday with more than 450 cancellations reported early and hundreds more logged on the airport tracker (roughly 333 canceled arrivals and 360 canceled departures at one point); major carriers (Delta, Sun Country, American, United) issued waivers and rebooking flexibility, and MSP operations were described as largely returning to normal Monday with short security wait times.
- Gov. Tim Walz issued an emergency executive order authorizing the Minnesota National Guard to assist local governments — Steele County had already requested help — citing that local resources would be inadequate for expected public‑safety demands from heavy snow, gusty winds, dangerous travel and possible outages.
- Numerous closures and adjustments followed: Minneapolis Public Schools closed all elementary schools Monday and moved middle/high students to e‑learning; many churches, businesses and medical/childcare clinics closed or shifted to virtual services Sunday; the Minnesota House canceled committee hearings and encouraged remote participation for legislators.
📊 Relevant Data
As of Sunday afternoon during the March 2026 winter storm, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 96 property damage crashes, 4 injury crashes, 15 spinouts, 318 vehicles off the road, and 8 jackknifed semis statewide.
Minnesota weather: Statewide crash numbers during snowstorm — FOX 9
In the February 2026 snowstorm, Minnesota reported 468 property damage crashes from midnight Tuesday through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, with 34 injury crashes.
Over 800 crashes reported across Minnesota, North Dakota after snowstorm — Valley News Live
Upper Midwestern cities have seen the sharpest rise in very warm winter days, with an average of seven more such days now than during the 1970s.
Winter Warming: Fewer Cold Extremes, More Warm Extremes — Climate Central
Even though global warming is causing warmer winters overall, severe winter weather events are still possible — and perhaps even more likely — due to factors like a disrupted polar vortex and increased atmospheric moisture.
How this brutal winter storm is possible with climate change — CNN
NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information will no longer be updating the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product as of 2026, with the last updates covering 1980-2024.
Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters — NCEI - NOAA
📰 Source Timeline (16)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 16, 2026
10:30 AM
Live updates: Minnesota winter storm prompts road, school closures Monday
New information:
- Snow totals are now clearer: northern Twin Cities metro saw about 6–10 inches; southern metro 10–14 inches; southeast Minnesota and Wisconsin 14–20 inches.
- As of early Monday, many southwest Minnesota roads remain closed and southeast Minnesota routes carry 'no travel' advisories due to blowing and drifting snow and white-out conditions.
- Within the Twin Cities, highways are mostly clear with lingering slippery spots on ramps, bridges, parking lots, and sidewalks.
- MSP Airport is described as 'returning to normal' Monday morning after hundreds of cancellations Sunday, with security waits around 5–10 minutes.
- Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth canceled all House committee hearings for Monday because of the storm, while keeping the floor session but encouraging remote participation.
- Winona County reports Highway 14 around Lewiston as impassable, with crosswinds and drifting snow making some roads very difficult to drive and others icy.
March 15, 2026
10:32 PM
Minneapolis closing elementary schools Monday due to winter storm
New information:
- Minneapolis Public Schools have declared a severe weather day for Monday following the weekend blizzard.
- All MPS elementary schools (Pre-K through 5th grade) will be closed Monday with no classes and all MPS-sponsored programs and after-school activities, including adult education, canceled.
- MPS middle and high school students will have an e-learning day Monday, with teachers required to be accessible online and by phone during normal school hours under Minnesota’s e-learning-day rules.
1:14 PM
Live updates: Hundreds of canceled flights at MSP Airport due to winter storm
New information:
- MSP’s own tracker shows 333 canceled arrival flights and 360 canceled departure flights as of about 8:10 a.m. Sunday, with under 130 arrivals and under 100 departures still on time.
- MSP Airport publicly stated around 6 a.m. that airlines had already canceled more than 450 flights to and from MSP for Sunday and warned travelers to check with their carriers.
- Delta, Sun Country, American and United have all issued weather waivers for flights impacted by this specific winter storm system.
11:41 AM
Winter storm: No travel advised in much of southern Minnesota
New information:
- MnDOT is advising no travel on highways and I‑90 in south‑central Minnesota starting at 7 a.m. Sunday due to blowing snow and blizzard conditions.
- A no‑travel advisory has been issued for a swath of southeast Minnesota from Faribault and Owatonna east to Rochester and Winona.
- Additional no‑travel advisories are in place in southwest Minnesota near Pipestone and Marshall, though as of 6:30 a.m. no state highways are formally closed.
- Snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour are possible through mid‑morning, with snow tapering northwest to southeast Sunday afternoon and evening, but increasing northwest winds are expected to maintain blizzard conditions into Sunday night and potentially dangerous travel into Monday.
10:46 AM
Minnesota snow totals so far for March 14-15 winter storm
New information:
- Updated, site‑specific early‑morning snow totals: Elko New Market 8", Apple Valley 7.5", MSP 5", Chanhassen 5", Prior Lake 5", St. Paul 3.4".
- Confirmation that heavy snow bands with 2–3" per hour rates are occurring and expanding into western Wisconsin Sunday morning.
- Clarification that snow is expected to taper from northwest to southeast Sunday afternoon and evening, giving a rough end‑window for the blizzard impacts.
10:16 AM
Live updates on Minnesota winter storm: White-out conditions in some areas
New information:
- National Weather Service early-Sunday observations show 5 inches of snow at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport and 5 inches in Chanhassen.
- Heavy snow bands with 2–3 inches per hour have developed across southern Minnesota and are expanding into western Wisconsin Sunday morning.
- Authorities are explicitly urging no travel in parts of southwestern Minnesota (near Marshall) and southeastern Minnesota (near Owatonna, Faribault, Rochester) due to white-out conditions, with widespread snow-covered roads and reduced visibility expected through much of Sunday.
- Blizzard warning remains in effect Sunday, with northwest winds expected to increase and maintain blizzard conditions into Sunday night even as snow tapers from northwest to southeast.
1:45 AM
Live updates: Churches, businesses closing in Twin Cities due to winter storm
New information:
- Confirms numerous Sunday closures tied to the storm, including Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis and Como Zoo in St. Paul.
- Lists specific medical and childcare-related closures/delays, such as Wayzata Children's Clinic and Children's Minnesota's Partners in Pediatrics clinic in Maple Grove.
- Details multiple church closures and shifts to virtual services around the metro (e.g., Calvin Presbyterian, Messiah Lutheran Lakeville, Mount Olive Anoka, Farmington Lutheran, Christ Lutheran Lake Elmo).
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