Willmar, Minnesota – Drivers across western Minnesota could face whiteout conditions and impassable roads within hours Sunday morning as a powerful winter storm drops more than a foot of snow before strong winds trigger blizzard conditions.
According to the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, a Winter Storm Warning begins at 4 p.m. Saturday and continues until 10 a.m. Sunday, followed immediately by a Blizzard Warning from 10 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday across western Minnesota. Counties including Kandiyohi, Renville, Chippewa, Swift, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, and Yellow Medicine are in the core of the storm.
Cities such as Willmar, Montevideo, Benson, Morris, Granite Falls, Glenwood, Madison, and Olivia could see 10 to 15 inches of heavy snow before winds strengthen Sunday morning.
Snowfall rates could reach 2 to 2.5 inches per hour late Saturday night, quickly covering roads including U.S. Highway 12, U.S. Highway 71, and Minnesota Highway 23. By Sunday, northwest winds may increase to 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 45 to 55 mph, blowing snow across open farmland and creating widespread whiteouts.
Southern Minnesota may also experience sleet and freezing rain overnight before changing to snow Sunday morning, increasing the risk of slick roads.
Officials warn that travel may become very difficult or impossible from late Saturday night through Sunday evening. Residents are urged to delay travel, prepare emergency kits, and avoid shoveling heavy snow too quickly due to the strain it can place on the body.
Blizzard conditions may persist through early Monday morning, and additional advisories or road closures are possible as the storm intensifies across the Upper Midwest.
