Mankato, Minnesota – Roads across southern Minnesota could turn icy and nearly impassable tonight as a powerful winter storm delivers freezing rain, sleet, and heavy snow before blizzard conditions develop Sunday morning.
According to the National Weather Service in the Twin Cities, a Winter Storm Warning begins at 7 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by a Blizzard Warning from 10 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday across Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, Sibley, Waseca, and Watonwan counties.
Cities including Mankato, New Ulm, St. Peter, Owatonna, Faribault, Waseca, St. James, and Gaylord will likely see a messy mix overnight. Forecasters expect 2 to 6 inches of snow, around one-half inch of sleet, and about one-tenth inch of ice before colder air changes precipitation to all snow Sunday morning.
The storm will intensify quickly by late Sunday morning as northwest winds increase with gusts near 50 mph, blowing snow across open farmland and creating widespread whiteout conditions across southern Minnesota.
Major routes including Interstate 90, Highway 169, and Highway 14 could become extremely dangerous as ice, sleet, and blowing snow rapidly reduce visibility.
Officials warn that travel could become very difficult or impossible late tonight through Sunday evening. Residents are urged to delay travel, prepare winter emergency kits, and monitor road conditions through Minnesota 511.
Blizzard conditions may persist into the early hours of Monday, with additional road closures possible if visibility drops to near zero.
