Albert Lea, Minn. – Drivers across southern Minnesota may face whiteout conditions and damaging wind gusts beginning before sunrise Sunday as a powerful March winter storm intensifies along the I-90 corridor.
According to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, a Blizzard Warning takes effect at 4 a.m. Sunday and lasts until 4 a.m. Monday for Martin, Faribault, and Freeborn counties, including the cities of Albert Lea, Fairmont, and Blue Earth. The warning replaces an earlier winter storm alert as stronger winds are expected to create widespread blowing snow.
Snow totals of 4 to 6 inches are likely across the region, but the storm will begin with a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet overnight. Ice accumulations around 0.10 inches and sleet near one-tenth inch could create slick roads before precipitation transitions to snow Sunday morning.
Conditions will deteriorate quickly Sunday afternoon as winds strengthen. Forecasters expect gusts up to 55 mph, strong enough to produce near-zero visibility as snow blows across highways and open farmland.
The heaviest impacts are expected along Interstate 90 and surrounding rural highways, where drifting snow and icy pavement may make travel extremely dangerous. Strong winds may also bring down tree limbs and power lines in exposed areas.
Officials urge residents to delay travel and prepare for possible road closures once conditions worsen Sunday. Road conditions can be monitored through Minnesota’s 511 system, with blizzard conditions expected to continue into early Monday morning.
