Mankato, Minn. – Roads across south-central Minnesota could quickly turn impassable Saturday evening as a powerful March winter storm ramps up, bringing heavy snow, ice, and wind gusts strong enough to create widespread whiteouts.
According to the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, a Blizzard Warning begins at 7 p.m. Saturday and lasts until 4 a.m. Monday across much of the Minnesota River Valley and surrounding counties. The warning covers Blue Earth, Nicollet, Rice, Steele, Sibley, Brown, Redwood, Watonwan, Waseca, and Le Sueur counties, including cities such as Mankato, New Ulm, Owatonna, Faribault, St. Peter, and Redwood Falls.
Snow totals will vary across the region, with around 5 inches possible from Brown to Steele counties and near 12 inches in Sibley County. A messy mix of sleet and freezing rain is also expected, especially near Waseca and Owatonna, where forecasters say up to a quarter inch of sleet and about 0.10 inches of ice could develop before precipitation turns to all snow Sunday.
Conditions will deteriorate further Sunday afternoon as northwest winds strengthen with gusts up to 55 mph, producing blowing and drifting snow that may reduce visibility to near zero.
Major travel routes including Highway 169, Highway 14, and Interstate 35 near Owatonna and Faribault could see rapidly worsening conditions as the storm intensifies.
Officials urge residents to delay travel and prepare for possible road closures once blizzard conditions develop. Road updates are available through Minnesota’s 511 system, with hazardous travel likely through Sunday night.
