Minneapolis, Minnesota – Dangerous winter weather is set to intensify across the Twin Cities and much of southern and central Minnesota on Sunday, with blizzard conditions expected to cripple travel and create life-threatening whiteouts through early Monday.
Snow will spread into western Minnesota near sunrise Sunday and quickly overspread the Twin Cities by midmorning. Any early rain or mix will flip to all snow as colder air surges in. According to the National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen office, steady snowfall will continue through late Sunday night while northwest winds strengthen sharply.
A Blizzard Warning is in effect from 9 a.m. Sunday through 6 a.m. Monday for the southern and southwestern Twin Cities metro, including Carver, Scott, Wright, and McLeod counties, extending south toward Mankato and Albert Lea. Snow totals of 4 to 7 inches are expected, but wind gusts of 45 to 55 mph will create widespread blowing and drifting snow.
Whiteout conditions are likely in open areas, especially along east-west roads such as Highway 212, Highway 7, and rural stretches of I-90 and Highway 14. According to MnDOT, travel may become impossible at times, with plows struggling to keep roads clear. Gusty winds may also bring down tree branches, leading to scattered power outages.
The rest of eastern Minnesota, including much of the core Twin Cities metro, remains under a Winter Storm Warning, while far western Minnesota is under a Winter Storm Watch. In northern Wisconsin, blizzard conditions are also expected along the South Shore, including Ashland and Iron counties, where snowfall could exceed a foot.
Emergency managers urge residents to avoid non-essential travel, charge devices, and prepare winter survival kits. If stranded, stay with your vehicle and call 511 for road updates. The Monday morning commute is expected to be heavily impacted.
