Minneapolis started Saturday, March 14, 2026, under clear skies and a brisk 25°F, but that calm is on borrowed time. A major winter storm is bearing down on the Twin Cities this afternoon and is expected to dump heavy snow and kick up damaging winds through Sunday, March 15.
Storm Timing And What To Expect
Snow is expected to move in Saturday afternoon, with chances climbing after about 2 p.m. CDT, then ramping up quickly Saturday night into Sunday morning. Forecasters say much of the Twin Cities metro could see roughly 10 to 16 inches of snow, with a narrow corridor that could push close to two feet in the bullseye zone. Short bursts may pile up at about 2 inches per hour. Winds will crank up on Sunday, with north-northeast gusts that could top 45 mph in the metro and even higher in parts of southern Minnesota, riding on sustained winds of about 20 to 25 mph. That combination is likely to produce blowing snow and near-whiteout conditions, according to the National Weather Service Twin Cities.
Local Impacts And Safety Tips
Travel is expected to become very difficult to nearly impossible late Saturday night into Sunday, and officials are urging people to hold off on any trips that are not absolutely necessary. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency,” the National Weather Service Twin Cities advises. For road conditions, you can call 511 or check 511mn.org.
Heavy, wet snow paired with strong gusts will raise the odds of downed tree branches and power outages. Shoveling that dense snow could be risky for people with health concerns, so officials suggest taking it slow, sharing the workload, or waiting until conditions improve.
Short-Term Outlook
The storm should start to wind down from west to east late Sunday into Monday, March 16, 2026, although blowing snow and gusty winds may hang on into Monday morning. A brief, lighter shot of snow is possible again late Tuesday into Wednesday before temperatures begin to moderate later in the week. Keep checking local forecasts for the latest updates as this system plays out.
