Blizzard with whiteout conditions raking southern Minnesota
Heavy wind-whipped snow causes near-zero visibility near Iowa border
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Our severe March blizzard is raking much of southern Minnesota, especially along and south of the Interstate 90 corridor Wednesday afternoon.
Blizzard conditions are reported in Freeborn, Faribault, and Martin counties. Whiteout conditions are occurring near the Iowa border:
9 S Fairmont [Martin Co, MN] Dept of Highways reports Blizzard at 12:30 PM CDT -- Public works reported whiteout conditions near the Iowa border.
1 E Blue Earth [Faribault Co, MN] Law Enforcement reports Blizzard at 1:40 PM CDT -- Dispatch confirmed blizzard conditions across the county.
3 E Twin Lakes [Freeborn Co, MN] Dept of Highways reports Blizzard at 1:30 PM CDT -- Blizzard conditions across the county, especially near the Iowa border.
Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour and wind gusts over 50 mph are creating blizzard conditions. Wind have gusts as high as 62 mph have been recorded in northern Iowa.
Blizzard warnings continue for much of southern Minnesota into Wednesday evening.
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 113 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025
...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED ALONG THE I-90 CORRIDOR THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON...
Heavy snow, with blizzard conditions continues this afternoon in Faribault, Freeborn, and far southern Steele county in central Minnesota. Conditions in these counties will start to improve after 3pm as the snowfall moves away. With the snow ending, the Blizzard Warning was ended for Martin county, with the Winter Weather Advisory cancelled for Blue Earth county as well.
Steele-Faribault-Freeborn- Including the cities of Blue Earth, Owatonna, and Albert Lea 113 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations up to 4 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE...Faribault, Freeborn, and Steele Counties.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially life-threatening. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
Here’s the latest blizzard warning update for Rochester and southeastern Minnesota:
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service La Crosse WI 159 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025
...HEAVY SNOW, STRONG WINDS CONTINUE TO IMPACT TRAVEL... .
Widespread moderate to heavy wet snow will continue to fall across most of the area through late afternoon. Sleet to even small hail could be mixed in at times over southwest Wisconsin as a few thunderstorms track northward into the area. A few inches of additional snow are expected, mostly confided to southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. Visibilities will continue to be reduced to 1/4 mile at times in the heaviest snow.
In addition, north winds will continue to gust from 35 to 55 mph through the rest of the afternoon, strongest over southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. The strongest winds, when coupled with the heavier snowfall rates, will be capable of white-out conditions. While some roads have remained wet from the snow, where the snowfall was heavier they quickly become snow covered and slick to hazardous.
Dodge-Olmsted-Mower-Fillmore- Including the cities of Preston, Austin, Dodge Center, and Rochester
159 PM CDT Wed Mar 19 2025
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
* WHERE...Dodge, Fillmore, Mower, and Olmsted Counties.
* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Widespread blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the Wednesday evening commute. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches.
Blizzard conditions will gradually ease Wednesday evening as the storm pulls out.
Our weather will mellow across Minnesota with the return of sunshine Thursday. Highs will be in the 50s west with mostly 40s east.
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