Blizzard warning for NW Minnesota; winter storm warnings north
Rain changes to snow overnight in Twin Cities
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Wintry weather is returning again Minnesota.
A powerful clipper will blow across northern Minnesota Thursday. Snow and high winds gusting to 60 to 70 mph will create blizzard conditions in northwestern Minnesota.
On the map below, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NAM 3 km model shows the system racing across Minnesota Thursday.
Blizzard warnings are posted for the Red River Valley and much of northwestern Minnesota. Here’s the National Weather Service bulletin:
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Including the cities of Halstad, Drayton, Grand Forks, Mayville, Fargo, Cooperstown, Moorhead, Valley City, Fosston, Crookston, Hallock, Lankin, Middle River, Newfolden, Ada, Warren, Cavalier, Thief River Falls, Michigan, Hillsboro, East Grand Forks, Finley, Red Lake Falls, Grafton, and Roseau
111 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025
...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY...
* WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations between 1 and 4 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze. Winds gusting up to 70 mph.
* WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Minnesota and northeast and southeast North Dakota.
* WHEN...From 3 AM to 6 PM CST Thursday.
* IMPACTS...Whiteout conditions will make travel extremely dangerous or impossible. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes. Very strong winds will cause extensive tree damage.
The heaviest snow will cover far northern Minnesota where several inches will fall from the northern Red River Valley along and south of the Canadian border all the way to to Lake Superior.
Winter storm watches along the Canadian border in northeastern Minnesota will likely be upgraded to warnings today for Thursday. Here’s the National Weather Service again:
Northern Cook and Lake-Southern Cook- Including the cities of Grand Marais and Isabella
233 AM CST Wed Dec 17 2025
...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT...
* WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation possible. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 6 inches and ice accumulations around a light glaze possible. A few spots may see 7 to 8 inches. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
* WHERE...North Lake and Cook Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. This also includes the Boundary Waters eastern and central area.
* WHEN...From late tonight through late Thursday night.
* IMPACTS...Visibilities may drop below 1/4 mile due to falling and blowing snow. The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes.
The Twin Cities and southern Minnesota will see rain overnight change to wind-driven snow Thursday. Accumulations in the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota will likely be an inch or less Thursday, but highs winds and falling temperatures into the teens will cause travel issues.
Temperatures will plunge Thursday into the teens and bottom out around and below zero across Minnesota by Friday morning.
Highs Friday through the upcoming weekend will run mostly in the 20s with teens north and 30s possible in the far south.
Additional light snow chances arrive Friday and Sunday night.
Christmas week thaw
The medium-range forecast maps for next week are still favoring another thaw Christmas week.
NOAA’s Global Forecast System and other models push temperatures back into the 30s and even 40s in southern Minnesota in the days surrounding Christmas!
It’s still early but signs point to a mild Christmas holiday in Minnesota this year.
Stay tuned.
