Major winter storm prompts Blizzard Warnings across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan, U.S.
Blizzard Warnings have been issued across the Upper Midwest from Sunday into Monday, December 28–29, 2025, as powerful winter storm moves toward the Great Lakes, bringing blizzard conditions to large parts of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
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Blizzard Warnings are in effect across Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan from Sunday through early Monday, as a powerful winter storm brings heavy snow and blizzard conditions across the region.
Snow accumulations of 13–25 cm (5–10 inches) are forecast across central and southern counties in Minnesota, including Mankato, Albert Lea, and Faribault. Similar totals are forecast for Traverse County and the St. Cloud area.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for Sibley, Carver, Scott, Brown, Nicollet, Le Sueur, Rice, Watonwan, Blue Earth, Waseca, Steele, Martin, Faribault, and Freeborn Counties from 09:00 CST Sunday to 09:00 CST Monday. This includes the cities of Mankato, Albert Lea, Faribault, and New Ulm.
Farther northwest, a Blizzard Warning remains in effect from 09:00 CST Sunday to 06:00 CST Monday for Douglas, Todd, Pope, Stearns, Kandiyohi, Meeker, Wright, Renville, and McLeod Counties, including St. Cloud, Willmar, Alexandria, and Hutchinson. Snow totals of 13 to 20 cm (5 to 8 inches) and winds up to 70 km/h (45 mph) will make travel hazardous.
Western counties including Stevens, Lac qui Parle, Swift, Chippewa, Yellow Medicine, and Redwood remain under a Blizzard Warning until 06:00 CST Monday, where 8–13 cm (3–5 inches) of snow and 70 km/h (45 mph) wind gusts will continue producing blizzard conditions.
Traverse County, on the South Dakota border, remains under a Blizzard Warning until 03:00 CST Monday, with 13–18 cm (5–7 inches) of snow and strong winds creating whiteout conditions.
Much of northern Iowa is under Blizzard Warnings, with 5–13 cm (2–5 inches) of snow, light ice accumulation, and gusts of over 90 km/h (55 mph) forecast across the region.
A Blizzard Warning has been issued for Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Worth, Hancock, and Cerro Gordo Counties, including Mason City, Algona, Forest City, and Estherville, from 09:00 CST Sunday to 09:00 CST Monday.
Snow totals between 5–13 cm (2–5 inches), with an isolated light ice glaze, are expected. Winds could exceed 90 km/h (55 mph), resulting in severe drifting and near-zero visibility through early Monday.
Further east, the NWS La Crosse office maintained Blizzard Warnings from 12:00 CST Sunday to 09:00 CST Monday for Mitchell, Howard, Floyd, and Chickasaw Counties in Iowa, and Dodge, Olmsted, Mower, and Fillmore Counties in Minnesota. Snowfall totals of 13–20 cm (5–8 inches) and gusts up to 70 km/h (45 mph) will make travel treacherous through the night.
Blizzard Warnings are in effect for Ashland and Iron Counties, including Ashland, Hurley, and Madeline Island, from 12:00 CST Sunday to 12:00 CST Monday.
25–50 cm (10–20 inches) of snow is forecast across the warning areas, with the highest amounts across northern Iron County. Winds of up to 70 km/h (45 mph) will create severe blowing and drifting snow, especially along Highway 2 and near Lake Superior.
Snowfall totals are forecast to reach 30–60 cm (12–24 inches), with gusts of up to 100 km/h (65 mph) along the Keweenaw Peninsula and Lake Superior shorelines.
Blizzard Warnings have also been issued for Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties in Michigan from 16:00 EST Sunday to 16:00 EST Monday, with 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) of snow and gusts to 70 km/h (45 mph) forecast.
Meanwhile, a warning is in effect for Marquette and Alger Counties from 19:00 EST Sunday to 19:00 EST Monday, with 38–60 cm (15–24 inches) of snow and gusts up to 95 km/h (60 mph) forecast. Luce County will remain under the warning for the same period; however, snowfall totals are forecast to be around 35–50 cm (14–20 inches) with gusts of up to 90 km/h (55 mph).
Delta and Schoolcraft Counties will be under a Blizzard Warning from 22:00 EST Sunday to 19:00 EST Monday, with snow totals of 23–48 cm (9–19 inches) and gusts near 80 km/h (50 mph) forecast during the warning period.
The NWS warned that strong winds combined with heavy, wet snow may down tree branches and power lines, potentially causing scattered power outages.
Travel conditions will range from difficult to impossible, as visibility drops to around 400 m (0.25 miles) across the warning areas, with near-zero visibility expected in the worst-hit regions.
Citizens have been advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. Those who must travel have been advised to carry winter survival kits and remain with their vehicles if stranded.
The warnings have been triggered by a powerful winter storm forecast to bring severe winter weather across large parts of the United States from Sunday through Tuesday, December 28–30, as it moves from the Great Lakes into southern Canada.
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References:
1 Blizzard Warning – NWS – December 28, 2025
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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