Sunday, March 15, 2026 2:35 AM 

Prepared by Bob Weisman, SCSU Meteorologist and Professor Emeritus

Blizzard Will Continue Today Through Tomorrow Morning, Even After Snow Lets Up

Quick Storm-Related Links

I have been having trouble getting the right idea to some people about this storm. The blizzard conditions are being forecast BOTH FOR

  • During the heavy snowfall (through midday today)
  • AND because of high winds after the snow lets up (rest of today and tonight)

If you have travel plans in central and southern Minnesota any time between now and Monday: 

  • Cancel them or postpone them until after Monday.
  • Do NOT get lulled into thinking travel will be OK this afternoon and tonight!

The snow began in central Minnesota late yesterday afternoon and has continued through the night (see College of DuPage north central US radar loop). I had 3 inches on the ground in St. Cloud as of midnight and it is snowing at the rate of an inch an hour, so St. Cloud will end up with between 9 and 15 inches of snow by the time it lets up around late morning to midday. Brainerd and Alexandria will see a total of between 6 and 10 inches. The Twin Cities and the Minnesota River Valley will easily get into the 12-18 inches of snowfall by the time it lets up this afternoon. The steady snow will continue in the Twin Cities and the eastern Minnesota River Valley until middle to late afternoon.

In southern Minnesota, there wasn't much precipitation before midnight, but a mixed bag of freezing rain and sleet is moving in for the early morning hours. There will be a coating to perhaps a quarter inch of ice, then these areas will get cold enough for snow, which will likely last until tonight (until after midnight near Winona, Rochester, and LaCrosse). So, there will be 6-10 inches of snow on top of the ice with the strong winds continuing into Monday. Travel in southern and southeastern Minnesota will be just as much as an issue along I-90 as it is in the rest of central and southern Minnesota.

However, the bad travel conditions will continue after the snow lets up because we will have winds with gusts over 40 MPH all day Sunday and all night Sunday night with gusts of 35 MPH continuing through Monday. With more than 10 inches of snow on the ground, that means roads will be hazardous with low visibility due to blowing and drifting snow, which will also keep an icy layer on roads. Some people I have talked to seem to think roads will be OK when the snow tapers off, but that is not true. That's why the National Weather Service blizzard warning is in effect all day Sunday until 4 AM Monday.

Note that any foot or more of accumulation would rank within St. Cloud's top 25 single storm snowfall totals.

I'm stopping here, since the computer program I use to enter this discussion is having issues again... The cold is still on track for Monday and Tuesday with moderation beginning Wednesday (see forecast details below).

Detailed St. Cloud, MN, and Vicinity Forecast

Confidence Level (high): "The Bugs Are Waiting for Me to Mow the Lawn"     

Final St. Cloud Snow Totals Between 9 and 15 inches (6-10 inches in Brainerd and Alexandria, 12-18 Inches in the Twin Cities)

Sunday 3/15/2026: Travel not advised. Heavy snow continuing through the morning (another 2-4 inches possible), then occasional light snow or flurries during the afternoon. Blustery with pockets of zero visibility all day, even when the snow lets up, due to blowing and drifting snow. Morning temperatures in the upper 20's, falling to the lower 20's during the afternoon. Winds: NE-N 15-30 MPH with gusts over 40 MPH through midday, NW 20-35 MPH with gusts over 50 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 90% AM, 40% PM. 

Sunday Night: Travel not advised. Mostly cloudy, still blustery, and turning much colder. Perhaps a stray flurry. Low visibility due to blowing snow in open areas. Serious wind chill by early morning. Low: between 3 and 8.  Winds: NW 15-30 MPH with gusts over 40 MPH.  Wind chill: between -22 and -10. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%.

Monday 3/16/2026: Travel conditions improve only slowly. Mixed clouds and sun with perhaps a stray snow flake, still blustery with low visibility in open areas due to blowing snow, and back to mid-winter chill. High: between 10 and 15. Winds: NW 15-30 MPH with gusts of 35-40 MPH. Wind chill: between -22 and -10 during the morning, between -10 and 0 during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%. 

Monday Night: Clearing with finally diminishing wind and February-like. Low: between -10 and 0.   Winds: NW 8-18 MPH evening, NW 5 MPH late at night. Chance of measurable snowfall: 0%.

Confidence Level (medium): "Extra Bugs Will Come from Every House on My Block to Make a Cloud Around My Head"  

 

Confidence Level (low): "Enough Bugs Will Fly into My Mouth to Throw Off My Diet"    

Tuesday 3/17/2026: Sunshine through high clouds to start the day, then increasing clouds with a chance of flurries or light snow late. Still quite cold. High: between 12 and 17. Winds: SE 5-10 MPH during the morning, SE 8-15 MPH during the afternoon. Chance of measurable snowfall: 40%. 

Tuesday Night: Maybe some evening light snow or flurries, then cloudy with perhaps some fog during the early morning hours. Not as cold. Temperatures holding in the teens. Winds: SE 5-15 MPH evening, NW 5-10 MPH late at night. Chance of measurable snowfall: 30%.

Wednesday 3/18/2026: Morning low clouds and fog, maybe a little afternoon sun. More seasonable temperatures. High: between 25 and 30. Winds: SW 5-10 MPH. Chance of measurable snowfall: 10%. 

Extended: Milder with melting snow during the second half of next week (could snow be mostly gone by next weekend)???

Forecast Confidence (10 – "The Rabbits Will Thump Even Though I Fed Them"; 0 – "The Rabbits Will Offer To Groom My Bald Spot"): 8 Sunday and Sunday night, 7 Monday, 6 Monday night, 2 Tuesday and Tuesday night, 3 Wednesday.     

Yesterday's High: 32°F; Overnight Low: 26°F

St. Cloud Airport last 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Sunday): 0.23 inch; SCSU 24-Hour Precipitation (through 2 AM Sunday): TBA

March 16 Historic Data
Temperature Category High Low
Average Temperatures 39°F 21°F
Record Temperatures 70°F (2025) 44°F (2016)
4°F (1897) -18°F (1897)

Next Update: Monday, March 16, 2026 6 AM

 

Next Update: Saturday, March 14, 2026 6 AM

Links

Comments

Let me know what you think about this forecast and discussion by emailing SCSU meteorology professor Bob Weisman. Please note that I make the forecast, not the weather!

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