Brace yourself, Minnesota—a powerful winter storm is unleashing its fury across the state, bringing heavy snow, fierce winds, and travel chaos to close out the weekend. But here’s where it gets controversial: Are we prepared enough for these extreme weather events, or is this just the new normal?
By Adam Del Rosso, a Pittsburgh native and lifelong weather enthusiast, this storm is more than just a forecast—it’s a testament to nature’s unpredictability. After honing his skills at Penn State and WTOV, Adam is now breaking down the details of this winter tempest for CBS Minnesota. Updated as of December 28, 2025, at 1:56 PM CST, here’s what you need to know.
A major winter storm has descended upon Minnesota, with its impact expected to linger into Monday. WCCO has issued a NEXT Weather Alert due to the storm’s significant effects. Blizzard warnings are in effect for central Minnesota until 6 a.m. Monday, while winter storm warnings stretch across eastern Minnesota into Wisconsin from 12 p.m. Sunday to 9 a.m. Monday. And this is the part most people miss: Wind gusts could reach up to 40 mph by the afternoon, amplifying snow intensity and creating near-blizzard conditions. Travel is strongly discouraged along and east of Interstate 35, where the heaviest snowfall is anticipated.
Speaking of snow, the Twin Cities and a large swath of Minnesota could see up to 8 inches by Monday morning. Areas to the southwest and northern parts of the state are expected to receive less. Meanwhile, temperatures are set to plummet from the 30s in the morning to the teens by evening. Is this a sign of climate change’s growing impact on winter weather? Let’s discuss in the comments.
Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments:
3 minutes ago: Interstate 35 closures in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa due to multiple crashes. The interstate is shut down from Highway 14 (south of Owatonna) to Clarks Grove, with at least five accidents reported. Additional closures are expected from Albert Lea into northern Iowa, coordinated by Iowa DOT and MnDOT. No reopening time has been specified yet.
17 minutes ago: Metro Transit reports minimal disruptions, with only a third of buses delayed by about 7 minutes. Light rail service remains largely unaffected. Updates will be shared on their social media.
19 minutes ago: Trollhaugen ski area in Dresser, Wisconsin, closed Sunday due to a power outage. Organizers expect power to be restored by 4:45 a.m. Monday.
2:07 PM: Minnesota transportation officials advise against travel in most of southwestern Minnesota due to low visibility.
1:55 PM: Snow emergencies declared in Eden Prairie, Hopkins, St. James, St. Louis Park, New Hope, Northfield, and West St. Paul. More details are available online.
1:52 PM: The Minnesota State Patrol reports 179 property damage crashes, 163 vehicles off the road, 12 injury crashes, five spinouts, and seven jackknifed semis since midnight. They urge residents to delay or cancel travel plans.
1:16 PM: Nearly 2,500 people in the Twin Cities area are without power, according to Xcel Energy’s outage map.
11:33 AM: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport faces 197 delays and 60 cancellations as of 11:30 a.m., per FlightAware.
11:31 AM: Potential snowfall totals include up to 8 inches in the Twin Cities and up to 12 inches in western Wisconsin. Areas like Grand Rapids, Mankato, and Worthington are expected to see less snow.
Thought-provoking question: As extreme weather events become more frequent, should we rethink how we prepare for and respond to them? Share your thoughts below. Stay safe, Minnesota, and keep an eye on live updates from NEXT Weather Watchers for the latest developments.
