Watches, Warnings & Advisories



3 products issued by NWS for: Owatonna MN

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
951 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM
CDT FRIDAY...
...MAJOR WINTER STORM TO BRING HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS, GUSTY
WINDS,AND SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL IMPACTS THIS WEEKEND...

.Two rounds of wintry weather will occur over the next several days.
Tonight into Friday morning will feature very strong winds and
occasional snow across parts of central Minnesota and western
Wisconsin. Blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility,
especially across the open areas of central Minnesota.

A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest Saturday into
Sunday. Model guidance continues to illustrate a remarkable
precipitation footprint across the region which will yield heavy snow
accumulations on the order of 6-10" across the Watch area. Localized
totals across portions of southeastern MN and western WI will likely
exceed 12". The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will reduce
visibility and create periods of blizzard conditions on Sunday. Very
hazardous travel conditions will develop as a result.

MNZ051>054-060>064-067>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-131500-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.A.0002.260315T0000Z-260316T1200Z/
Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-
Washington-Yellow Medicine-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-Redwood-
Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-Waseca-
Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-
Including the cities of Chaska, Gaylord, Minneapolis, Granite Falls,
Victoria, Fairmont, New Ulm, Red Wing, St James, Mankato, Faribault,
Owatonna, Hastings, St Paul, Blaine, Waseca, Blue Earth, Stillwater,
Shakopee, Chanhassen, Cambridge, Madison, St Peter, Center City, Elk
River, Redwood Falls, Albert Lea, and Le Sueur
951 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH
MONDAY MORNING...

* WHAT...Heavy snow likely. Total snow accumulations in excess of 6"
  likely, with localized amounts exceeding 12" across southern MN.
  Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, south central,
  southeast, southwest, and west central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From Saturday evening through Monday morning.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Widespread
  blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous
  conditions could impact the Monday morning commute. Gusty winds
  could bring down tree branches.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

&&

$$



High Wind Warning

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
938 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

MNZ043-050-051-059>063-068>070-076>078-085-131445-
/O.CON.KMPX.HW.W.0001.260313T0500Z-260313T1500Z/
Morrison-Benton-Sherburne-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
Carver-Scott-Dakota-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Steele-
Including the cities of Hastings, Victoria, Chaska, Stillwater, Le
Sueur, Red Wing, Monticello, Elk River, Minneapolis, Shakopee,
Faribault, Owatonna, St Paul, Sauk Rapids, Little Falls, Blaine, and
Chanhassen
938 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph
  expected.

* WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota,
  Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and
  Goodhue Counties.

* WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT Friday.

* IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines.
  Widespread power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult,
  especially for high profile vehicles.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People are urged to secure loose objects that could be blown around
or damaged by the wind.

&&

$$



Hazardous Weather Outlook

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
311 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
132015-
Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns-
Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa-
Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington-
Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota-
Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth-
Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk-
St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire-
311 PM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and
southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...Tonight.

Rain and snow will move in from west to east tonight with
increasing winds during this evening. Snowfall amounts will be
less than one inch for all locations except portions of western
Wisconsin, particularly Rusk County, which may receive in excess
of 3 inches of snow accumulation. Very strong winds will develop
this evening and persist through the overnight hours. Wind gusts
of up to 60 MPH can be expected over much of central and southern
Minnesota, with wind gusts up to 50 MPH for portions of east
central Minnesota through western Wisconsin.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday.

A major winter storm is expected to impact the Upper Midwest this
weekend. Plowable snow, with snow heavy at times Saturday night
through Sunday morning, is expected. In addition, strong winds
will develop during the day Sunday which may produce reduced
visibility due to blowing snow.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are encouraged to submit 6-hrly snowfall measurements
on our social media outlets.

$$

Dunleavy