Minnesota High Wind Warning: Strong winds affected residents in the state of Minnesota as a severe weather system swept over the state. Thursday late and early Friday morning, there were several cases of extremely strong gusts reported in many communities that toppled trees and blacked out power in a few locations.
The night was full of the howling winds and shaking windows to many. Although the worst of the storm is over, weather experts forecast that the weather will continue being breezy most of Friday after which the situation would improve gradually.
Minnesota High Wind Warning
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Weather Event | High Wind Warning |
| Date | March 12 – March 13, 2026 |
| Strongest Wind Gust | 74 mph (Bird Island, Minnesota) |
| Twin Cities Peak Gust | 61 mph (MSP Airport) |
| Cause | Strong low-pressure weather system |
| Major Impact | Fallen trees and power outages |
| Expected Weather Friday | Breezy conditions with afternoon sunshine |
Powerful Winds Assail Minnesota in the Night
Very strong winds were experienced in the state of Minnesota as a strong low-pressure weather system swept over the state towards the end of the night of Thursday. Due to the hazardous weather conditions, meteorologists had a High Wind Warning issued during the Thursday midnight to the Friday morning in western, central and southern Minnesota.
The winds during this period were 25 to 35 mph northwest, however, there were instances where the winds went beyond 60mph. Such strong winds resulted in dangerous situations and inconveniences in certain societies.
The strong winds toppled down trees, broken branches, and Xcel Energy customers lacked power especially those living in and around the metro region in the Twin Cities.
Maximum Wind Velocity Measured throughout the region
Extremely high speeds of wind were recorded in several cities and towns in Minnesota and neighboring Wisconsin. There were places where the winds were of tropical storm magnitude.
The following are the maximum wind gusts of the period between March 12 and March 13, 2026:
Bird Island: 74 mph (maximum record)
Redwood Falls: 71 mph
- Morris: 68 mph
- Windom: 67 mph
- Rochester: 66 mph
- Marshall: 64 mph
- Willmar: 62 mph
- Minneapolis- Saint Paul Airport (MSP): 61 mph.
- Mankato: 60 mph
La Crosse, Wisconsin: 59 mph
The same was also experienced in other cities such as Hutchinson, Owatonna, Duluth, Alexandria and St. Cloud where the winds were between 53mph and 57mph.
Even the north like International Falls and Ely recorded gusts up to 29 mph demonstrating the extent to which the storm system was widespread in the region.
Impact of the High Wind Event
The strong winds caused a number of problems in Minnesota. Although the storm itself did not produce many structural damages, it impacted numerous communities.
Among the principal effects there were:
- Branches and fallen trees in a few neighbourhoods.
- The blackouts that hit thousands of houses.
- Risky highway driving conditions.
- Rubbish all over the roads and properties.
High potential loss of property because of high speed winds
The crews of local utility were working overnight and Friday morning to restore the power and clear the areas affected.
Friday: improving weather conditions
The positive thing is that the storm is already over. According to weather analysts, the wind conditions will slowly ease during the whole Friday but the day will still be a bit breezy.
The cloudy mornings are supposed to finish clearing off later in the day and the sunshine should come back in the afternoon of most parts of Minnesota.
It is predicted that the temperature would be as follows on Friday:
- Twin Cities metro: around 38°F (3°C)
- Central and south Minnesota: top 30s F.
- Northern Minnesota: lows of 20sF.
Although the winds will reduce in intensity compared to the conditions over the night, the residents can still feel the constant breezes during the day.
Focus Shifts to the Weekend Weather
Friday is associated with better conditions, but another weather system is already observed by meteorologists and it may influence the area in the nearest future.
Another snow and changing weather conditions across Minnesota and other states is a possible winter storm this weekend. The updates of the forecast are anticipated as the meteorologists will monitor the developing system.
The local forecasts are recommended to the residents to remain informed about the changes in the weather on the weekend and get ready to the potential changes.
Disclaimer: The article is founded on the current weather report and information accessible to the people during the time of writing. The weather situation is changing fast, and predictions can be revised. Official weather warnings and recommendations issued by local weather agencies should be followed by the readers to get the latest updates about such weather and safety guidelines.
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