February blizzard batters North Shore, Lake County; Hwy 61, schools disrupted

A fast-moving winter storm escalated into blizzard conditions across Minnesota’s North Shore and southern Lake County, producing heavy, blowing snow, whiteout visibility and powerful easterly gusts that briefly closed Highway 61 between Duluth and the Canadian border and knocked out power to thousands. Local officials expanded warnings and urged residents to stay off the roads as plow operations struggled against intense bands of snow.

The National Weather Service in Duluth expanded a Blizzard Warning to cover the North Shore and parts of Duluth, south St. Louis County and Carlton County as the storm moved in late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. NWS Duluth advised residents to “charge your mobile devices now in case you lose power,” and county law enforcement reinforced no-travel messages; the Lake County Sheriff’s Office explicitly advised motorists not to travel because hazardous conditions made plowing difficult.

Forecasts and observations showed sharp contrasts across the region. Duluth was projected to receive between 5 and 12 inches of snow with accumulation rates exceeding 1 inch per hour in intense bands, while communities along the North Shore from Two Harbors to Grand Marais were reported to face the brunt of the blizzard and fragments of local forecasts warned of far higher totals, with references to 16 to 24 inches in some North Shore locations. Strong easterly winds produced storm-force gusts that reduced visibility and created heavy drifting.

Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert posted a blunt warning about conditions and plowing logistics: “Folks, it is BAD out there. 6-10” of snow and still snowing 1”+/hr. High and sustained winds gusting to over 60mph. Stay home and off the roads if you can. Leaves road for those who can’t. Park where you should. Illegally parked cars are the #1 problem for plow drivers.” City plow operators were reported actively clearing routes in Duluth while crews contended with parked vehicles and near-zero visibility.

The storm produced thundersnow in parts of northeastern Minnesota as unstable air and low temperatures generated electrical charge, with ice crystals colliding to produce lightning, a process explained by Patrick Ayd of the NWS in Duluth. Statewide travel impacts were severe; the Minnesota State Patrol logged more than 400 property-damage crashes and nearly 300 vehicles that ended up off the road during the day, and multiple highway incidents forced corridor closures and emergency responses.

Outage tracking early Wednesday showed roughly 6,000 customers without power across northern Minnesota at the storm’s peak, with about 3,500 still without electricity by morning and more than 3,000 customers without power in Lake and St. Louis counties at a 10:30 a.m. snapshot. Schools and businesses reported widespread interruptions, with scores of districts delaying or cancelling classes on Wednesday as crews and emergency services worked through the blizzard aftermath. The storm followed an unusual run of record warmth across the region earlier in the week, underscoring a rapid swing from highs in the mid-40s to severe winter conditions.