Blizzard in Cottonwood, Minnesota

Blizzard January 21, 2026 · Cottonwood, Minnesota

What the National Weather Service wrote

Northwest winds gusted to as high as 52 mph near Mountain Lake and 48 mph near Jeffers. These winds combined with periods of snow totaling 1 to 2 inches to produce periods with visibility of one-quarter mile or less.

The wider storm

Winds behind yet another arctic front reached speeds from 30 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 55 to 65 mph across southwest Minnesota. When periods of light snowfall occurred that would total between one and two inches, gusty winds produced considerable near-blizzard and blizzard conditions.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 1315440. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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