The Weather Prediction Center
College Park, MD
Storm Summary Message
Storm Summary Number 4 for High Plains to Great Lakes Mid-March
Blizzard
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1000 AM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026
...Blizzard conditions continue across portions of the Upper
Midwest and Great Lakes...
Blizzard Warnings are in effect from southeastern Iowa and
northern Illinois to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Ice Storm Warnings are in effect for a portions of northern Lower
Michigan.
Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect
for portions of the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes.
Wind Advisories are in effect for portions of the eastern Great
Lakes region.
Storm Warnings and Heavy Freezing Spray Warnings are in effect for
Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron.
Lakeshore Flood Warnings are in effect along the northern coast of
the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
For a detailed graphical depiction of the latest watches, warnings
and advisories, please see www.weather.gov
At 900 AM CDT...A strong low pressure system was moving northeast
across Michigan with a minimum central pressure of 983 mb (29.03
in Hg). National Weather Service Doppler Radar showed heavy snow
falling on the northern and western sides of the storm system,
with the heaviest bands positioned over Wisconsin and Michigan.
Surface observations indicated winds were gusting 35-55 mph, with
even stronger gusts over the open waters of the Great Lakes. Heavy
snow and strong winds were combining to produce blizzard
conditions across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
...Selected preliminary Storm Total Snowfall in inches from 400 AM
CDT Sat Mar 14 through 900 AM CDT Mon Mar 16...
...ILLINOIS...
LANARK 8.5
MOUNT CARROLL 7.3
QUAD CITY AIRPORT 7.0
ROCK ISLAND 2 N 7.0
MOLINE 1 NNE 6.6
FRUITLAND 1 NW 6.5
GALENA 6.5
COAL VALLEY 1 S 6.1
FREEPORT 6.0
SILVIS 1 SW 5.5
...IOWA...
LOWDEN 9.0
CHARLOTTE 8.6
DAVENPORT AIRPORT 7.4
PARK VIEW 1 NW 7.2
BETTENDORF 2 W 7.0
CREDIT ISLAND 2 N 7.0
DUBUQUE REGIONAL AIRPORT 6.1
BUFFALO CENTER 6.0
FOREST CITY 4 E 6.0
MAQUOKETA 1 NW 5.0
...MICHIGAN...
THREE LAKES 31.0
NATIONAL MINE 5 SW 30.0
CUSINO LAKE 4 NNE 27.5
SPALDING 26.0
KINGSFORD 1 SE 21.0
GARDEN 7 ENE 20.6
MENOMINEE 4 NW 20.5
PELLSTONE 20.0
TROUT LAKE 20.0
CHAMPION 6 E 19.5
MANISTIQUE 1 S 18.5
NEWBERRY 18.0
...WISCONSIN...
MOUNTAIN 34.0
STURGEON BAY 1 W 33.2
EGG HARBOR 2 NE 29.0
DYCKESVILLE 27.0
MONTANA 5 NE 26.6
CRIVITZ 25.0
GRANTON 25.0
INDEPENDENCE 25.0
POUND 25.0
STRUM 25.0
SUNSET 2 E 25.0
WAUSAKEE 25.0
...Selected preliminary Storm Total Freezing Rain ice amounts in
inches from 400 AM CDT Sat Mar 14 through 900 AM CDT Mon Mar 16...
...IOWA...
SIOUX RAPIDS 0.33
SPENCER 3 WNW 0.23
LAKE PARK 3 SSE 0.10
...MICHIGAN...
GRAYLING 1 E 0.28
BUCKLEY 0.25
LEWISTON 7 SE 0.25
ROSCOMMON COUNTY 1 ENE 0.23
CATHRO 5 S 0.19
WELLSTON 1 N 0.10
...Selected preliminary Peak Wind gusts in miles per hour earlier
in the event...
...ILLINOIS...
DE SOTO 3 SSW 62
LAWRENCEVILLE AIRPORT 62
CAPITAL AIRPORT 59
COLES COUNTY AIRPORT 59
WILLARD AIRPORT 55
...IOWA...
GRUVER 2 WNW 68
VILLISCA 5 NNE 64
CLARION 2 NW 63
WEBSTER CITY 4 SW 62
EMERSON 1 SSE 61
...MICHIGAN...
GRAND MARAIS 1 NNE 69
KEWEENAW POINT 28 ESE 64
LENAWEE COUNTY AIRPORT 62
MUNISING 62
WILLOW RUN AIRPORT 62
...SOUTH DAKOTA...
POINSETT COLONY 4 ENE 57
ROSSEAU 9 ESE 52
MISSION 15 SSE 51
WATERTOWN AIRPORT 1 SE 51
WEWELA 50
...Selected preliminary Storm Total Snowfall in inches where the
event has ended...
...MINNESOTA...
KELLOGG 25.0
READS LANDING 20.5
ZUMBRO FALLS 20.0
LAKE CITY 18.5
MAZEPPA 18.5
THEILMAN 1 SSW 18.3
DUMFRIES 4 NW 18.0
WABASHA 1 N 18.0
ORONOCCO 1 SSW 17.5
DOUGLAS 5 ESE 17.1
MILLVILLE 4 N 17.0
ROCHESTER 4 N 16.5
CHANHASSEN NWS 10.9
...MONTANA...
COOKE CITY 3 NNW 23.0
GRASS MOUNTAIN 22.0
LEWISTOWN 2 SE 20.0
HELENA 7 SW 15.0
THOMPSON FALLS 9.3 NW 14.0
BILLINGS 3 SSW 11.5
MONTANA CITY 1 SE 7.0
...NORTH DAKOTA...
GLADSTONE 10.0
DICKINSON 1 NW 7.2
SOLEN 6.5
ASHLEY 6.2
GREAT BEND 6.0
HANKINSON 6.0
NAPOLEAN 1 SSE 6.0
ALMONT 5 S 4.5
DICKINSON 3.5
BISMARCK 3 SSE 1.8
...SOUTH DAKOTA...
DWTN SPEARFISH 3 SE 13.5
SAINT ONGE 2 NNW 12.0
WHITEWOOD 3 SW 12.0
LEAD 11.0
STURGIS 10.5
SPEARFISH 10.0
CLEAR LAKE 1 SW 8.0
LONSDALE 8 S 8.0
TEA 3 NE 6.7
DWTN RAPID CITY 1 E 4.8
FORT PIERRE 4.0
HAYES 7 E 4.0
PIERRE 1 ESE 4.0
This major winter storm will continue to impact the Upper Midwest
and Great Lakes through today, but the most significant impacts
are expected to wane this evening. Additional snowfall of 4-8
inches is expected for parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, with more
than a foot of additional snow possible across the Upper Peninsula
of Michigan due to lake effect snow. Storm total snow
accumulations are expected to reach 2-3 feet, with higher amounts
across the Upper Peninsula. Even as snow winds down later today,
gusty winds of 40-50 mph will create areas of blowing and drifting
snow. Travel will remain very dangerous to impossible due to
whiteout conditions. Power outages and tree damage are likely.
The next Storm Summary will be issued by the Weather Prediction
Center at 1000 PM CDT. Please refer to your local National Weather
Service office for additional information on this event.
Dolan
Last Updated: 1041 AM EDT MON MAR 16 2026