Historic Winter Storm Forces Minnesota School Closures Across North Shore and Metro Thursday, Feb. 19

MINNESOTA

By dawn Thursday, the storm had largely passed. But across Minnesota, its imprint was unmistakable: snowbanks rising above mailboxes along the North Shore, wind-whipped drifts cutting across rural highways, and quiet hallways in dozens of school buildings from Hovland to Hutchinson.

A significant winter system that swept through the state midweek delivered extraordinary snowfall totals along Lake Superior and the heaviest metro snowfall of the season, prompting widespread school closures, e-learning pivots, and delayed starts for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.

A North Shore storm for the record books

In the Arrowhead region, snowfall reached historic levels. Hovland recorded 38 inches, while Grand Marais saw between 15 and 17 inches, according to local reports and National Weather Service observations. Wind gusts in exposed areas approached 60 miles per hour, creating near-blizzard conditions and deep drifting.

The Twin Cities did not escape the storm’s force. At Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport, official measurements reached approximately 7.5 to 7.6 inches, making it the largest single snowfall event of the season in the metro area.

Though snowfall tapered by Thursday morning, the combination of icy secondary roads, drifting snow, and lingering wind made travel hazardous well past sunrise.

The decision to close

For superintendents and transportation directors, the calculus was familiar but urgent: bus route safety, rural road clearing, building accessibility, and wind exposure. In northern Minnesota, the decision was straightforward.

Full Closures in Hard-Hit Areas

• Cook County ISD 166: Closed; all district activities canceled.
• Lake Superior Schools: Closed.
• Birch Grove Community School: Closed, including K–5 and Saplings/Seedlings programs.
• Great Expectations School: Closed.

In communities where snowfall was lighter but roads remained slick, districts opted for flexibility rather than cancellation.

E-Learning Days

• Chokio-Alberta: Full e-learning day.
• Lakeview School: Transitioned to distance learning.

The model reflects a post-pandemic shift in Minnesota education, where many districts now maintain contingency plans allowing instruction to continue remotely when travel is the primary risk.

Delays ripple across central and southern Minnesota

Dozens of districts across central, western, and southern Minnesota implemented two-hour delays, giving plow crews time to widen lanes and allowing temperatures to rise slightly after the overnight drop.

Among those reporting delayed starts were:

Central and West Minnesota

• Alexandria Public Schools
• Annandale Public Schools
• Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose
• Fergus Falls
• Hutchinson
• Litchfield
• New London-Spicer
• Sauk Centre
• Willmar

Twin Cities and South Metro

• Belle Plaine
• Delano
• Jordan
• Waconia
• Watertown-Mayer
• Westonka

Southern and Southwest Minnesota

• New Ulm
• Redwood Area
• Sleepy Eye
• Springfield
• Wabasso

Northeast Minnesota

• Esko
• Hermantown
• Proctor
• Lake Superior College, which opened at 10 a.m.

Statewide media outlets reported continuously updated lists as districts finalized their decisions throughout the early morning hours.

Travel hazards and power outages

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, hundreds of crashes and spinouts were reported statewide beginning Wednesday evening as the storm intensified. While major Twin Cities freeways improved by late Thursday morning, many county and township roads in northern and central Minnesota remained snow-packed or partially obstructed.

High winds and heavy, wet snow also disrupted power in the Arrowhead region Wednesday night. Utilities reported thousands without electricity, though restoration efforts progressed quickly and most service had been restored by Thursday morning.

A familiar Minnesota rhythm

For families, the morning carried the familiar choreography of winter in the Upper Midwest: refreshed inboxes, text alerts lighting up phones before sunrise, and the recalibration of schedules. For students along the North Shore, it meant an unexpected pause beneath towering drifts. For others, it meant logging in from kitchen tables instead of boarding a bus.

And for the state as a whole, Thursday was a reminder that even in late February, Minnesota winter retains its authority.

Districts continue to advise families to confirm final status through official school communication channels, as updates may shift with changing road and weather conditions.

MinneapoliMedia