Minnesota winters aren't always about the massive, roof-crushing blizzards that make national headlines. Sometimes, it’s the sneaky "clipper" systems that cause the most headaches on a random Sunday morning. If you’re looking at the snow totals MN today, you’re probably seeing numbers that look small on paper but feel much bigger when you're white-knuckling a steering wheel on I-94.
Honestly, today—Sunday, January 18, 2026—is less about the volume of powder and more about the chaos of the wind. We aren't digging out of two feet of snow. Instead, we’re dealing with a high-velocity dusting that’s turning the state into a giant, freezing air hockey table.
The Latest Numbers: Snow Totals MN Today Across the State
The National Weather Service and local spotters have been busy since the early hours. This isn't a uniform blanket of snow; it’s patchy, aggressive, and moving fast.
- The Twin Cities Metro: Most of the metro area, including Minneapolis and St. Paul, is seeing a general 1 to 3 inches. It’s that dry, fluffy stuff that doesn't weigh much but refuses to stay put.
- Northern Minnesota & The Arrowhead: Regions like Duluth and International Falls are hovering in that 2 to 4 inch range. Earlier this month, International Falls actually broke a daily record with 4.6 inches, but today is a bit more restrained.
- Western Minnesota: This is where things get "kinda" dicey. While the actual snow totals MN today might only show 1 to 2 inches in places like Marshall or Moorhead, the Blizzard Warnings are in full effect.
Why a Blizzard Warning for two inches of snow? Because of the wind. When you have gusts hitting 50 to 60 mph, it doesn't matter if you have two inches or twenty; you can't see the hood of your truck.
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Why the "Total" Number is Misleading
Usually, we judge a storm by the depth of the drift on the porch. That’s a mistake today. Joe Nelson and the team over at Bring Me The News have been tracking this "boom or bust" potential, and the reality is that the "bust" in accumulation is being outweighed by the "boom" in dangerous conditions.
The North American Mesoscale (NAM) models were pretty spot-on for this one. They predicted a narrow corridor of accumulation, mostly favoring eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. If you're in Eau Claire right now, you’re likely seeing the higher end of that 3-inch mark.
But if you’re in central Minnesota, say near St. Cloud, you might only have an inch on the ground. The problem? That inch is currently airborne.
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The Arctic Plunge Following the Snow
It’s worth noting that the snow is just the opening act. The real story for the rest of today and into Monday is the temperature crash. We’re watching the mercury drop into the single digits, and with the wind chill, we’re looking at -20°F to -35°F.
That’s the kind of cold that turns "light slush" on the roads into "black ice" in a matter of minutes. MnDOT’s 511 map is already showing a lot of blue and pink lines, indicating "partially covered" or "completely covered" roads across Highway 19 and US 212.
What This Means for Your Monday Morning
If you're planning your commute, don't let the low snow totals MN today fool you into thinking the roads will be clear by morning.
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- Flash Freeze: Any moisture on the roads from earlier in the week or the initial start of today’s snow is freezing solid. Plows can move snow, but they can't always win against a sudden temperature drop.
- Visibility Issues: In open areas of western and southern Minnesota, ground blizzards will persist long after the clouds have cleared.
- School Delays: We already saw Brainerd schools take a 2-hour late start recently due to similar conditions. Don't be surprised if the smaller districts in the wind-prone regions follow suit tomorrow.
Real Talk: How to Handle the Rest of Today
Basically, if you don't have to be on the roads, stay home and watch the Vikings or whatever else keeps you off the ice. If you do go out, check the MN 511 app religiously. The difference between a dry road and a whiteout can be less than five miles today.
Keep a winter survival kit in your car. This isn't just "mom advice"—when the wind chill hits -30°F, a car breakdown becomes a life-threatening emergency in about fifteen minutes. Make sure you have blankets, a portable charger, and maybe some snacks you actually like.
The snow might be ending by tonight, but the "winter reality check" is just getting started. Stay warm, keep the pets inside, and maybe throw an extra log on the fire. This clipper might be small, but it’s definitely got teeth.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the MN 511 Map for real-time road closures before heading out.
- Plug in your engine block heater tonight if you have one; the subzero temps arriving after this snow will stress even new batteries.
- Clear your furnace intake and exhaust vents; blowing snow from this afternoon can easily clog them, leading to a dangerous carbon monoxide buildup or a furnace shutdown.