Back-to-back storm systems struck Minnesota during the first four days of April 2026, with areas of sleet, freezing rain, rain, thunderstorms, and even heavy snow. Much of the state received over an inch of precipitation from the two storms, and parts of northwestern Minnesota received a foot-and-half of snow. This was the second year in a row and the third time in four years that a a slushy, wet, and (in some areas) very snowy storm system played an April Fools' prank on parts of Minnesota.
A moderately-strong area of low pressure in central Kansas on April 1 tracked northeastward into Iowa and Wisconsin on the 2nd, before crossing the Great Lakes into Canada on the 3rd. This system was followed quickly by another one taking a similar path, leaving only a short break between two periods of widespread precipitation.
Light rain and mixed precipitation began in western and southern Minnesota on the afternoon of Wednesday April 1. This area of precipitation expanded through the night as temperatures dropped, leading to widespread areas of freezing rain and sleet, with rain in far southeastern Minnesota and slushy snow to the north of the Twin Cities. On Thursday morning, slippery sidewalks and roads greeted Minnesotans, but rising temperatures combined with continued light rain helped melt the ice and limit the extent of hazardous conditions. Throughout Thursday, light rain fell in central and southern Minnesota with wet snow developing in the north, where it continued overnight.
By the morning of Friday April 3rd, all but the far western parts of the state had received at least a half-inch of precipitation, with an inch or more near Duluth and south and east of a line from Worthington to Red Wing. The northern half of the state had received 3-8 inches of wet, sticky snow, with the highest totals from Thief River Falls and Lake Itasca through the the Leech Lake area over towards McGregor, Duluth, and Cloquet. A small area near Grand Marais also received over six inches of snowfall from this first storm.
Much of Friday was spent between weather systems, but a surge of moisture associated with the rapid approach of the second one caused showers and and thunderstorms to blossom over southern and southeastern Minnesota in the late afternoon and early evening. Bursts of heavy to very heavy rain accompanied some of this activity, especially from the Twin Cities on south and southeast. The National Weather Service issued a Flash Flood Warning for Houston County in far southeastern Minnesota, as wave after wave of heavy rain struck that area Friday night.
As the rain area pulled away Friday night, a second area of mixed precipitation and snow rotated into northwestern and northern Minnesota. Snow became quite heavy overnight and into Saturday from near Moorhead, northeastward through the White Earth Reservation, Red Lake Nation, and towards International Falls, where an additional 6 to 15 inches of snow fell. Most of the rest of northern Minnesota received an additional 2 to 5 inches of snow from this second weather system.
For the entire period, about 60% of Minnesota received an inch of precipitation or more, with 2-4 inches falling in the areas of southeastern Minnesota that observed repeat heavy thunderstorm activity. The highest total precipitation amounts included 4.29 inches, reported near Caledonia and 3.90 inches nearby in Brownsville. The Rochester airport reported 2.24 inches of precipitation.
Snowfall totals of a foot or more fell at Moorhead, Bemidji, and Thief River Falls, stretching northeastward to the Rainy River on the Canadian border. The highest totals included 19.8 inches at Mahnomen, 18.6 inches near Thorhult, and 18.0 inches at Georgetown. Accumulations of six inches or greater covered the northern half of Minnesota.
Interestingly, a two-phase storm system of similar size and shape lashed parts of Minnesota at almost the exact same time last year! In 2023, a strong storm system caused heavy snow damage in southern and eastern Minnesota on April 1. So including 2026, three of the past four April Fools' days have featured significant spring weather systems in Minnesota!
Posted April 7, 2026
KAB