A stacked surface low was located over northeastern MN. An area of deformation developed across the Dakotas and moved slowly through Minnesota into western Wisconsin.
Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
A stacked surface low was located over northeastern MN. An area of deformation developed across the Dakotas and moved slowly through Minnesota into western Wisconsin. Forcing within the mid-levels allowed for moderate to heavy snow to fall across portions of western WI.
The highest snowfall measurements were observed mostly in western Pierce County, with 5.7 inches 3 miles south of River Falls. Otherwise, the surrounding counties mainly observed 1 to 2 inches of snow.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 18, 11:54 AM CST, 6 minutes earlier.
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</html>Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 356 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 191000- Douglas-Todd-Morrison-Mille Lacs-Kanabec-Stevens-Pope-Stearns- Benton-Sherburne-Isanti-Chisago-Lac Qui Parle-Swift-Chippewa- Kandiyohi-Meeker-Wright-Hennepin-Anoka-Ramsey-Washington- Yellow Medicine-Renville-McLeod-Sibley-Carver-Scott-Dakota- Redwood-Brown-Nicollet-Le Sueur-Rice-Goodhue-Watonwan-Blue Earth- Waseca-Steele-Martin-Faribault-Freeborn-Polk-Barron-Rusk- St. Croix-Pierce-Dunn-Pepin-Eau Claire- 356 AM CST Wed Feb 18 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central and southern Minnesota, and west central Wisconsin. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight. Rain will transition to snowfall by this afternoon. A localized band of snow is likely to set up along and south of I-94 during the day Wednesday, with accumulations up to two to four inches. Wind gusts up to 45 mph are possible in western Minnesota. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Another round of accumulating snow is possible Thursday night into Friday, mainly across southeast Minnesota and west-central Wisconsin. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN spotter activation will not be needed. BPH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snowfall with rates near one inch per hour produced 1 to 4 inches across the county. CoCoRaHS observers measured 4 inches in River Falls, 3.8 inches in Roberts, and 1.5 inches in New Richmond.
Heavy snowfall with rates near one inch per hour produced 2 to 6 inches. The highest snow totals located in the western portion of the county. CoCoRaHS observers measured 5.7 inches 3 miles S of River Falls.
Between 1 to 2 inches of snow fell across the county. CoCoRaHS observers measured 2 inches of snowfall in Menomonie and 1.5 inches in Colfax.
Between 1 to 2 inches of snow fell across the county. CoCoRaHS observers measured 1.9 inches of snow in Chippewa Falls.
Light snow and gusty winds produced 1 to 2 inches across the county and periods of reduced visibility below one mile. CoCoRaHS observers measured 2.5 inches of snow 5 miles SW of Eau Claire and 1.9 inches 5 miles NW of Eleva.
Light snow and gusty winds produced 1 to 2 inches across the county and periods of reduced visibility down to one mile. CoCoRaHS observers measured 1.5 inches in 3 miles NE of Stockholm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, February 2026
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1317837, 1321396, 1317842, 1317844, 1317845, 1317846.