Winter continues to grip the Northern Tier, with another potentially widespread storm on the horizon, bringing snow, ice, and freezing rain from Tuesday night through Thursday.
According to the FOX Forecast Center, this system could stretch more than 1,000 miles, impacting the Upper Midwest and New England. The storm is fueled by a collision of deep moisture moving northward and Arctic air plunging south from Canada.
Meteorologists expect the storm to form in the West before quickly advancing across the Northern Tier. It’s forecast to take shape over the Northern Rocky Mountains Tuesday, intensify across the Northern Plains, and then shift toward the Great Lakes, though its exact track remains uncertain beyond that point.
❄️ WINTER’S GRIP: A complex winter storm is forecast to move from Tuesday night through Thursday, stretching over 1,000 miles across the Northern Tier. While the exact storm track remains uncertain at this time, it could bring everything from a wintry mix, heavy snow, ice, and… pic.twitter.com/yuNv3yh97h
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) February 16, 2026
Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and northern Michigan are likely to see a snowstorm, with moderate totals expected so far. Confidence is increasing regarding the system’s timing and strength. The storm is projected to start late Tuesday and last into early Thursday.
The system will have significant moisture, drawing from both a Pacific surge in the Southwest and the Gulf of America. Heavy snowfall is most likely in North Dakota and northern Minnesota from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Strong winds could produce blizzard conditions in some areas. Snow totals in the hardest-hit states could exceed 5 to 8 inches.
Small shifts in the storm’s path could change precipitation types. A northern track may allow warmer air to create rain or a mix in parts of the Upper Midwest, while a southern path would keep colder air in place, increasing snow totals.
By Wednesday, the storm is expected to begin weakening, though a brief period of freezing rain may occur if cold air remains near the surface under warmer air above.