Heavy Snowfall Snarls Travel Across Red River Valley

Bands of heavy, wet snow cause crashes and power outages in North Dakota and Minnesota

Apr. 4, 2026 at 12:22pm

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A powerful spring snowstorm brought heavy, wet snow to the Red River Valley region on Saturday morning, causing significant travel disruptions, crashes, and power outages across central North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. Snowfall rates reached up to 3 inches per hour, reducing visibility to just half a mile in some areas and making it difficult for drivers to see the roads.

Why it matters

The sudden and intense snowfall caught many residents off guard, leading to dangerous driving conditions and infrastructure damage. Spring storms of this magnitude are relatively rare in the region, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the changing climate and the need for communities to be prepared for extreme weather events.

The details

The heavy snow started falling around 5 a.m. and continued through the morning, with the KFGO studios in south Fargo recording nearly 3 inches of accumulation in just one hour. The North Dakota Highway Patrol and Minnesota State Patrol responded to multiple crashes caused by the slippery roads and poor visibility. Xcel Energy also reported over 380 customers losing power in Fargo due to downed power lines from the weight of the snow.

  • The heavy snowfall began around 5 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
  • By 6:15 a.m., the Fargo Fire Department had responded to over a dozen reports of arching power lines.

The players

North Dakota Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that responded to crashes caused by the heavy snow.

Minnesota State Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that responded to crashes caused by the heavy snow in Minnesota.

Xcel Energy

The utility company that reported over 380 customers losing power in Fargo due to downed power lines from the heavy, wet snow.

Fargo Fire Department

The local fire department that responded to over a dozen reports of arching power lines after 6:15 a.m. due to the snowstorm.

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What’s next

Weather forecasters are monitoring the system and expect the heavy snow to taper off by midday, but warn that lingering impacts on travel and power outages may continue throughout the day.

The takeaway

This sudden and intense spring snowstorm serves as a reminder that extreme weather events can still occur even as the climate changes, underscoring the need for communities to be prepared with emergency response plans and infrastructure resilience measures.