Blizzard Conditions Sweep Across U.S. North as West Faces Early Heatwave

Millions under weather alerts as storms bring severe threats across the country

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:26pm

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Severe weather threats are impacting millions of Americans, with over 11.5 million people under blizzard warnings in the Northern Plains and Upper Great Lakes, another 4.3 million under winter storm warnings, and about 20.6 million under an extreme heat watch in the West. A rapidly intensifying storm is producing blizzard conditions from eastern South Dakota through Wisconsin into Michigan's Upper Peninsula, while an unusually early heatwave is expected across parts of the West for much of the week.

Why it matters

The combination of blizzard conditions in the North and an early heatwave in the West highlights the increasing severity and unpredictability of extreme weather events driven by climate change. These weather threats pose significant risks to public safety, transportation, power grids, and other critical infrastructure across wide swaths of the country.

The details

The blizzard conditions are being driven by a rapidly intensifying storm system, with over a foot of snow already reported in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Hazardous road conditions have led to hundreds of flight cancellations at major airports. Meanwhile, the West is bracing for record-high temperatures, with desert areas potentially reaching the 90s and 100s Fahrenheit. The warm, dry, and windy pattern is also expected to increase wildfire danger across the region.

  • On Sunday, over a foot of snow fell in parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin.
  • On Sunday, more than 600 flights out of and into the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport were canceled.
  • On Monday, blizzard conditions are likely to continue, with additional lake-effect snow behind the storm.
  • Beginning Monday and continuing through much of the week, record-high temperatures are possible across Southern California, the Desert Southwest, and the Great Basin.

The players

Tim Walz

The governor of Minnesota who has authorized the Minnesota National Guard to support emergency operations.

Aaron Haas

A Wisconsin snowplow driver who described the storm as one of the worst he had seen in years.

Richard Bissen

The mayor of Maui County, Hawaii, who reported that some areas of Maui had received 20 inches of rain in the previous 24 hours, leading to flooding, landslides, sinkholes, debris, and downed power lines across the county.

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What they’re saying

“You can't see anything when you're on the highways outside of the city.”

— Aaron Haas, Snowplow driver (CBS News)

“We're seeing flooding, landslides, sinkholes, debris and downed power lines across the county.”

— Richard Bissen, Maui County Mayor (CBS News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This severe weather event highlights the growing threat of climate change-driven extreme weather, which can have devastating impacts on communities across the country. Preparing for and mitigating these types of events will be crucial in the years ahead.