Photo: Grand Marais Harbor Camera, Visit Cook County

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 18, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.

Blizzard conditions continue to impact the North Shore as a powerful winter storm moves through the region. 

Heavy snow remains concentrated along the North Shore and the far northeast Arrowhead. As of 9:30 a.m., many places in Cook and Lake County were reporting at least 13 inches of fresh snow. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Duluth, as of 10 a.m., the most intense snowfall band extended from Grand Marais north through Grand Portage. This band is expected to continue moving north, with peak snowfall intensity tapering off between noon and 1:00 p.m. However, a new band of heavy snow has developed out of the convection over northwest Wisconsin, extending from Two Harbors east across the Apostle Islands. This band is expected to push north over the next few hours and hit the North Shore with another round of heavy snow. 

The NWS forecasts an additional 5-10 inches of snow for the North Shore. 

Moving into the afternoon and evening, a shift in wind and snow is expected. While the most intense snowfall rates are beginning to subside, east to northeast winds with gusts of 45 to 55 mph will continue near Lake Superior. These winds are forecast to decrease slowly to gusts of 30 to 40 mph tonight, but they remain strong enough to maintain significant blowing and drifting snow.

The consistency of the snow will also change; while earlier snowfall was heavy and wet, dropping temperatures will transition the precipitation into a lighter, more powdery snow by Thursday. This change will likely maintain low visibility even as the heaviest falling snow begins to taper off.

The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until noon Thursday. The Minnesota Department of Transportation and Cook County Highway Department continue to advise against all travel, especially along Highway 61 from Grand Portage to Two Harbors, as whiteout conditions persist and visibility frequently drops to one-tenth of a mile or less. 

Cook County and Grand Portage schools and several local businesseshave closed due to the weather conditions. 

Looking further ahead, the NWS is monitoring a second storm system arriving quickly late this week, which could bring further impactful snowfall to the Arrowhead.