Photo: Boreal Community Media

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 19, 2026

Community members in northern Minnesota are digging out from under a foot of snow after a blizzard that buried the North Shore for the past 48 hours. Along with heavy, wet snow, the storm brought high winds, resulting in road closures, travel advisories, and school and business closures. 

A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for the county until 12 p.m. on Thursday, February 19. Local schools remain closed, and several businesses have announced closures or delayed openings for the day.

As of 9:20 a.m., county officials confirmed that the no-travel advisory issued by the Cook County Highway Department remains in effect for the area. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) reports that Highway 61 currently has snow-compacted or lightly snow-covered stretches. 

The following snowfall totals have been reported for the 48-hour period ending the morning of February 19, 2026:

• Hovland: 38.6 in 

• Tofte: 24.2 in

• Grand Marais: 13.7 in to 20.0 in (locations closer to Lake Superior received higher amounts)

According to the National Weather Service, the Hovland snowfall report of 38.6" would set a new Cook County record for 2-day snowfall, which currently sits at 28". (All reports at this point are considered preliminary in nature. The NWS routinely collaborates with state climatologists before a report can become an "official" record.) However, NWS noted that it considers the report reliable. 

The state record, which was recorded on January 7, 1994, at Wolf Ridge ELC in Lake County, is 45" in two days. 

While the heaviest snowfall ended early this morning, some areas near Lake Superior may still see lingering flurries throughout the day. Forecasters expect additional accumulation to remain under 2 inches across most of the region, though eastern Cook County could receive 4 to 8 inches of new snow before the system fully leaves the area.

Looking ahead, a second, smaller weather system is moving toward the area and is expected to arrive late Thursday night through Saturday. Snow totals range anywhere from a trace to 3 inches of snow for the Minnesota Arrowhead.