School Closings MN: March 13 Snowstorm Triggers Statewide Cancellations—Full District List & Real-Time Updates

A powerful late-season winter storm sweeping across Minnesota has forced dozens of districts to cancel classes, pivot to e-learning or delay the start of school for Friday, March 13, 2026, as blowing snow and white-out conditions move south from the Iron Range toward the Twin Cities. Forecasters expect 6–12 inches of fresh snow north of I-94, wind gusts topping 40 mph and wind-chill values below zero, creating dangerous bus and commuter travel through the morning drive. What’s closed or delayed today • Twin Ports & Arrowhead: Duluth, Proctor, Cloquet and Grand Rapids have declared a full snow day; most are shifting to e-learning to avoid a make-up day later in the spring. • Central Lakes: Brainerd, Little Falls, Staples-Motley, Crosby-Ironton and Pequot Lakes are closed; Aitkin and Alexandria opened two hours late before switching to distance learning by mid-morning. • Northwest: Bemidji, Blackduck, Cass Lake-Bena and Red Lake are closed; Moorhead remains open but warns parents of possible early dismissal. • South & West Central: Marshall, New Ulm, Redwood Area, Tracy, Waconia and Minneota have canceled in-person classes; several rural districts from Lac qui Parle Valley to Murray County Central are running e-learning days. • Twin Cities metro: Most metro schools are open but monitoring; Minneapolis and St. Paul could announce afternoon activity cancellations if the storm track shifts. Why districts are acting now State transportation cameras already show ice glazing Highways 2, 53 and 169, while plows struggle to keep visibility above one-quarter mile. The Minnesota Department of Transportation urges drivers to stay off the roads until midday. Administrators say the expansion of Chromebooks and high-speed internet after the pandemic has made it easier to call an e-learning day rather than strand students on buses. How long will disruptions last? Meteorologists expect the heaviest band of snow to exit Minnesota by late Friday afternoon, but a secondary clipper may redevelop Saturday night. School leaders will decide by Sunday evening whether Monday brings more closures or a return to normal schedules. Tips for parents • Double-check your district’s website, text alerts or the statewide closings page before heading out. • If your child is on an e-learning plan, charge devices and download assignments early in case of power blips. • Allow delivery drivers and plows extra space—snowbanks are already narrowing residential streets. • Bundle up: frostbite can occur in under 20 minutes when wind chills drop below –20 °F. SEO takeaway Searches for “school closings MN,” “Minnesota school delays,” “Twin Cities snow day” and “e-learning day Minnesota” are spiking as families scramble for real-time updates. Bookmark this page for the latest closure map and follow #mnwx on social platforms for road and forecast alerts throughout the day.