More forecasted snow in Cook County brings delays and closures
A Blizzard Warning began on the North Shore at 1 p.m. on March 12. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued predictions ranging from 6 to 14 inches of snow across Cook County and the Grand Portage Tribal Lands. The lakeshore is expected to see the heaviest snowfall, with inland residents seeing less.
Overnight snowfall from Thursday into Friday could be as heavy as two inches per hour. Some additional snow could fall on Friday morning, but forecasts from the NWS show the bulk of the snow falling overnight.
Despite blue skies and sunshine on Thursday afternoon, some local businesses and organizations began announcing their plans to stay closed or open late in preparation for the blizzard.
The following entities in Cook County have announced closures and delayed openings due to the storm:
- Cook County Schools will be closed on Friday, afterschool activities have been cancelled
- Great Expectations School will be closed on Friday
- Birch Grove Community School will be closed on Friday
- The Cook County Co-Op will open at 12 p.m. on Friday
- Care Partners of Cook County’s office will be closed, but staff will still be answering phones
- County Facilities will open at 12 p.m on Friday
- The Grand Marais Public Library will open at 1 p.m. on Friday
- Oddz & Endz will be closed on Friday
- The Hub will be closed on Friday
- 1st & 2nd Thrift Store will be closed on Friday
- Joy and Company is attempting to open at noon today. Will provide updates on their Facebook page.
- The Father/Daughter dance scheduled for this evening at the Cook County Schools Cafeteria is canceled.
- Cook County Extension has cancelled scheduled programming on Friday
- The Johnson Heritage Post and Cook County History Museum will be closed on Friday
- Sivertson Gallery will open at 12 p.m. on Friday
On March 12, NWS meteorologist Jonathan Wolf told WTIP that the North Shore should expect the storm to arrive later in the evening, with the majority of the snow falling before 3 a.m. accompanied by strong winds. He said, “It’s just a really quick hitter, but really intense when it does come through.”
He added that their forecast predicts that the snow will taper off on Friday morning, but that strong winds could persist.
Wolf spoke with WTIP’s CJ Heithoff live on North Shore Morning. Audio of that interview is below.
Kirsten Wisniewski March 12, 2026
