Roads close, travel advisory issued amid blizzard conditions

Updated 10:44 a.m.

Road closures and travel advisories are in effect across Cook County and along the North Shore as blizzard and whiteout conditions continue.

At 7 a.m., the Cook County Highway Department issued a no-travel advisory for Cook County.

Highway Engineer Robbie Hass said that heavy, gusty winds are causing limited visibility and dangerous travel conditions.

“If conditions deteriorate such that we need to pull the plows off the roads, we will notify the public accordingly. Please stay home and stay safe,” Hass said.

Hass told WTIP at 10:37 a.m. that highway crews have been out clearing roads since 4 a.m., but given the limited visibility and volume of snow progress has been slow. He said plows will continue plowing until dusk on Wednesday evening.  “A travel advisory is still in place so please remain at home if at all possible. We thank you for your patience during this February snow event,” Hass said.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has also advised the public not to travel along Highway 61.  Early Wednesday, before 7 a.m., Highway 61 was temporarily closed from the Canadian border to Duluth due to the blizzard conditions. The highway reopened around 7 a.m., but snow remains on the road. MnDOT said visibility is low and there are warnings of white out conditions.

As of approximately 7:30 a.m., the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported a stalled vehicle on Highway 61 four miles north of Silver Bay.

Shortly after 8 a.m. the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported a stalled vehicle on Highway 61 between Fly by Lane and Leveaux Ridge near Tofte.

Find the latest road conditions on 511mn.org.

Due to the hazardous conditions and challenges road crews are facing, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a no-travel advisory for Lake County at 9 a.m. “Please be patient as county, state, and local road crews are doing their best to safely clear the roadways,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.

View of Highway 61 near Schroeder at 7:59 a.m. on Wednesday | MnDOT

A list of weather-related closures is below:

• First and Second Thrift Store will be closed on Wednesday
• Cook County Higher Education has canceled the Feb. 18 succession planning event
• Lutsen Lutheran Church has canceled the Ash Wednesday service
• Flintlock Range Association has canceled their Feb. 18 Wednesday meeting. The meeting is rescheduled for Feb. 25.
• Cascade Restaurant will be closed Wednesday, February 18 and will reopen at 8 AM on Thursday, February 19
• Zoar Church in Tofte has canceled Wednesday’s Bible Club, soup supper and ashes.
• Birch Grove Community School will be closed on Wednesday. The closure includes the Seedlings and Saplings program. The school said Thursday classes and programs are being assessed and are being determined.
• Great Expectations School will be closed on Wednesday.
• Cook County Schools will be closed and all school district activities are canceled on Wednesday, February 18.
• Oshki Ogimaag Community School will be closed on Wednesday, February 18 due to forecasted weather conditions
• Cook County History Museum will be closed Wednesday, February 18. The museum will provide an update on their website and social media regarding Thursday hours.
• The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will close the RTC offices and Tribal Programs on Wednesday. The Casino, Lodge, and Trading Post will remain open.
• Care Partners office will be closed Wednesday, February 18. They advise to call ahead for Thursday hours.
• North House Folk School will be closed Wednesday, February 18
• The Cook County Courthouse will be closed on Wednesday.
• The Hub will be closed Wednesday, February 18 and Meals on Wheels will not be delivered. They will decide if they will open on Thursday.
• The Cook County Co-op is closed Wednesday. The Co-op announced they will be open on Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.
• Grand Marais City Hall is closed Wednesday.
• The Grand Marais Liquor Store has reduced its hours. It will be open 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
• At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Lutsen Mountains said it does not anticipate opening lifts today given that travel advised.
• The Bethlehem Lutheran and Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal combined Ash Wednesday Service has been canceled for tonight, Feb 18. The imposition of Ashes will take place during Sunday February 22 worship service.
• Gene’s Foods will be closed Wednesday.
• Napa Auto Parts will be closing early at 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
• The Grand Marais Public Library will be closed on Wednesday.
• All Chippewa National Forest offices will be closed on Wednesday.
• Licari Larsen will be closed on Wednesday.
• At 9:50 a.m. Cook County announced that all Cook County facilities will be closed on Wednesday.
• Bucks Hardware will close early at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
• The Cook County Curling Club has canceled two-person curling on Wednesday.
• The North Shore Swing Band has canceled the Thursday, Feb. 19 show. The next scheduled show is March 19th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Cook County Home Center will close at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
• Arrowhead Transit’s Ely, Grand Marais, and Two Harbors Dial-A-Ride have been cancelled Wednesday. Anticipate additional slight weather related delays.
• Joyne’s Ben Franklin is closed on Wednesday.
• Johnson’s Foods has decided to close early at 2 p.m.  on Wednesday.
• Sawtooth Mountain Clinic is closed for the remainder of the day Wednesday.
• The Cook County YMCA is closed on Wednesday.

Send your weather-related closures to news@wtip.org.

As of 7 a.m. on Wednesday, areas across Cook County have received between 7 and 10 inches of snow accumulation. Higher snowfall reports are closer to the Lake Superior shore, while inland areas have received between 2 and 4 inches as of early Wednesday morning.

A blizzard warning remains in effect until noon on Thursday. Total expected snowfall amounts along the North Shore are between 16 and 24 inches. Wind gusts near Grand Marais ranged between 40 and 50 mph early Wednesday morning.

WTIP spoke with the National Weather Service live on North Shore Morning at 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday for a mid-storm update. Audio is below.

Kalli Hawkins February 18, 2026