Winter Storm Causes Hazardous Road Conditions Across Minnesota

A winter storm moving through Minnesota on Thursday has significantly worsened road conditions statewide. In northwestern Minnesota, several state highways near the North Dakota border have been closed due to blizzard conditions, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Many other roads in the region are partially or completely covered, and a blizzard warning is in effect.

In the Twin Cities area, most roads were at least partially covered by 2:15 p.m., with several crashes reported in the metro area. South-central and southwestern Minnesota are experiencing greatly reduced visibility. MnDOT has issued a "No Travel Advised" alert for parts of northwestern Minnesota, indicating that visibility has been reduced to the point that it is very dangerous to travel. The Polk County Sheriff's Office reported that some vehicles have already been stranded due to the conditions and advised residents to stay home if possible.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for much of central Minnesota from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday. The advisory warns of winds gusting 40 to 50 mph, low visibility in falling snow, and flash freeze conditions leading to icy roads and surfaces. Wind chills are forecast to be as cold as -25 degrees. The National Weather Service has also issued a Blizzard Warning for portions of north-central and northeast Iowa and southeast Minnesota, including cities such as Rochester and Austin, until 9 p.m. Thursday. The warning forecasts whiteout conditions with additional snow accumulations up to one inch and winds gusting as high as 50 mph.

Motorists are urged to exercise caution, monitor road conditions, and consider delaying travel until conditions improve.