MN Weather: 220+ Crashes After Winter Storm Creates Blizzard, Hazardous Travel Conditions
MINNEAPOLIS (AP/WCCO) — A slow-moving winter storm with gusty winds is whipping up blizzard conditions and causing hazardous travel in southwestern Minnesota and northeastern South Dakota.
10 a.m. Update:
No travel is being advised on numerous roads in southwestern Minnesota.
Also, WCCO Meteorologist Mike Augustyniak has the latest snowfall amounts.
Previous Update:
The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the region until 6 p.m. Friday. Winds of 30 mph and gusting as high as 60 mph were creating whiteout conditions on area roadways.
MORE: School/Business Closings
Forecasters are expecting up to 10 inches of snow along the Interstate 90 and I-35 corridors, including Fairmont, Austin, Rochester and Faribault in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported numerous road closures because of whiteout conditions, including westbound I-90 west of Blue Earth overnight.
The Minnesota State Patrol was responding to dozens of crashes and spinouts due to the storm.
Since the winter storm came in Thursday morning, there were over 220 crashes and 26 injuries.
The Minnesota Department of Health closed COVID-19 testing facilities Friday in Mankato, Albert Lea, Morris, Hutchinson and Worthington because of the weather.
(© Copyright 2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
