The Minnesota Department of Transportation is urging drivers to be cautious on area roads after three cars hit three snowplows in southeast Minnesota this morning, including one on Interstate 90 near Austin.

Lightweight snow and windy conditions decreased visibility on area highways, and MnDOT reported that reduced visibility was a factor in some of the crashes.

Shortly after 11 a.m., a semi rear-ended a snowplow about seven miles west of Austin on I-90. No injuries were reported.

At 9 a.m., a vehicle rear-ended a snowplow on Highway 56 at Goodhue County Road 9. No injuries were reported. Then at 10 a.m., a vehicle rear-ended a plow on eastbound Highway 14 west of Byron The Minnesota State Patrol was investigating it as a personal injury crash, but the MnDOT driver was not injured.

More than 100 MnDOT snowplows were on highways in southeastern Minnesota at around 1 p.m. Wednesday clearing roads and applying salt and sand in the 11-county southeastern Minnesota district.

MnDOT reminded motorists to drive slowly near snowplows, give plows plenty of room and to not drive into a snow cloud.