Snow causes hundreds of crashes across Minnesota
Published 5:14 pm Tuesday, February 2, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS — The Latest on winter storm moving through Minnesota:
287 crashes
The Minnesota State Patrol reports hundreds of crashes statewide as a winter storm pushes across the state.
As of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the patrol reports 287 crashes across Minnesota. In addition, there were 221 spinouts.
The National Weather Service says 6 inches of snow is reported near Jackson in southwestern Minnesota, while nearly 6 inches of snow has fallen in Albert Lea in the southeast part of the state.
Minneapolis, St. Paul and Mankato are among cities declaring snow emergencies. Rochester Public Schools have canceled classes Wednesday for the second day in a row.
Closures
A severe winter storm is prompting officials to close highways in southern Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation says Interstate 90 west of Albert Lea closed at 2 p.m. Tuesday because of hazardous driving conditions.
The State Patrol says highways south of Highway 14 in southern Minnesota also are closed. Mower County pulled its plows off the roads at 4 p.m. and they are expected to begin plowing again at 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The patrol says numerous crashes are reported in the Twin Cities as heavy snow falls.
School closures
Many students have the day off in Minnesota as a powerful storm moves through the state.
The storm is expected to bring blizzard-like conditions to far southern Minnesota through Tuesday night. Wind gusts of up to 40 mph could cause whiteout conditions.
Most Mower County and area schools were closed on Tuesday.
Among the other school district canceling classes Tuesday are Blue Earth Area Public Schools, Faribault, Lakeview, Blooming Prairie, Mankato and Marshall. Minneapolis Public Schools canceled after-school activities and athletic events Tuesday. St. Paul is dismissing high school students at 1:30 and canceling after-school activities.
The National Weather Service is predicting 4 to 8 inches of snow in the Twin Cities and its suburbs. Accumulations of 6 to 11 inches of snow are expected south of a line from Redwood Falls to Minneapolis.
