Weather in Mower County is expected to be quieter on Tuesday after a Monday winter storm brought rain, sleet and snow.

According to National Weather Service, La Crosse office, meteorologist Todd Shea, Mower County was in a transition area with the storm that hit on Monday.

“As of Monday morning, areas north of Austin have seen 4 to 6 inches of snow,” he said. “South of Austin is more of a mix. Austin may be in the 4 to 7-inch range, but from Hayfield to further north that level will jump quite a bit.”

Areas west of Interstate 35, including Freeborn County, Faribault and Mankato, were placed under a blizzard warning Monday morning.

Heavy snow accumulation ended Monday afternoon, but Shea said light snow would fall Monday night into the early morning hours of Tuesday.

The National Weather Service was also keeping an eye on flash floods Monday morning; however, Shea said the basins were able to handle it. Even so, Shea said drivers should be aware of ponding and the potential for floods.

The weather made for hazardous travel conditions on Monday as snow and ice created slippery roads. Austin Police Capt. David McKichan urged drivers to stay indoors if possible.

“Most people are staying off the roads,” he said. “If you don’t have to travel outside the city, don’t do it.”

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and Mower County Sheriff’s Office had received no reports of accidents.

Sgt. Troy Christianson of the Minnesota State Patrol said some accidents occurred on state roads outside of Mower County, but Monday traffic was minimal.

“We’re getting reports of cars spinning out and semis jackknifing, but no reports of injuries or fatalities,” he said. “Blowing snow, however, could cause trouble at night.”

Part of I-35 North was closed temporarily on Monday after a semi jackknifed north of Clinton Falls.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported numerous reports of vehicles spinning out and semis jackknifing on Interstate 90 west of Albert Lea and US 14 west of Owatonna.

Austin City Engineer and Public Works Director Steven Lange said a snow emergency would not be declared. Due to concern of snow getting packed down on the roads, snow plow crews were out clearing the roads from Monday afternoon through the late evening.

Lange said the crews would plow the downtown area Tuesday morning and re-plow some areas to clear snow that fell Monday evening.

Austin Public Schools and schools throughout Mower County were closed on Monday due to the weather. Several businesses closed early, including Austin Utilities, which closed at 3 p.m. Other businesses that remained open allowed certain employees to go home early.