Falling Snow Creating Travel Woes
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- For the most part, the snow has passed.
A few flurries may continue overnight but most of the damage has been done by Wednesday's snow storm. The snow, which began in the afternoon, created quite the hassle for drivers trying to get out of town before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Heading into turkey day, WCCO Meteorologist Chris Shaffer said the wind will be the biggest issue, making temperatures, already in the 20s, feel more like the teens. The wind will also blow the fallen snow around, making visibility difficult at times.
Still most of the hazardous driving is behind us.
The Minnesota State Patrol reported a total of 124 crashes statewide -- 28 with injuries since 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The winter weather in the Twin Cities started off with sleet then quickly turned to snow. The metro area had between 1 to 3 inches. By the time the snow stopped in the Duluth area, which was expected to last into Thursday, the totals were in the 8 to 10-inch range.
Meanwhile, south of the Twin Cities, towards Rochester, Minn. and La Crosse, Wis. there will be very little snow. They were expected to get maybe an inch or a coating of snow, but more likely some freezing rain.
In the north metro, residents received 2-5 inches up near Hayward.
Shaffer said the snow will slow down Wednesday night and should be completely on the ground by midnight, but with the wind you can expect to see the white stuff flying around all day Thursday. That's when the real concern will be wind chills hovering around zero all day.
The windchill will be a big reminder to bundle up if you're spending time outside.
Friday will still be cold, but without the wind it should be more bearable. No snow or rain is in the forecast and weekend temperatures should climb higher than 30 making the trip home a little easier.
For now, MnDOT says it's ready for whatever Mother Nature hands out. MnDOT spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said that includes treating roads for a wintry mix of freezing rain and snow.
"We're preparing and just waiting to see what Mother Nature will do because, as we all know -- and last weekend showed it -- sometimes Mother Nature can throw you a curve ball," he said, referring to the ice storm that caused some 400 accidents with 70 injuries and two fatalities.
Gutknecht said MnDOT has more than 800 snowplows and nearly 1,500 drivers ready to go statewide. That includes some 200 trucks on metro area highways.
WCCO-TV 10 P.M. Weather Forecast
Heading Out For Last-Minute Thanksgiving Preps
