Spring Snowstorm To Be Followed By Quick Melt

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Some Minnesotans are digging out after getting a foot or more of snow in this early spring storm.

The average amount of snowfall in March in Minnesota is 10 inches, so this is not uncommon. But some folks in Rochester are not welcoming this snow after a mild winter.

"I'm not going to shovel it, I'm just going to driver over it," said a Rochester resident.

But many people say they are not surprised. It is, after all, March in Minnesota.

And with a foot or more of snow possible by Thursday afternoon, southern Minnesotans say there is not much more they can do but brace for it.

"Hibernating," said one Rochester resident. "I'm just going to stay indoors."

Rochester public schools are closed Thursday.

A Winter Storm Warning will be in effect until Thursday afternoon for the Twin Cities metro and below. High winds will make for a lot of blowing snow, causing very difficult driving conditions.

MnDOT is advising drivers to stay off the road Tuesday night, and drive slow if you must be out on the roads.

There is a very defined cutoff line for the storm system, with Minneapolis and St. Paul just above the line.

Lakeville has seen up to 9 inches of snow in some areas by early Wednesday evening; Eagan resident have reported 7 inches; while River Falls, Rosemount, West St. Paul and Farmington have all seen about 6 inches.

The temperatures are just at freezing point -- making for wet, heavy snow.

The storm will linger in southeastern Minnesota overnight, but sunshine will take over almost the entire state Thursday -- leading to a quick melt. Most of Minnesota will be in the lower 40s.

The Minnesota State Patrol says there were 171 crashes Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Twenty-seven of those crashes involved injuries. There were also 164 reported incidents of vehicles spinning out or going off the road.