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1st Snowstorm Of Season Moves Into Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) — The unseasonably mild conditions of recent days is being ushered out by a jolt of wintry weather that's bringing blizzards, freezing temperatures and high winds to Minnesota and surrounding states.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Friday in eastern parts of North and South Dakota and western Minnesota, as well as winter storm warnings for other parts of those states and Nebraska.

In the Twin Cities, the morning commute saw rain and thunderstorms, with the weather transitioning to snow in the afternoon.

Snow totals in parts of Minnesota are already substantial.

In Alexandria, there's a blizzard warning due to not only the snow, but winds are gusting up to 50 mph. That creates white-out conditions with large snow drifts.

"Really dangerous driving conditions, so if you can avoid it, do not travel in that area," Brickman said.

Plows were out at 3:30 a.m. in Alexandria, but snow did not pick up until 6 a.m.

One Alexandria resident had his snow blower freeze up.

June Roers of Roers Family Bakery was out shoveling for her 22nd winter season.

"It's a pretty day, I like watching it," Roers said. "Like I said, I hope nobody gets stuck or stranded or bad accident. But the first winter snowfall is always that, 'Watch out where you're going,' and 'Oops, I didn't turn right,' and you slip and slide, but they get through it."

Minnesota State Patrol said between 10 p.m. Thursday and 9:30 p.m. Friday officers had responded to 447 crashes, and 864 spinouts. Fifty-two had injuries and three were fatal. One of the fatal accidents was in the metro.

Colder air follows the snow. A windchill of 14 degrees is expected Saturday morning in the Twin Cities.

"It'll feel like it's in the single digits in St. Cloud, Brainerd and Alexandria," Brickman said.

The entire weekend stays cold with a high of 33 expected on Saturday and a high of 36 on Sunday.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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