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Snow Falls In Twin Cities, MnDOT Hits The Roads

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO/AP) -- Snowflakes have begun flying in the Twin Cities metro area Friday morning, in the first significant snow event of the season.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for much of Minnesota, including Hennepin, Wright and Stearns County.

The snow started further north late Thursday. Meteorologist Matt Brickman reported snow totals from WCCO Weather Watchers showing more than 8 inches of snow in Warroad and Chisholm, around 5 in Blackduck, and around 3 inches in Crosslake and Randall. Staples and Aitkin both reported 1.5 inches.

Brickman also reported winds were upwards of 20 or 30 miles per hour in many parts of the state, with some of the highest winds registering in the southwestern portion of the state.

A half-foot of snow is expected in northern Minnesota by later Friday, with additional accumulations in some local spots. The Minnesota Department of Transportation says northern roads are snow-covered and slippery, including Highway 53 between Duluth and the Iron Range and Highway 2 between Duluth and Grand Rapids.

Plows were on the road Friday morning making sure all would have a safe and smooth ride into work.

MnDOT has been prepping for the metro's first snowfall since the spring. A few weeks ago, plow drivers wrapped up their annual training at Camp Ripley.

MnDOT says the most important thing for people on the road today -- remembering how to drive in the winter.

The Twin Cities has not had snow this week of October since 2009.

The NWS has issued a lakeshore flood warning where strong, gusty winds are expected to generate waves of 14 to 17 feet along Lake Superior. In northwestern Wisconsin, Highways 2 and 13 along Chequamegon Bay west of Ashland were closed Friday morning because of lakeshore flooding.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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