MnDOT urges drivers not to travel on Owatonna

The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the State Patrol advise no travel in south central Minnesota Monday evening until conditions improve sometime Tuesday.
The area includes Steele County.
Strong winds are expected to result in dramatically reduced visibility and many road surfaces remain snow and ice compacted.
No interstate or state highway closures are anticipated at this time, however closures may become necessary is conditions worsen.
MnDOT did close both lanes of northbound Interstate 35 north of Albert Lea at about 1:20 p.m. Monday following a multiple-vehicle accident involving a cattle hauler. Both lanes are now open, MnDOT reports.
MnDOT snow plow operators are out in force, but are not making significant progress in some areas of heavier snowfall.
A winter storm warning remains in effect for Steele County, as well as a large portion of central and south central Minnesota, the National Weather Service in Chanhassen reported Monday afternoon.
A winter storm warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather conditions are expected or are occurring. The warning will remain in effect until noon Tuesday.
Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make traveling dangerous.
MnDOT advises no unnecessary travel in south central and southwestern Minnesota due to snow and ice compacted roads and reduced visibility.
The slow-moving winter storm continues to make driving a challlenge across a broad swath of Minnesota, the Associated Press reports. Authorities are reporting numerous accidents, including two that snarled traffic in the Lowry Tunnel on westbound Interstate 94 in downtown Minneapolis on Monday afternoon.
MnDOT also reports difficult driving conditions across much of western and southern Minnesota, including the I-94 and I-90 corridors, though conditions were upgraded to fair in the Twin Cities by mid-afternoon. Three MnDOT trucks were involved in crashes Monday morning.
The weather service says Willmar has received 7.5 inches of snow, while the southern suburbs of Prior Lake and Lakeville report 6 and 5.5 inches respectively.
The intensity of the storm prompted school districts in Steele County — Owatonna, including St. Mary’s and St. Isidore, Medford Blooming Prairie and NHREG — to cancel classes and other school events Monday. Roughly 80 rural school districts are starting classes two hours late and roughly 50 rural districts are closed across southern and western Minnesota, the Associated Press reports.

Snow continued to fall over most of central and south-central Minnesota Monday afternoon, the weather service reported, with the most significant accumulation in a band from west-central Minnesota from Alexandria and Morris to Willmar and Hutchinson, and the southwest areas of the Twin Cities, down to Mankato and Albert Lea. This general trend was expected to continue through the afternoon. Snowfall amounts of four to seven inches have been common in these areas, the weather service reports.
Snow is expected to move or develop back into southwest Minnesota late this afternoon as the low pressure area slides into Iowa. The rest of central and south-central Minnesota will see continuing snow overnight, but with decreasing intensity, the weather service reports. In addition, however, north to northwest winds of 20 mph to 25 mph will develop over west-central and southwest Minnesota overnight and Tuesday, causing blowing and drifting snow and very low visibility.
Further light accumulations are expected Tuesday morning. Total snowfall amounts from Sunday through Tuesday morning are forecast to be between six to 11 inches.
The forecast according to the National Weather Service:

Monday afternoon: Snow. High near 24. East wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Monday night: Snow. Low around 18. East northeast wind between 11 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday: Snow and areas of blowing snow. High near 21. North wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tuesday night: A 30 percent chance of snow before midnight. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 1. Wind chill values between -4 and -14. North northwest wind between 10 mph and 15 mph.

Mn/DOT reminds motorists to follow safe winter driving practices, including:
• Plan ahead: Give yourself extra time to travel.
• Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake lights and directional signals.
• Drive slowly: Lower speeds help drivers avoid crashes and minimize those that occur.
• Keep a safe stopping distance between vehicles: Leave extra room between your vehicle and snow plows or other removal equipment.
• Always use seat belts.
• Adjust speed to road and weather conditions.
• Avoid using cruise-control.
• Turn on headlights when it is sleeting or snowing.

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Member Opinions: By: Thinking_Outloud on 2/8/10 "Winter Storm Blasts Area" Ya' think? By: trueblue on 2/8/10 Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Nincompoops! By: JonathanM on 2/8/10 ^ yeah, we are......for living here..... By: Mech_D on 2/8/10 I would call this "Braking News" Mow-w-w-w-w-w to come By: pookah on 2/8/10 Oh my, Mech_D... Hmmm... yeah, that's funny! LOL... By: katokid88 on 2/8/10 more important things to worry about? like worrying about what people are complaining about... cuz thats what your doing... By: pookah on 2/9/10 Or worrying about those who worry about what people are complaining about!?!? By: ss_observing on 2/9/10 adam6521 - you're analogy doesn't quite hold water. Living in MN is nothing like living next to a race track with it's noise. Actually, quite the opposite. Minnesotans know there is snow, but they are also quite aware that the resources are available to handle it. Unlike, say, Texas. We just want to know why it ISN'T being handled appropriately especially since we already pay for it. By: adam6521 on 2/9/10 Why are you talking to me about it for? I never posted anything? By: secretsquirrel on 2/9/10 Thinking_Outloud - Your comment reminded me of something... I remember the last big storm we had awhile ago, around Christmas I think. I was driving through the 'Forbidden Corridor' between Cabella's and the last big hill before the Faribault exit (you know the one, where they always post the speed trap? LOL). When you head north after the Medford exit, you crest the hill and enter a long downhill curve. Just after the straight stretch they have that electronic traffic advisory sign they just installed last year. I could hardly see the road, the wind was blowing and I squinted to see through the snow when I spied in the middle of nowhere that sign... It said: 'Driving advisory: Driving is not recommended due to weather conditions.' or words to that effect. I recall my first thought: "Ya think?" That was immediately followed by: "What good does it do to put that stupid sign in the middle of this cornfield? I'm ALREADY driving in it and have nowhere else to go but forward! LOL" Ya gotta love Minnesota winters and the folly they encompass.
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