Minnesota Blizzard Update: Crashes, Power Outages & Preliminary Snow Totals

Undated (KROC-AM News)- Many Minnesotans woke up to a winter wonderland Wednesday morning. 

See Also: Popular Rochester Restaurant Burglarized, Police Investigating 

The overnight transition from rain to snow made for difficult travel conditions across most of southern Minnesota Wednesday morning. 

Strong wind gusts are also significantly reducing visibility and have caused multiple major roadways and highways to close due to dangerous traveling conditions. 

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Multiple school districts and other community organizations in southeastern Minnesota have either closed or altered service offerings on Wednesday. 

Numerous customers lost power across the state on Wednesday morning and dozens of motorists were involved in crashes. The National Weather Service has also collected preliminary snow totals. 

A Blizzard Warning remains in effect in southeast Minnesota until 3 p.m. Wednesday. 

Blizzard Conditions Force Closure of Southern Minnesota Interstate and Highways

Overnight the Minnesota Department of Transportation closed Interstate 90 between Interstate 35 in Albert Lea to Luverne near the Minnesota-South Dakota border. 

In southeast Minnesota, snow plows have been out clearing snow and ice from the area’s major roadways.

The City of Rochester says plow crews are working to keep the city’s main thoroughfares clear. 

Officials are telling residents that it will take plow crews about 12 hours to clear all of the city’s streets. Parking restrictions to facilitate snow removal in downtown Rochester are also slated to take place over the next several nights. 

Dozens of Crashes Reported on Roads During Minnesota Blizzard

Statewide, Minnesota State Troopers responded to 70 property damage crashes and a pair of injury crashes between midnight and 7 a.m. Wednesday. 

There were also 111 vehicles that went off the road, 25 spinouts and seven jack-knifed semis on Wednesday morning. 

Thousands of Minnesotans Lose Power Amid Blizzard

Xcel Energy crews responded to multiple power outages prompted by high winds across Minnesota Wednesday morning.

As of 9:30 a.m., nearly 10,000 customers were in the dark. 

Preliminary Minnesota Blizzard Snowfall Totals

Snowfall is predicted to continue into Wednesday afternoon, however the National Weather Service has taken snowfall reports.

3.5 inches of snow were reported in northeast Rochester at 6 a.m. Wednesday. 5 inches were on the ground in Mantorville shortly before 5:30 a.m. 

The heavier snowfall appears to be concentrated to the south of the Twin Cities Metro and to the west of Rochester. 

9 inches were reported in Owatonna at 7 a.m., 8.5-10 inches of snow fell in the southern Twin Cities suburbs and 7.4 inches were reported at 6 a.m. at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.