Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - It took longer than expected to arrive but yesterday’s snowstorm ended up being a record event.

The National Weather Service is reporting that 4.2 inches of snow fell at the Rochester Airport from the late afternoon until midnight. The snowfall total tied the record for February 17th which was set just last year. Hayfield reported 4 inches of new snow and there were numerous reports of 3 to 3.5 inches of accumulation across southeastern Minnesota.

It appears the heaviest snow fell southwest of the Twin Cities. The National Weather Service is reporting almost inches fell in the New Ulm area.

The freezing precipitation that accompanied the wet snow created a slick mess on area roads. During the morning commute, the Minnesota Department of Transportation described most of the highways in the Rochester area as completely snow and ice-covered.

While a tally of storm-related traffic crashes from this morning is not yet available, the State Patrol reported there were 168 crashes and 174 vehicle spinouts reported between 4 PM and 9:30 PM yesterday. 18 of the crashes involved injuries, including a critical injury crash in Anoka County.

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