Storm Results in Ugly Travel Conditions in Rochester Area
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Numerous highways in west central and northwestern Minnesota were closed to traffic Thursday night due to blizzard conditions, while no travel was advised for a wide area of southwest and south-central Minnesota because of near white-out conditions and drifting snow. In southeastern Minnesota, travel conditions have been difficult with most roads covered by snow and ice and wind gusts around 40 miles per hour creating dangerous wind chills and problems with blowing snow.
The snowstorm that moved across much of the state Thursday dumped anywhere from 3 to nearly 6 inches of snow on the Rochester area. A band of heavier snow formed north of Rochester in Wabasha County, where a winter storm was issued. The National Weather Service reported 9-inches of new snow in Zumbro Falls and 8-inches in Wabasha. There were also reports of 8 or more inches of accumulation just west of the Twin Cities, while the heaviest snow fell in an area running from St. Cloud into northern Minnesota, where some communities saw over a foot of snow.
The low-pressure center responsible for the snow is pulling another mass of arctic air into Minnesota. A wind chill advisory has been issued for the Rochester area through noon on Friday with an overnight low forecast at around 10-degrees below zero and wind chills around -30.