MnDOT advises no travel tonight/tomorrow due to forecasted blizzard
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) advises no travel late tonight (Thursday, February 23) and into tomorrow (Friday, February 24) in several southern Minnesota counties due to forecasted blizzard conditions making visibility and road conditions hazardous.
The no travel advisory will likely include the following counties:
- Blue Earth
- Cottonwood
- Faribault
- Jackson
- Martin
- Nobles
- Waseca
Go to www.511mn.org for travel conditions overnight and early tomorrow will be the best source of information. Vsitors to the site can click on cameras posted throughout the state to see photos of road conditions. Motorists can also follow @mndotscentral and @mndotnews on Twitter for periodic updates.
The forecast for these counties, and possibly others in southern Minnesota, is the type of storm that can result in MnDOT closing roads due largely to high winds creating zero visibility and making it unsafe for even snowplow drivers.
MnDOT snowplow operators are ready to do their part to make highways safe and plan to work into the night and again, very early tomorrow.
Anyone who needs to travel should remember to:
- Check road conditions at www.511mn.org or call 511; it takes time to get roads back to good driving conditions.
- Be patient and remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.
- Stay back 10 car lengths behind the plow, far from the snow cloud.
- Stay alert for snowplows that turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. Plows may also travel over centerlines or partially into traffic to further improve road conditions.
- Slow down to a safe speed for current conditions. Snowplows typically move at slower speeds.
For additional tips on safe winter driving, go to www.mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html.
For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
The National Weather Service (NWS) is:
+ Tonight – Snow. The snow could be heavy at times. Widespread blowing snow, mainly after 5 a.m. Low around 24. Blustery, with a north wind 20 to 25 miles per hour (mph), with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of around 6 inches.
+ Friday – Snow, mainly before 3 p.m. Widespread blowing snow, mainly before 9 a.m. High near 25. Blustery, with a north wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 3 inches.
+ Friday-to Friday-Night – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
