Uploaded February 2011 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
MSP Snowfall Season To Date: 61.1" vs 39.6 avg... just keeps on coming down!
St. Paul, Minn. — Heavy snowfall across central and southern Minnesota on Sunday led to hundreds of flight cancellations and made road travel difficult and dangerous.
As of 2:45 p.m. Sunday, snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 8 inches across the southern half of the state. MPR Meteorologist Paul Huttner said the heaviest snow would fall before midnight.
By midday on Monday, more than a foot of new snow is expected in the Twin Cities and most of central and southern Minnesota.
MnDOT is advising no travel in most of Minnesota and reported difficult driving conditions on most roads south of St. Cloud. Travel on Interstate 35 north to Duluth was also rated "difficult."
Larger view
Biking in the snow
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to 226 crashes statewide between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, including 30 involving injuries. There were no fatal accidents, but an additional 270 vehicles spun off the road and four semis jackknifed.
The State Patrol said 167 of the crashes and 105 of the spinouts were in the Twin Cities area, including a squad car that was hit.
"It's coming down at a pretty fast rate, so I would advise that if you don't need to travel today, it's probably a good day to sit inside and watch some golf," said Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Eric Roeske.
Roeske said roads just south of the metro have been hardest hit so far. Roeske is asking drivers to slow down, wear their seat belts, and leave plenty of time to get to their destination.
MnDOT had its full contingent of plows out on the roads, but the snow is falling as fast as the drivers can push it away, spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said.
He said the wind was the biggest problem.
"That causes blowing snow, which hampers visibility and it causes the snow to drift, which can make for difficult driving," he said.
Gutknecht said with many people off work for Presidents' Day Monday, fewer cars on the road should mean fewer accidents.
In Wisconsin, authorities closed both lanes of Interstate 94 near Eau Claire and westbound Interstate 90 Sunday afternoon because of traffic accidents.
In one crash, a vehicle rolled over and ambulance and fire trucks blocked part of the road for a time. No major injuries were reported.
Officials say it's possible that roadways -- including segments of the Interstate Highway System and other freeways -- could become impassable.
Snow coming down fast; State Patrol urges caution
by Rupa Shenoy, Minnesota Public Radio,
Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio
February 20, 2011
Music: Richard Burmer - "Magellan"
MSP Snowfall Season To Date: 61.1" vs 39.6 avg... just keeps on coming down!
St. Paul, Minn. — Heavy snowfall across central and southern Minnesota on Sunday led to hundreds of flight cancellations and made road travel difficult and dangerous.
As of 2:45 p.m. Sunday, snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 8 inches across the southern half of the state. MPR Meteorologist Paul Huttner said the heaviest snow would fall before midnight.
By midday on Monday, more than a foot of new snow is expected in the Twin Cities and most of central and southern Minnesota.
MnDOT is advising no travel in most of Minnesota and reported difficult driving conditions on most roads south of St. Cloud. Travel on Interstate 35 north to Duluth was also rated "difficult."
Larger view
Biking in the snow
The Minnesota State Patrol responded to 226 crashes statewide between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, including 30 involving injuries. There were no fatal accidents, but an additional 270 vehicles spun off the road and four semis jackknifed.
The State Patrol said 167 of the crashes and 105 of the spinouts were in the Twin Cities area, including a squad car that was hit.
"It's coming down at a pretty fast rate, so I would advise that if you don't need to travel today, it's probably a good day to sit inside and watch some golf," said Minnesota State Patrol spokesman Eric Roeske.
Roeske said roads just south of the metro have been hardest hit so far. Roeske is asking drivers to slow down, wear their seat belts, and leave plenty of time to get to their destination.
MnDOT had its full contingent of plows out on the roads, but the snow is falling as fast as the drivers can push it away, spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said.
He said the wind was the biggest problem.
"That causes blowing snow, which hampers visibility and it causes the snow to drift, which can make for difficult driving," he said.
Gutknecht said with many people off work for Presidents' Day Monday, fewer cars on the road should mean fewer accidents.
In Wisconsin, authorities closed both lanes of Interstate 94 near Eau Claire and westbound Interstate 90 Sunday afternoon because of traffic accidents.
In one crash, a vehicle rolled over and ambulance and fire trucks blocked part of the road for a time. No major injuries were reported.
Officials say it's possible that roadways -- including segments of the Interstate Highway System and other freeways -- could become impassable.
Snow coming down fast; State Patrol urges caution
by Rupa Shenoy, Minnesota Public Radio,
Tim Nelson, Minnesota Public Radio
February 20, 2011
Music: Richard Burmer - "Magellan"
