• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Storm brings heavy snow to Minn., Wis., SD

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A major winter storm was expected to dump 9 to 15 inches across a broad belt of central Minnesota including the Twin Cities area by Sunday night, and the storm was also to bring heavy snow to parts of western Wisconsin.

A blizzard warning was out for much of eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota, while a winter storm warning was out for much of central and eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Meanwhile, hazardous road conditions are expected for those heading to Green Bay for the Packers game tonight.

The National Weather Service reported 15.5 inches at Sacred Heart and 12 inches in Montevideo in southwestern Minnesota and more than 8 inches in Aberdeen, S.D., by late morning. Reports of 5 to 8 inches were common across the Twin Cities area around midday.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported difficult driving conditions across much of the southern two-thirds of the state. The Minnesota State Patrol reported about 300 crashes statewide from Saturday night through noon Sunday, with more than 30 involving injuries, but no fatalities. Lt.

Eric Roeske also reported more than 300 spinouts or vehicles off the road.

Minneapolis, St. Paul, several suburban communities and St. Cloud declared snow emergencies, meaning parking restrictions will be in effect until the streets are plowed.

More than 150 flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were canceled due to the storm, airport spokesman Pat Hogan said. Delta Air Lines, the airport’s main carrier, said travelers through the Twin Cities and Duluth could rebook their flights without charge. The Federal Aviation Administration said the snow was delaying some flights by an average of about 90 minutes.

The Metrodome looked only about three-quarters full at kickoff for the sold-out Bears-Vikings game, as the drive into downtown Minneapolis clearly took longer than usual for many of the fans. They continued to stream in late, with beads of melting snow apparent on everyone’s jackets.

In South Dakota, heavy snow combined with strong winds created dangerous driving conditions, but authorities reported few problems, saying it appeared people heeded the warnings.

Shelly Anderson at the Coffee Cup truck stop on Interstate 29 near Summit, S.D., said some truckers and other travelers waited out the storm there, but for the most part motorists stayed off the roads Saturday night and Sunday morning.