Snowstorm and high winds snarl Twin Cities roads; I‑35 closures and dozens of school delays
An intense winter storm with heavy wet snow, high winds and a wintry mix snarled Twin Cities roads — forecasts called for about 1–4 inches in the metro (higher north), bursts up to 1 inch per hour and gusts near 45–50 mph — leaving many roads snow‑covered early Wednesday and keeping MnDOT plows working overnight. The system has caused major travel impacts statewide, including I‑35 closures south of Albert Lea into northern Iowa during Monday’s storm, hundreds of crashes reported by the State Patrol, and dozens of school closures or late starts Wednesday.
📌 Key Facts
- NWS issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Twin Cities (roughly 9 p.m. Tuesday–9 a.m. Wednesday); the metro was forecast for about 1–4 inches of snow while areas north of I‑94 were expected to see higher totals (roughly 4–7 inches); southern Minnesota remained under a watch for heavier snow and high winds with localized heavy rates up to about 1"/hour possible.
- Strong winds were forecast (SW 20–40 mph becoming NW after 6 p.m.) with gusts near 45–50 mph, raising concerns for blowing snow and possible ground‑blizzard conditions in parts of southern Minnesota.
- Precipitation was expected to be split by geography and temperature: a burst of heavier snow north of the metro, with rain/freezing‑rain/wintry mix in and west–southwest of the Twin Cities; timing guidance showed snow to a wintry mix noon–6 p.m., a rainy mix changing to snow 6 p.m.–midnight, and a gusty wrap‑up midnight–9 a.m.
- Authorities advised avoiding nonessential travel Tuesday night into Wednesday morning; MnDOT crews were monitoring roads overnight, deployed dozens of plows (many Twin Cities roads were snow‑covered by early Wednesday), and reported localized slick spots and slush in southern/western metro corridors.
- Storm impacts produced widespread crashes and incidents: Minnesota State Patrol reported hundreds of crashes over the storm period — on Sunday troopers logged 366 property‑damage crashes (30 injury crashes), 27 spinouts, 438 vehicles off the road and 24 jackknifed semis; on Monday they reported 186 property‑damage crashes (16 injury crashes), 25 spinouts, 148 vehicles off the road and 17 jackknifed semis.
- Major travel disruptions included I‑35 being closed south of Albert Lea into northern Iowa on Monday morning; the Minnesota National Guard also assisted stranded drivers during the event.
- Local early snow totals and impacts: many locations saw multiple inches (examples: Cambridge 6.9", North Branch 6.0", Golden Valley 5.3", Coon Rapids 4.6", MSP Airport 3.4" as of midnight), most accumulation occurred before 9–10 p.m., and dozens of schools were closed or opening late Wednesday morning.
📊 Relevant Data
In Minnesota, 13.2% of Black Minnesotans live in households without access to a motor vehicle, compared to 3% of White, non-Hispanic Minnesotans.
Race and Transportation Trend Analysis — Minnesota GO
Less than 50% of Black people in Minnesota live in households with access to two or more cars or trucks, compared to nearly 80% of White people.
Race and Transportation Trend Analysis — Minnesota GO
In Minneapolis, Black residents make up 19% of the population but accounted for 26% of people killed in vehicle crashes from 2017 to 2021.
Safety Data — City of Minneapolis
In Minneapolis, Native American residents make up 1% of the population but accounted for 4% of people killed in vehicle crashes from 2017 to 2021.
Safety Data — City of Minneapolis
In 2020, the crude death rate for motor vehicle accidents in Minnesota was 9.1 per 100,000 for White non-Hispanic residents (409 deaths, population 4,513,407) and 8.9 per 100,000 for African American non-Hispanic residents (39 deaths, population 438,264), while American Indian non-Hispanic residents had 16 deaths (population 68,257), implying a higher rate of approximately 23.4 per 100,000 though not officially computed due to low count.
2020 Minnesota Health Statistics: Annual Summary — Minnesota Department of Health
📰 Sources (9)
- Minnesota State Patrol reports that between midnight and 11:30 a.m. Monday there were 186 property‑damage crashes, 16 injury crashes, 25 spinouts, 148 vehicles off the road, and 17 jackknifed semis statewide.
- On Sunday’s storm day, troopers recorded 366 property‑damage crashes, 30 injury crashes, 27 spinouts, 438 vehicles off the road, and 24 jackknifed semis.
- Article confirms I‑35 remained closed south of Albert Lea into northern Iowa Monday morning and notes the Minnesota National Guard helped stranded drivers during the storm.
- Light snow is winding down before the bulk of the Wednesday morning commute; most accumulation occurred before 9–10 p.m. Tuesday.
- MnDOT reports many Twin Cities roads are snow covered as of 3:30 a.m., with dozens of plows operating.
- Early snow totals: Cambridge 6.9", North Branch 6.0", Golden Valley 5.3", Coon Rapids 4.6", MSP Airport 3.4" (as of midnight), Chanhassen 2.8".
- Dozens of schools are closed or opening late as of 3 a.m. Wednesday.
- As of 7 a.m., MnDOT reports mixed road conditions (snow/slush/ice/frost) with a few crashes in the metro and greater Minnesota.
- Refined timeline: snow to wintry mix arrives noon–6 p.m. Tuesday (1–3"), rainy mix to snow 6 p.m.–midnight (~1"), lingering snow/gusts to 45+ mph midnight–9 a.m. Wednesday (~1").
- Twin Cities accumulation now pegged at 1–4"; winter storm warning area north of I-94 forecast 4–7"; winter weather advisory along/just south of I-94; southern Minnesota under winter storm watch with high winds and possible ground blizzard.
- Temperatures expected to peak near 34°F around 9 p.m. Tuesday with rain/snow line fluctuations; evening commute likely messy with worsening conditions into Tuesday night.
- Updated metro snowfall forecast: Twin Cities now projected at 1–4 inches (previous guidance cited higher local totals).
- Winter Storm Warning specified for areas north of I-94; Winter Weather Advisory along and just south of I-94; southern MN under a Winter Storm Watch.
- Detailed timeline: quiet/misty morning; noon–6 p.m. snow to wintry mix with 1–3 inches, 6 p.m.–midnight rainy mix to snow (~1 inch), midnight–9 a.m. gusty wrap‑up (~1 inch).
- Wind gusts could exceed 45 mph late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, raising blowing snow/ground blizzard concerns in southern MN.
- Evening commute flagged as 'messy' due to mix and changing precipitation types.
- Forecast details a SW wind 20–40 mph turning NW after 6 p.m. with gusts approaching 50 mph.
- Precipitation split: potential burst of heavy snow north of the metro; rain/freezing rain/wintry mix in and west–southwest of the metro.
- Geography of alerts: majority of Minnesota in a Winter Weather Advisory; north metro into north‑central Minnesota in a Winter Storm Warning.
- Timeline specifics: flurries arrive late morning from western Minnesota; snow tapers late Tuesday with spotty overnight flurries.
- NWS Twin Cities has now issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Twin Cities from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday.
- Forecast snowfall for the metro increased to 4–8 inches, with heavy rates near 1 inch/hour possible.
- NWS advises avoiding non‑essential travel Tuesday night through Wednesday morning; best windows are Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon.
- As of 5:45 a.m., MnDOT reported light slush, damp pavement and slick spots east of Norwood Young America, south of Hutchinson, and near Olivia.
- Precipitation reached as far north as Jordan–Lakeville–Hastings, brushing the southern Twin Cities metro; no crashes reported so far.
- System expected to shift east by mid to late morning, leaving a mostly dry remainder of the day.
- MnDOT says crews will stay ready and monitor roads overnight and into Tuesday morning, though full plowing is likely not needed yet.
- Forecast pinpoints a west–east band most likely for accumulation from Marshall/Redwood Falls toward Mankato, Faribault and Rochester.