Winter storm: 255 crashes, 375 vehicles off road; Hwy. 52 pileup snarls Inver Grove Heights
A late‑Tuesday-to‑Wednesday winter storm — bringing generally 3–5 inches in the Twin Cities (locally higher in the northern metro and 5–8+ inches across central/northern Minnesota), a rain‑to‑snow changeover and gusts up to 40–45 mph — produced blowing snow and low visibility with many roads snow/ice covered into Wednesday morning. Minnesota State Patrol reported 255 crashes and 375 vehicles off the road (including 13 jackknifed semis, 19 injury crashes and one fatality), and a multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy. 52 at the Concord Blvd exit in Inver Grove Heights snarled traffic.
📌 Key Facts
- A Winter Storm Warning was issued for much of Minnesota — updated to span 6 p.m. Tuesday through 9 a.m. Wednesday — with officials urging caution for the overnight period.
- Snow totals: Twin Cities generally 3–5 inches (MSP Airport recorded 4.1 inches); northern/central Minnesota favored for 5–8+ inches in places (Alexandria/Brainerd/St. Cloud through Pine City into NW Wisconsin); parts of southern Minnesota about 1–2 inches.
- Strong winds and blowing snow accompanied the storm, with gusts up to about 40–45 mph reported, producing low visibility and hazardous travel conditions.
- State Patrol and road agencies reported widespread impacts: as of the latest update (noon Tuesday–9 a.m. Wednesday) there were 255 crashes, 19 injury crashes, one fatal wreck, 375 vehicles off the road and 13 jackknifed semis; MnDOT showed many Twin Cities routes as snow‑ or ice‑covered with reduced speeds and multiple active incidents.
- A multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy 52 near the Concord Blvd exit in Inver Grove Heights snarled traffic in both directions; another notable crash on I‑94 at Hwy 25 in Monticello (four semis and one car) spilled pasta onto the roadway, briefly closing the interstate and causing a minor injury.
- Local responses included snow emergencies and parking/plowing rules (Brooklyn Center, Crystal, Golden Valley among those with restrictions) and some school closures or delayed starts the day before Thanksgiving.
- Timeline and travel advice: rain changed to a wintry mix and then snow late Tuesday night, making the overnight period the worst for travel; snow was expected to taper toward the end of the Wednesday morning commute but blustery conditions and blowing snow could continue to create hazards.
- Short‑term outlook: calmer but cold Thanksgiving conditions were forecast (highs in the upper 20s), with a colder turn into the weekend (highs falling into the teens) and a chance of another round of snow.
📊 Relevant Data
Native American residents are 1% of the Minneapolis population but 4% of people killed in vehicle crashes and 5% of people killed in pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
Safety Data — City of Minneapolis
Black residents are 19% of the Minneapolis population but 26% of people killed in vehicle crashes.
Safety Data — City of Minneapolis
43% of severe and fatal crashes occurred in Transportation Equity Priority areas, which house 28% of residents and are characterized by higher populations of People of Color and lower incomes.
Safety Data — City of Minneapolis
Snow emergency fines and fees disproportionately affect low-income, non-English speaking residents of color in Minneapolis.
When snow falls, money flows ... from those who can afford it the least — MinnPost
📰 Sources (8)
Minnesota winter storm leads to hundreds of crashes, vehicles off the road
New information:
- Updated State Patrol totals (noon Tue–9 a.m. Wed): 255 crashes, 375 vehicles off the road, 13 jackknifed semis.
- Injury/fatal detail: 19 injury crashes and one fatal wreck in the reporting window.
- Specific incident: multi‑vehicle pileup on Hwy 52 near the Concord Blvd exit in Inver Grove Heights caused backups in both directions.
- Metro snowfall update: Twin Cities generally 3–5 inches; MSP Airport official total 4.1 inches.
Minnesota weather: Snow totals so far, light snow expected overnight
New information:
- City-specific snow totals reported: Coon Rapids 4.6", Rosemount 4.6", St. Stephen 4.5", Ramsey 4.5", Buffalo 3.4", Eden Prairie 3", Burnsville 3"
- Forecast update: light snow/flurries expected to return later Tuesday night into early Wednesday, likely complicating the morning commute
- Status update: brief lull in snowfall Tuesday evening with temperatures ticking up before the next band arrives
MN weather: Hundreds of crashes during Tuesday winter storm
New information:
- State Patrol update for noon–6:30 p.m. Dec. 9: 130 property-damage crashes, 12 injury crashes, 147 vehicles off the road, 6 spinouts, 4 jackknifed semis, no fatalities.
- Five-vehicle crash (4 semis, 1 car) on I-94 at Hwy 25 in Monticello spilled pasta onto the roadway; the car driver had a minor injury and the interstate briefly closed for cleanup.
- Brooklyn Center declared a snow emergency starting 10 p.m. Dec. 9 (no on-street parking until plowed curb-to-curb).
- Crystal declared a snow emergency beginning 12:01 a.m. Dec. 10.
- Golden Valley reiterated winter parking restrictions (no parking 2–6 a.m.) and said street plowing would begin at 4 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.
MN weather: Snowy roads lead to 253 crashes, 333 vehicles off the road
New information:
- Minnesota State Patrol (noon Tue–6 a.m. Wed): 253 property-damage crashes, 30 injury crashes, 11 spinouts, 333 vehicles off the road, and 30 jackknifed semis.
- As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, most Twin Cities roads listed by MnDOT as snow/ice covered; speeds reduced with a dozen-plus active incidents.
- No-travel advisory in west-central Minnesota was lifted, but State Patrol says roads there remain extremely slippery.
- Snow tapering Wednesday morning, but blustery conditions could cause blowing snow; Winter Storm Warning in effect until 9 a.m. for much of Minnesota including the Twin Cities.
MN weather: Snow ends Wednesday morning; quiet and cold Thanksgiving
New information:
- Snow is expected to taper off toward the end of the Wednesday morning commute, but blustery conditions will persist.
- Twin Cities forecast specifics: Wednesday high near 29°F (low ~21°F) with gusts possibly topping 40 mph.
- Thanksgiving outlook: partly sunny, breezy, less windy than Wednesday; high ~27°F, low ~15°F.
- Colder turn this weekend with highs dipping into the teens Sunday and Monday; potential for another round of snow this weekend.
- Road conditions will improve through Wednesday but many routes remain partially or fully covered during a busy travel day.
LIVE UPDATES: Minnesota snowstorm closes schools, causes slippery road conditions
New information:
- Observed conditions: As of ~1:30 a.m. Wed., MnDOT 511 shows snow‑covered roads across northern Minnesota and slush/snow on many Twin Cities routes.
- School impacts: Some Minnesota schools are closed or on delayed starts the day before Thanksgiving.
- Precipitation changeover: Rain changed to a wintry mix and then snow late Tuesday night in the Twin Cities.
- Updated snowfall ranges reiterated: 3–5" for the Twin Cities (locally higher in the north metro); 5–8"+ for central/northern MN; 1–2" for parts of southern MN.
Minnesota weather: Here's what to expect for Tuesday, early Wednesday's winter storm
New information:
- Warning window specified as 6 p.m. Tuesday to 9 a.m. Wednesday (earlier start than prior 9 p.m. guidance).
- Metro snowfall forecast refined to 3–5 inches, with northern metro potentially higher.
- Wind gusts could reach up to 45 mph, creating blowing snow and low visibility.
- Heavier bands (5–8+ inches) favored for central/northern MN from Alexandria/Brainerd/St. Cloud through Pine City into NW Wisconsin.
- Timeline detail: rain during the evening commute in the metro changing to snow as temperatures fall, with the worst travel conditions overnight.