The weather on Friday in the Twin Cities is still pretty bad, but it's still better than it had been the past 48 hours.
Heavy snow and strong winds have stranded motoristrs in Freeborn, Marshall, Mower, and Steele counties.
The national guard is activated to provide assistance and emergency relief assistance.
Armories in both Owatonna and Albert Lea are open to provide emergency shelter.
So far, officials in both armories say few motorists have needed the shelter services.
In Owatonna, National Guard Sgt. Michal Budahn says local residents without power have come to that facility to use their showers and to get warm.
At one time, about 3,000 people in Steele and Waseca counties were without power.
The state patrol reports 372 crashes Thursday because of the slick roads, 629 spinouts and 43 jacknifed semitrailers. No one was seriously hurt in those mishaps.




