The snow has stopped falling, and there's no major precipitation predicted for a while. But that doesn't mean things are back to normal when negotiating streets and highways around Minnesota.
That is, if roadways are open for traffic.
In southwestern Minnesota, there are many highways that remain closed because of high winds that are creating white out conditions and pushing new-fallen snow into drifts.
Interstate 90, which runs perpendicular to Minnesota's southern border, is closed from Albert Lea all the way to South Dakota.
"Nobody's driving, zero visibility out there," said Ben, who works at the Cum-and-Go gas station in Adrian.
He's been stranded there since early Thursday afternoon because of the storm, but he's settled in for the long haul.
"Been there, done that," he told WCCO radio.
The Minnesota State Patrol is reporting 112 crashes and 140 vehicle spinouts overnight on snow-and-ice-covered roadways throughout Minnesota.
"We have drivers that think that the roads are clear because they look clear; ultimately there;s still ice on the roads," Lt. Gordon Shank told KSTP-TV Chief Political Reporter Tom Hauser on the WCCO Morning News.
Shank added that if MnDOT says it's bad, they're not kidding and you need to take their warnings seriously.
"They're really good at what they do, and they go a great job in getting that information out," said Shank. "And if they're telling drivers to avoid these highways, and they're going to be closed, change your plans. Even if it means you have to go later than what you anticipated."
The reason some of those roads remain closed is that the conditions are so poor, even work crews can't get through.
"Conditions are going to dictate what's best for our crews, for emergency crews, and for you as a driver," said MinDOT's Anne Meyer.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Nick Carletta says even without additional snow, it’s a dangerous situation for open areas.
“We could be seeing some winds in parts of the state getting to 50 miles per hour. Even though we’re not going to expect any additional falling snow, all the snow we got the last day or two, that’s going to blow around and that’s what the blizzard warnings are for.”
Carletta says conditions in places southwest of the Twin Cities, visibility is down to about a quarter mile, with that expected to get worse throughout the day.
The high winds and extremely low wind chills are life-threatening for anyone who becomes stranded.
In the Twin Cities, Metro Transit is reporting no major problems overnight with buses and light rail trains, and that everything is pretty much on schedule.
That said, Metro Transit CEO Brian Funk said planning your trip can keep you out of the cold.
"It's not the day to just go stand on the corner and hope that something comes," he said. "We'll tell you that it's coming, so you can minimize that exposure."
WCCO Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas says this is going to be one of our coldest stretches of the winter.
"Usually our coldest weather comes the second, third week of January, but it can be this early," says Douglas. "But it can come early."
Douglas also says don't judge this weather by what is happening in your neighborhood or in the core of the Twin Cities metro area. He says this is absolutely a blizzard in a large portion of the state despite the lack of snowfall Friday.
"Today is going to be peak blizzard, peak wind, peak wind chill," says Douglas. "Those winds gusting to maybe 45 in the metro, maybe 50-55 out towards the Buffalo Ridge, New Ulm area, Redwood Falls, and it will be a whiteout. The problem is, A, seeing where you're going. Many times you can't even see. It's like traveling through wind-whipped fog. Then the other problem, if you do get stuck, you slide off the road into a ditch, what do you do? You call 911 and wait for help to reach you. Do not try to venture out on a day like today."
Douglas says wind chills will be 40 below in much of the state and you can get frostbite in less than five minutes on exposed skin. He advises if you don't have to travel today, don't do it. Saturday will be better with slightly less wind.
"Today is is the peak of this wind storm and ground blizzard potential, and just because you don't see the ground blizzards outside your window doesn't mean it isn't happening five, ten, 20 miles away."
Hang in there. A warmup will be coming next week and Douglas says there is even the potential for some rain. Weather whiplash.
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