The Free Press
MANKATO — If you thought the recent stretch of 50-plus temperatures that revealed carpets of green grass was too good to be true, you’re right.
Winter whiplash occurred Wednesday morning in southern Minnesota as winds whipped morning snow flurries into a frenzy. Residents teased with bird song and bare lawns during the last five days were forced to dig out shovels and windshield brushes.
The steady snowfall and gusty winds continued the rest of the day, resulting in the National Weather Service issuing a blizzard warning in south-central Minnesota until 6 p.m. Area schools to the west and south of Mankato canceled classes in the afternoon.
At 1:35 p.m. the Minnesota Department of Transportation issued a no-travel advisory on all state highways in Blue Earth, Brown, Nicollet and Watonwan counties. No travel advised means the roadway has deteriorated and/or visibility has been reduced to the point that it is very dangerous to travel.
Blowing snow and strong winds were creating limited visibility, MnDOT reported. About 2-3 inches had fallen in the Mankato area by late afternoon.
The brunt of the storm slammed Duluth and the North Shore, dropping more than 2 feet of snow and knocking out power to thousands.
A weather spotter in Hovland, in Cook County, reported 34 inches of snow as of late Wednesday afternoon — with snow still falling.
MnDOT took the rare step of closing Highway 61 between Duluth and the Canadian border early Wednesday due to whiteout conditions. The highway reopened by 7 a.m., but MnDOT continued to advise drivers to stay off the highway that hugs the shore of Lake Superior.