Motorists urged to stay off roads as storm continues
State transportation officials are urging motorists in southern Minnesota to stay off the roads tonight, as the winter storm continues.
MnDOT has issued a "no-travel" advisory in south-central Minnesota and a "no-unnecessary" travel advisory in southeastern Minnesota due to snowy, ice roads and reduced visibility.
The agency said road conditions could worsen overnight before the snow ends around midday Tuesday.
"It's a slippery road out there, and so we're asking people to really slow down and pay attention, and avoid traveling if at all possible," said MnDOT spokeswoman Jessica Wiens.
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The State Patrol reports that more than 400 vehicles have slid off roadways Monday. Authorities said entrance and exit ramps are especially slippery.
A pedestrian near Dalton in west-central Minnesota was struck and killed on I-94 on Monday, as he was walking from a car that went into a ditch. No other snow-related fatalities have been reported.
Officials have reopened northbound Interstate 35 north of Albert Lea, after clearing a multiple-vehicle accident involving a cattle hauler.
Minneapolis officials have declared a snow emergency so that crews can plow more than 1,000 miles of city streets. Parking restrictions in Minneapolis will begin at 9 p.m. Monday.
St. Paul officials have decided not to declare a snow emergency on Monday but may declare an emergency starting Tuesday night.
Heavier bands of snow and increased winds were expected later, which could cause road conditions to worsen. The National Weather Service predicts that western Hennepin, Carver, and Scott counties will be the hardest hit Monday evening.
Forecasters estimate that most areas will see between six and eight inches of total snow accumulation from Sunday to Tuesday.
More than 100 schools and districts have announced delays or cancellations.
The snow has also slowed down operations at the Twin Cities airport, with an average flight delay of about 75 minutes.
Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan said crews were trying to keep the two parallel runways open.
"What we have to do is move back and forth between the two parallel runways all day long," Hogan said. "And whenever we get down to just one runway, it does have an impact in terms of how many flights we can get in and out of the airport in an hour."
Airlines are still trying to catch up with backups caused by the snowstorm in the mid-Atlantic area.
Delta Air Lines is offering refunds and ticket changes for flights cancelled to and from a dozen states, including Ohio, Connecticut and North Carolina.
