Snow keeps falling, threatens PM commute

Snow continued to fall in the Twin Cities on Monday, threatening to mess up commuters' trips home from work.

MPR meteorologist Paul Huttner said another 2 to 4 inches was expected through the afternoon and evening. He predicted a messy afternoon rush hour, which would mean two slow trips in one day for many Twin Cities commuters.

On Monday, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 444 crashes statewide, including 68 involving injuries through 3 p.m. One person was killed in a head-on crash in Wright County, and 332 vehicles were reported off the road.

Most of the crashes -- about 300 -- happened in the Twin Cities, where another 200 vehicles spun off the road into ditches and shoulders.

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"There's snow on the road, there may be packed snow, there may be ice, there may be slush. It's very difficult to drive," Minnesota Department of Transportation spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said.

Snow totals had already reached 9 inches in Madelia west of Mankato. The Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs reported 3 or 4 inches.

The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul both declared snow emergencies, which come with street parking restrictions.

Huttner said the heaviest snow on Monday would be in the southern third of Minnesota.

Nearly 200 MnDOT crews across the metro area were working to clear the roads, Gutknecht said.

The Twin Cities and the entire Interstate 94 corridor were under a winter weather advisory. The National Weather Service posted a winter storm warning in parts of southern and western Minnesota for places like Willmar, Marshall, Mankato and Albert Lea.

Officials at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport said the weather has resulted in "very few" delays, but they'll continue to monitor the situation.