Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

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A winter storm roared into Minnesota on
Monday, trapping at least 100 students in their school, closing
roads in the southern and southwestern part of the state and
prompting the governor to activate the National Guard.


      About 100 students were spending the night at their high school
in Westbrook in southwestern Minnesota because school officials
said the blizzard conditions made it unsafe to send them to their
homes in rural areas.


      Schools across south-central Minnesota were dismissed early or
in some cases, never opened, because of the winter storm.

   Westbrook Principal Bill Richards, who has had the job for 32
years, said the school has long had plans for when the weather made
the roads impassable, but it hasn't had to use them since the
mid-1980s.


      He said the students were safe and their parents had been
informed. The students had tacos and sodas for dinner and a local
hospital was providing any needed medications.
      

"We're having a great time," he said. The students were
watching movies, playing basketball and catching up on their
homework.


      Richards said the plan was for the students to eventually sleep
on wrestling mats with sleeping bags and blankets donated by people
who live in town, but he doubted he would get much rest.


      "I plan on being up all night," he said.


  The snow was expected to taper off Monday night, but the weather
service was forecasting wind chills of nearly 20 below zero to
develop in southwestern Minnesota and continue into Tuesday
morning.


      Earlier Monday, officials closed state highways in south-central
and southwestern parts of the state due to the storm. Some
snowplows were taken off the roads.


      Gov. Tim Pawlenty activated the Guard on Monday afternoon to
help affected counties with providing shelter and other services.
Armories in Olivia, Marshall, and St. James were opened for
stranded travelers.


 A blizzard warning was also in effect for northwest Minnesota
until early evening and for western and south-central areas through
midnight.

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A winter storm roared into Minnesota on
Monday, trapping at least 100 students in their school, closing
roads in the southern and southwestern part of the state and
prompting the governor to activate the National Guard.


Storm traps 100 students at SW Minn. school

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