Photos: Minnesotans greet the first winter storm of the season


The winter's first snow at Lake Bemidji
1 A biker braves winter's first snow near Lake Bemidji Friday morning. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
2 Snow covers lakeside chairs where Bemidji State University students were relaxing and studying a few days ago. 
First snow day of 2016
3 Ramona Caswell of Fergus Falls submitted this photo of Friday's storm "The first storm and snow day of 2016,"' she wrote. "Not much snow yet but lots of wind and poor visibility. I guess I'm ready for it as I felt like I was ready to just cozy up for a while" 
A man walks in the snow
4 A man walks in the snow near the entrance to the St. Cloud Public Library Friday. 
Abigail Shonibare has a little fun with her friends.
5 Abigail Shonibare has a little fun with her friends as they make their way into the library at St. Cloud State University. The second year student is from Nigeria, and was exposed to the snow in her first year as a student. 
Snow plowing in Fergus Falls, Minn.
6 Snow piles quickly grew as crews at Kennedy Secondary School in Fergus Falls, Minn., cleared the parking lot Friday. 
Traffic slows along 33rd Avenue North
7 Traffic slows along 33rd Avenue North in St. Cloud Friday morning, as heavy snow begins to fall. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
8 Snow falls steadily at Lake Bemidji during the first winter storm of the season. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
9 A student makes her way through the campus of Bemidji State University during the season's first snowstorm. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
10 Lake Bemidji is not yet frozen, but the boating season seems to have ended for the year. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
11 The last fall color is now covered under a fresh layer of snow in Bemidji Friday. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
12 Bemidji State University student Matthew Sauser rides out the first snowstorm of the season in the coffee lounge on campus. 
The winter's first snow at Lake Bemidji
13 A snow plow clears roads around Lake Bemidji Friday. 
Rain drops at the convention center in St. Cloud.
14 Rain drops reflects a flag at the River's Edge Convention Center Friday morning in St. Cloud. 
Peter Lidstone shovels his sidewalk during a storm
15 Peter Lidstone shovels his sidewalk during a snow storm, Friday in St. Cloud. 
Winter's first snow in Bemidji
16 Despite blizzard conditions, a woman and her dog brave Bemidji for a walk. 
Lonely bike in St. Cloud.
17 In a few days, the snow in St. Cloud will be gone and the seat will be dry. 
SCSU student Dalton Foley scrapes ice off his car.
18 St. Cloud State University student Dalton Foley scrapes the ice off his car before driving to work Friday in St. Cloud. 
Southward Heights neighborhood in St. Cloud.
19 A fresh coating of snow creates an idyllic scene in the front entryway of the Southward Heights neighborhood in St. Cloud. 
Anna Clavin helps her son and his friend.
20 Anna Clavin helps build a snowman with her son Oliver, right, 6, and his friend Eli Benboom, 7. The St. Cloud resident was in the snow-covered front yard of her daycare provider. 
Fall stops here.
21 Fall stops here. Some people wish the snow would hadn't started Friday, but plenty of Minnesotans are looking forward to a season to be able to get out on their snowmobiles, snowboards, skates, sleds and skis. 
Dave Mause clears several driveways in his neighborhood.
22 Dave Mause clears his own driveway from roughly a foot of snow, and then does the same for several of his neighbors in Bemidji. 
Char Murphy walks Bailey in the St. Cloud snow.
23 Despite the blowing wind and snow, Char Murphy takes her family dog Bailey out to do his business Friday in St. Cloud. 
Joe Barthel shovels his driveway in St. Cloud.
24 After his snowblower broke down, Joe Barthel went back to the trusty shovel to finish clearing his driveway Friday in St. Cloud. 
Walking downtown St. Cloud Friday evening.
25 A couple cautiously walks along the sidewalk in downtown St. Cloud Friday evening. 
No commute tonight in St. Cloud.
26 .... at least the driver won't have to scrape the windshield for their commute home in St. Cloud.