Storms start to move out of Minnesota, continue for western Wisconsin

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People all across southern Minnesota cleared driveways and shoveled out cars — or got out skiing or sledding — on Saturday after a winter storm dropped close to two feet of snow on parts of the region.

The National Weather Service received snowfall reports of 21 inches on the east side of St. Paul, and 20 inches in Woodbury. There were many more reports of a foot or more of new snow in the southern and eastern Twin Cities metro, as a narrow band of heavy snow — with snowfall rates of 2 inches an hour at times — parked itself over the area for several hours on Friday evening.

There also was a sharp cutoff in snowfall, with only 3 to 5 inches of snow reported in the north metro.

Plows were back out Saturday morning but 

highways remain snow-covered and slippery

The State Patrol reported 321 crashes on state highways between 6 a.m. Friday and noon Saturday — one of them fatal — in addition to 311 vehicles off the road and 21 jackknifed semis. 

 Saturday morning that there might be some ongoing minor delays, but most bus routes in the Twin Cities were back on schedule. Light rail lines also were running on time.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport reported

 more than 70 canceled flights on Saturday evening, and more than 80 flights delayed.

, Mankato, Brooklyn Park and several other cities across southern Minnesota. That means a variety of parking restrictions are in effect to allow city snowplow crews to more easily clear streets. Find more details on street signs, or on city websites.

Digging out and having fun after winter storm drops heavy snow in Minnesota

As the cleanup continued, skiers, snowboarders and sledders eagerly made their way to the hills and trails to take advantage of the fresh powder. 

At Trollhaugen Ski Area south of St. Croix Falls, Wis., dedicated skiers have been on the slopes since late October when the first trails opened. But marketing director Marsha Hovey said this weekend feels like the real beginning of the ski season. 

"We are firm believers that people don't really start thinking about winter until there's snow in their backyard, so this pretty significant snowfall is the jump start to our winter season," she said as the heavy snow fell Friday.

Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board reported

 that cross-country ski trails were groomed and ready for skiing at Hiawatha, Columbia and Wirth parks — though there are some detours around ponds due to thin ice.

Here’s a roundup of snow reports from Minnesota and neighboring states, as relayed by the National Weather Service as of 5 p.m. Saturday. This list will be updated if additional reports are received through the day:

MPR Weather's Updraft blog

MPR’s Sonja Kleven contributed to this report.

Andrew Krueger

Author

People all across southern Minnesota were clearing driveways and digging out cars — or making plans to get out skiing or sledding — on Saturday after a winter storm dropped close to two feet of snow on parts of the region. Here’s a roundup of snow reports.

Heavy snow in parts of the Twin Cities metro area

Tim Evans for MPR News

Andrew Krueger | MPR News

Vehicles drive on a snow-covered highway.

Storm drops more than 20 inches of snow in parts of Minnesota; snowfall reports from around the region

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