Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Posted: Jan. 25, 10:37 a.m. | Updated: Feb. 3, 7:30 a.m.

Bobsled Dylan? Mary Tyler More Snow? Blizzo?

Which of those — or 57 other possible names — ends up on state snowplows in Minnesota is now in your hands. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation on Wednesday, Jan. 25, issued its latest list of prospective snowplow names, for a third year of its popular “Name a Snowplow” contest.

“Choose up to eight of your favorite names before midnight on Friday, Feb. 3,” says MnDOT’s official website.

 follows a call for entries from late last year — and features the state's penchant for grafting popular culture onto winter.

In addition to the entries noted above — there’s also the contest’s usual Prince reference, Paisley Plow, and a Star Wars allusion: Han Snowlo — other entries include Harmon Chillebrew, Blader Tot Hotdish and Miracle on Ice.

The list also includes a tribute to one of Minnesota’s most beloved comics: Plowie Anderson, a reference to Louie Anderson, who 

Queen El-ice-a-beth and Sleetwood Mac round out the tributes to prominent and recently deceased public figures. The English monarch died last September, and Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie died in November.

As in past years, the names up for vote also include several Native American references: Waipahiƞte, the Dakota word for “snow plow”; Ičamna, the Dakota word for “blizzard”; and Goonodaabaan, the Ojibwe word for “snow vehicle.”

MnDOT said it received more than 10,000 suggestions that staff narrowed down to the field of 60.

“The agency considered a variety of factors when selecting the finalists, including uniqueness, frequency of submissions, Minnesota-specific ideas, and names that would be easily identifiable and understandable to most audiences,” MnDOT said in a news release.

Online voting to pick this year's winners

 runs through midnight on Feb. 3. Winners are set to be announced later in February.

The top eight names will go on plows in each of MnDOT's eight districts.

Past MnDOT “Name a Snowplow” contest winners

Minnesota News

Weather and Climate News

Transportation

NewsPartners

Tim Nelson

Author

Bobsled Dylan? Mary Tyler More Snow? Blizzo? You have until midnight to choose up to eight of your favorite names.

MnDOT's 'Name a Snowplow' contest voting ends tonight

Go Deeper.

Like this?