Prompts winter weather advisories as cold air moves in Friday night

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State authorities and weather forecasters pleaded for caution and vigilance Tuesday as a massive multiday snowstorm began pushing its way into Minnesota.

“This is indeed going to be a historic storm. It’s going to be a tough storm, especially for those in open country,” Todd Krause, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Twin Cities office, told reporters Tuesday afternoon. Wind gusts Wednesday afternoon may top 40 mph, creating zero visibility in some areas, he added. 

Get the latest on our live updates page

Fire response times could be significantly delayed by the snow, said Jim Smith, the state fire marshal. He warned people against using propane heaters or charcoal grills in their homes as a heat source, or turning on the gas stove to stay warm.

St. Paul on Tuesday said the city will be under snow emergency parking rules Wednesday and Thursday. Check the city’s 

posting up-to-the-minute information on its live blog

Here’s the latest on what we know about travel conditions, closings and forecasts, with links to information to find out more.

St. Paul Public Schools said the district will go virtual Wednesday and Thursday and will have a snow day on Friday. Games and practices for sports are canceled Wednesday and Thursday. Events scheduled for Friday will be decided on later this week. 

Minneapolis public school buildings will also be closed, with e-learning days for all students for the remainder of this week.

List of closings and delays

The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan district and the St. Louis Park schools announced e-learning days for Wednesday and Thursday.

St. Cloud schools will be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Minnesota Department of Transportation officials are especially concerned about the snow pack that recently melted and refrozen, meaning that new snow won’t be able to stick onto it. 

“A lot of the snow that’s going to show up in the next couple of days isn’t going to be tied down. It’s going to be very free to move around with gusts up to 40 miles an hour. So we’re really expected to see a lot of drifting going on,” said Scott Morgan, an assistant engineer for MnDOT’s district covering south-central Minnesota.

These state transportation departments offer live updates on road conditions and crashes:

For bus and light rail riders in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit offers weather-related updates on its 

If you’re planning to fly from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or another airport around the region — or if you are expecting visitors to arrive by plane — airports offer flight status updates online:

While a winter storm can cause trouble for travelers, it can be welcome news for skiers, snowmobilers and other winter activity enthusiasts. 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources offers 

updates on cross-country ski and snowmobile trail conditions

 at state parks and along state trails around Minnesota. 

The Minnesota Ski Areas Association posts 

 at downhill ski and snowboard areas around the state.

updates on cross-country ski trail conditions

 shares cross-country ski trail updates from across the state.

Minnesota News

Weather and Climate News

Transportation

MPR News Staff

Author

Regional authorities on Tuesday were preparing for the potential of up to nearly 2 feet of snow in swaths of western and southern Minnesota through Thursday. Here’s what we know about travel conditions, school and business closings and forecasts.

State braces for potentially record-setting winter weather

Cars driver under a winter storm warning sign

Closings begin, officials warn of 'historic' snowstorm's coming dangers

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