Closings begin, officials warn of 'historic' snowstorm's coming dangers
Find the latest on travel conditions, closings and forecasts
Updated 3:53 p.m.
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.
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 snow emergency status map for information on where to park.
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MPR News is already 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.
School closings
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.
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.
Forecast updates
MPR News: Live weather blog and real-time radar
National Weather Service: Snowfall reports
Travel conditions
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 Metro Transit and Metro Transit Alerts Twitter pages, as well as on its website.
Flight updates
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:
Trail conditions
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 updates on snow conditions at downhill ski and snowboard areas around the state.
The Loppet Foundation posts updates on cross-country ski trail conditions in Minneapolis.
SkinnySki.com shares cross-country ski trail updates from across the state.