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

Highways across much of southwest Minnesota — including a long stretch of Interstate 90 — were closed Thursday evening due to blowing and drifting snow causing whiteout conditions.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 90 was closed between Jackson and the South Dakota border. Most other state and federal highways in southwest Minnesota were closed, too — and MnDOT said it expected the highways to remain closed until Friday morning.

In addition to I-90, other highway closures included:

Even where highways technically were open Thursday evening, MnDOT was advising no travel across most of the southwest quarter of the state.

Find additional closure and road condition information on 

Local roads were in tough shape, too. The Murray County Sheriff’s Office reported just before 6 p.m. that all county roads were closed.

“We have numerous vehicles stuck in the middle of the road, or in the ditch. Please stay off the roads!” the sheriff’s office, based in Slayton, reported on Facebook.

Officials in Nobles and Cottonwood counties pulled their plows off the roads Thursday afternoon due to near-zero visibility.

Earlier in the day, MnDOT said some highways in southwest Minnesota were drifting shut as soon as plows went through.

Some school districts in western Minnesota canceled classes Thursday, or moved to an online learning day. Others dismissed students early, as road conditions started to deteriorate.

Authorities were reporting snow-covered roads across most of the rest of western and northern Minnesota as of Thursday evening. Rain changed over to snow Thursday afternoon in the Twin Cities.

Here’s how to keep tabs on forecasts, travel conditions and flight updates.

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

Andrew Krueger

Author

Highways across much of southwest Minnesota — including a long stretch of Interstate 90 — were closed Thursday evening due to blowing and drifting snow causing whiteout conditions.


Whiteout conditions prompt highway closures in southwest Minnesota

Go Deeper.

Like this?