Friday the 13th snowstorm slams Minnesota with howling winds, blizzard conditions; another storm arrives this weekend

A powerful late-winter storm slashed Minnesota with howling winds and blizzard conditions on Friday the 13th — with an even more intense sequel on tap for the weekend.

Xcel Energy and other utilities reported more than 20,000 homes and businesses without power across Minnesota as of early Friday morning. That number dropped through the morning hours as crews made repairs.

Across the north: Heavy snow and blizzard conditions overnight. Hermantown police said early Friday morning that roads were nearly impassable.

“Our officers are working hard to respond to calls, but even police squad cars are getting stuck in the deep snow and drifts. Multiple vehicles are already stranded, and response times may be significantly delayed as a result,” the department reported just before 3 a.m. “Stay off these roads. We’re doing everything we can, but Mother Nature is winning tonight.”

The Minnesota Department of Transportation reported snow-covered roads across the northern half of Minnesota. Many school districts closed, moved to online learning or delayed the start of classes Friday morning.

For central and southern Minnesota: Northwest winds gusted to near hurricane-force at times overnight. The National Weather Service reported a 74 mph gust near Bird Island, and a 73 mph gust near Canby.

The Twin Cities airport reported a wind gust of 61 mph early Friday.

Winter storm and blizzard warnings continue for northeast Minnesota, including Duluth and the North Shore, through early afternoon Friday.

High wind warnings that had been in effect overnight for much of central and southern Minnesota were canceled Friday morning.

Once the Friday storm winds down, attention will turn to another, potentially more powerful winter storm in the region for the weekend — with southern Minnesota into western Wisconsin in line for the heaviest snow.

“Model guidance continues to illustrate a remarkable precipitation footprint across the region which will yield heavy snow accumulations on the order of 1 to 2 feet” from late Saturday into Sunday, the National Weather Service Twin Cities office reported Friday morning.

The weather service said it will be wet, heavy snow that will be challenging to clear.

“The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds will reduce visibility and create periods of blizzard conditions on Sunday across western and southern Minnesota. Travel is expected to become very difficult or impossible late Saturday night and Sunday,” the weather service said.