Federal agents are executing warrants at Twin Cities daycare providers

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

Most highways in southern Minnesota that were closed due to blizzard conditions on Sunday night have now reopened.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation said those highways — which included Interstate 90 between Worthington and Albert Lea, and Interstate 35 from Albert Lea south into Iowa — reopened by 10 a.m. Monday.

However, no-travel advisories remained in place for that part of the state, amid ongoing hazardous driving conditions.

“If motorists need to travel, MnDOT urges drivers to use caution as roads are completely or partially covered with ice,” MnDOT reported just before 9:30 a.m. Monday. “Strong winds are expected to continue today causing blowing and drifting snow, icy and compacted roads, and difficult driving conditions.”

While highways were closed, the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office 

 that an emergency shelter for stranded travelers was opened at the National Guard Armory in Albert Lea.

, or moved to online learning, amid the ongoing dangerous driving conditions.

Lake City mayor on Sunday's storm

Lake City got 18.5 inches of snowfall at last report from the National Weather Service. Mayor Brian Quinn told Morning Edition the snow stuck to his window was heavy, wet and cementlike.

"The street plows actually had to use our heavy loader equipment to even start to clear the streets before the large plow trucks could even move the snow," he said. Crews there have been busy since around 4 a.m. Sunday.

During the course of the storm, a fire broke out at a pallet company that the mayor says employs about 50 people.

"We had to reroute our street plows to make a pass for the fire trucks to get back there," Quinn said. "A crew of seven people in a town that's about four and a half square miles, it really speaks a lot to their team collaboration and ability to communicate quickly, to pivot and get that route open so the crews could get back there."

Weather and Climate News

Transportation

Shows

Morning Edition

Minnesota March snowstorm: Live weather updates

Andrew Krueger

Author

Most highways in southern Minnesota that were closed due to blizzard conditions on Sunday night have now reopened.


Highways remained closed Monday morning across much of southwest and south-central Minnesota, in the wake of blizzard conditions overnight.

Southern Minnesota highways reopen in wake of blizzard

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox