Severe Winter Weather Conditions
Western Wisconsin and Minnesota have been hit with a severe winter storm that triggered a blizzard warning for several counties. The National Weather Service issued the warning as heavy snowfall, and strong winds reduced visibility to near-whiteout conditions in some areas. This blizzard warning is forecasted to remain in place until early Saturday morning.
Impacts of Blizzard Warning
The blizzard warning affects the entire Twin Cities metro area and parts of western Wisconsin. Heavy snow accumulation between 6 to 10 inches is projected in the region, with snow falling at a rate of 12 inches per hour for the first few hours. Strong northerly winds with gusts up to 40-50 mph are predicted to cause power outages, low visibility due to blowing snow, and hazardous driving conditions.
Southwest and southcentral Minnesota could issue travel advisories or road closures due to hazardous driving conditions caused by the severe weather. The Minnesota State Patrol reported 177 crashes, with 24 resulting in injuries from Friday afternoon until early Saturday morning.
Furthermore, dozens of school districts were forced to cancel classes for Friday or have late openings. At Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, 110 incoming and outgoing flights were cancelled while 157 were delayed due to the severe weather conditions.
Tornado Watch
People living in the South and Midwest should prepare for dangerous storms and tornadoes as per the Associated Press reports. Eastern Iowa into parts of Missouri and Illinois are expected to experience severe weather, while southern Minnesota will have a slight risk of encountering severe thunderstorms.
Road Conditions Improve Soon
Although travel difficulties remain widespread in central and southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on Saturday morning, rising temperatures above freezing will greatly improve road conditions by midday. According to forecasts, the majority of Saturday will be dry and sunny, providing a breather from the severe winter weather.
In conclusion, Minnesota and Wisconsin have been hit by a severe winter storm that triggered a blizzard warning. The snowfall, strong winds, and low visibility caused travel difficulties and hazardous driving conditions. As the day progresses, road conditions will improve due to rising temperatures. However, people living in the South and Midwest should prepare for dangerous storms as forecasted by the Associated Press.
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