The first snow of the year in the portions of the Upper Midwest is hitting with full force – an all out blizzard. Heavy snow continues in parts of Eastern South Dakota and Western & Northern Minnesota with wind gusts above 40 mph. White out conditions have been reported with significant blowing and drifting snow. A Blizzard Warning continues for Eastern South Dakota and Western Minnesota, with Winter Storm Warnings from Nebraska to Northern Minnesota.
Best advice: Just don't drive in it if you don't have to!
Near blizzard conditions in Watertown, SD.
The inclement weather will spread east. pic.twitter.com/8gDCdwWDAz— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) November 18, 2016
LIVE: Northern plains #Blizzard update from Alexandria, MN b
Posted by WeatherNation on Friday, November 18, 2016
Very low visibility and snow covered roads in many areas. This is MN-25 near Lastrup in Morrison County at 1058 AM. #mnwx pic.twitter.com/n055d9BLkW
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) November 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/gretch_brown/status/799653846209490944
Snowfall totals have varied significantly, with the heaviest accumulations so far in the 4 to 7″ range. Parts of Northern Minnesota could see another 6 to 12″ of snow.
The wind is the biggest problem. With sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusts to 50 mph, near zero visibility with white out conditions are likely into this evening in Eastern South Dakota into Western & Northern Minnesota. Travel is discouraged in many areas.
Emergency Management offices are advising NO TRAVEL for Traverse and Hamlin counties. #sdwx #mnwx
— NWS Aberdeen (@NWSAberdeen) November 18, 2016
We are advising no travel in parts of southwest MN – https://t.co/LMIf04bWPN for details and/or https://t.co/A45502tr6i for specific roads
— MnDOT District 8 (@MnDOTsouthwest) November 18, 2016
Stay tuned to WeatherNation for around the clock updates with live reports from the field inside the storm.
For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Mace Michaels