Snow emergencies declared after storm blankets Twin Cities, Minnesota with several inches

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have called a snow emergency as clean up from Tuesday’s storm continues.

The bulk of snow had stopped falling and mainline roads were in decent shape for Wednesday’s morning commute in the Twin Cities, but it was another story on city and residential streets that remained largely covered.

Minneapolis and St. Paul snow emergencies go into effect at 9 p.m. Wednesday, along with the applicable parking rules and restrictions.

Minnesota Department of Transportation plows were out through the night to clear highways and freeways. Bare pavement appears in some places while light layers of slush remain in others, MnDOT traffic cameras show.

But they are far better than they were during Tuesday’s evening commute when roads were blanketed in ice and snow and snarled traffic for hours.

“The snow is gone, we are seeing good progress out there,” said MnDOT spokeswoman Anne Meyer, who warned there could still be slick spots particularly on curves, ramps and bridge decks. “Do your part, slow down. If you can wait a couple hours and stay home, let drivers get them back in the clear.”

Hundreds of plows were dispatched Tuesday and will remain out all day Wednesday, Meyer said.

“Crews will continue to plow arterial streets overnight to keep them safe and passable,” a statement on St. Paul’s website reads.

Official totals were still coming in Wednesday morning, but as of midnight Tuesday readings included 5.9 inches in Woodbury, 5.3 in Golden Valley, 4.6 in Rosemount, 4.5 inches in White Bear Lake, 4.1 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and 3.5 inches at the National Weather Service offices in Chanhassen.

In greater Minnesota, 8 inches accumulated in Thief River Falls, 7 inches in Motley and Willow River, 6 inches in Isanti, 5.9 inches in St. Cloud, 5 inches in Brainerd and 3 inches in Rochester, according to the NWS.

Most schools were planning to be open on Wednesday, but several, mostly outside the metro, started a couple of hours late. They included Ashby, Bemidji, Brainerd, Foley, Hutchinson, New York Mills, Pine City, Swanville and Wadena-Deer Creek.

At 6 a.m., MnDOT reported six crashes or vehicles in the ditch in the metro area.

The patrol responded to an additional 51 crashes, including one that was fatal in Isle, 82 vehicles that went off the road and eight jackknifed semis between midnight and 7 a.m. Wednesday.

An early Wednesday crash had Hwy. 19 just east of Cannon Falls closed in both directions between County Road 8 and Sunset Trail, MnDOT said.

The highway was back open as of 7:30 a.m.

Roads remained partly snow covered in southeastern Minnesota where snow was wrapping up Wednesday morning, MnDOT said.

A man was hit and killed by a snowplow in a parking lot at MSP during the snowstorm.

Operations at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were not adversely affected. Just 31 flights both in and out had been delayed and five were canceled as of 8:30 a.m., according to flightaware.com

A winter weather advisory remained in effect in an area stretching from Morris to Rochester. It does not include Minneapolis or St. Paul, but it does cover the southern suburbs in Scott and Dakota counties.