Powerful winds and heavy snow Tuesday night and into Wednesday stranded some drivers in northwest Minnesota, but things were looking up for travelers heading into Thursday.
The region's 45- to 55-mph winds had subsided by Wednesday night. While slush remained on some roads, it hasn't been "anywhere close to blizzard conditions" since early Wednesday morning, National Weather Service meteorologist Tyler Hasenstein said.
"It's looking like it's going to be a pretty good next few days for traveling," Hasenstein said, adding that winds dropped to 5 to 10 mph Wednesday night.
The heaviest snowfall reported ranged from 2 to 3 inches in some areas of Stevens County, he said.
Interstate 94 between Fergus Falls and Moorhead reopened at noon Wednesday after it was shut down by a blizzard Tuesday night.
Whiteout conditions fueled by strong winds stranded several motorists a few miles east of Moorhead on Tuesday night, said Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol.
Tow trucks had to remove vehicles from the road and ditches before some routes could be reopened Wednesday afternoon, he said.
"There's still some scattered slippery spots throughout the regions of northwestern and west-central Minnesota, but it's definitely improved in the last 24 hours," Grabow said.
