Slick commute underway in Twin Cities while some southern Minnesota roads closed, littered with crashes

A burst of snow, sleet and freezing rain has left many roads treacherous across southern Minnesota, and slick spots have led to crashes and spinouts in the Twin Cities.

Just west of the metro, Hwy. 212 is closed between Glencoe and Olivia due to icy conditions and multiple vehicles in the ditch, the McLeod County Sheriff’s Office said.

Hwy. 19 between Henderson and Gaylord also is closed, the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.

Many roads across south-central Minnesota also are snow and ice covered, prompting MnDOT to warn motorists to take it easy or delay travel if possible.

“Give yourself plenty of extra time if you plan to drive this morning,” the agency said.

Slippery conditions led to a crash that had northbound Interstate 35 closed north of Albert Lea for several hours early Dec. 22, but the lanes were back open as of 6 a.m. Still, tough travel conditions continue in the area. A semi slid off the freeway near Owatonna.

In the metro, two early crashes on Hwy. 52 in Coates in Dakota County had traffic inching along.

Precipitation is moving out of Minnesota and into Wisconsin at 6:30 a.m., though a winter weather advisory remains in effect until 8 a.m. for the metro and southeastern Minnesota, the National Weather Service said.

“Untreated surfaces will be left with a glaze of ice,” the Weather Service said.