Gov. Walz calls National Guard, Minneapolis declares snow emergency as blizzard continues

Heavy, wet snow and high winds have made travel difficult in a large swath of Minnesota and pushed Gov. Tim Walz to call in the National Guard.

The Sunday, Dec. 28 storm was earlier predicted to dump 6-10 inches of snow across much of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with wind gusts as high as 45 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

“I’ve authorized the National Guard to support emergency winter storm operations as we work to alleviate dangerous conditions on the roads,” Walz wrote on X on Sunday.

Winter storm warnings were in place for parts of east central and southeast Minnesota, and several metro cities, including Minneapolis, declared snow emergencies.

“We’re looking at maybe an inch per hour rate for the next few hours, but the snow is going to continue through at least the evening,” said Bill Borghoff, a meteorologist with the NWS in Chanhassen.

The NWS warned travel during the second half of the day could be “very difficult” with “widespread blowing snow” that could reduce visibility. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, by around 9 p.m. Sunday, there were almost 70 crashes and more than 120 vehicles that had ended up off the road.

The hazardous conditions could also extend into the Monday morning commute with strong winds possibly downing tree branches.

The snow didn’t deter everyone. The heavy snowflakes brought bigger-than-usual crowds to ski hills across the metro Sunday.

Miles Kurilla, who works at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington, said the hill was busier than normal.

“There’s a lot of people here today,” Kurilla said. “I think a lot of people are coming out for the powder. There hasn’t been a big snow day like this in a while.”

The combination of heavy snow and strong winds was expected to make travel hazardous — and in some areas nearly impossible — through Sunday and into the evening.

“We would suggest postponing travel until conditions improve, either late tonight or tomorrow morning,” Borghoff said.

The storm also prompted local restrictions to help allow crews to clear roads. Minneapolis will begin snow emergency parking rules at 9 p.m. Sunday, lasting until Tuesday night. Bloomington, St. Louis Park and West St. Paul were among the other cities that have declared snow emergencies.

Conditions were so bad in Iowa that officials closed all lanes of Interstate 35 between the cities of Ames and Clear Lake, Iowa. The nearly 90-mile stretch south of the Minnesota border was deemed hazardous because of freezing pavement, snow squalls and high winds making for blizzard conditions.

Some Minnesota cultural sites also adjusted operations as conditions worsened. The Minnesota Historical Society said it closed several Twin Cities locations to visitors at 1 p.m. Sunday because of the weather, including the Minnesota History Center and the Mill City Museum. The James J. Hill House remained open during normal hours.