Snow in Minnesota brings crashes and spinouts

The snow falling across the southern third of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities area, is expected to last throughout Saturday, with heavier accumulations after noon.

The State Patrol was reporting crashes and spinouts in several locations in the Twin Cities area and the southern part of the state.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Chanhassen is forecasting a steady accumulation picking up Saturday afternoon and then easing off Sunday. A winter storm warning is in effect for the southern counties of the state. The bulk of the Twin Cities metro is in a winter weather advisory.

When all is said and measured, the Twin Cities area might see anywhere from 2 to 5 inches, the NWS said in its latest advisory update at 6 a.m. Saturday, with higher totals to the south.

The full width of southern Minnesota including latitudes just below the Twin Cities’ southern suburbs should brace for snow depths up to 10 inches, according to a winter storm warning issued by the NWS.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is reporting light snow on many roadways across the affected region.

As of 11 a.m. Saturday, operations at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport were showing departure delays of about 30 minutes, according to FlightAware. Meanwhile, Metro Transit has not issued any rider alerts over any interruptions in its system.

NWS meteorologist Joe Strus said Friday he was looking for a “long-duration light snow event” for the Twin Cities area.

With southern Minnesota “being closer to the center of the storm system,” Strus said, there’s the potential for 6 to 10 inches of snow, especially along Interstate 90.

Minnesota unpacked its snowy season on Wednesday, when the Twin Cities and other parts of the state woke up to roads fully or partly caked in slush and snow, disrupted school schedules and a smattering of snow emergencies for vehicle owners from their municipalities.

Unlike the earlier snow, which held a fair amount of moisture, this next round should be more powdery, Strus said. “Some of the snow may blow around.”

Thermometer-wise, Friday might be the last time for a bit that the Twin Cities area sees any readings above 25 degrees. Well into next week, the NWS envisions highs from the upper teens to the low 20s, but absent any snow. Lows could even flirt with subzero territory.