Colder temps coming on heels of season's first big snow

Now that the snow is behind us, prepare to bundle up.

Roads on Sunday were still being cleared in the wake of Saturday's storm, which smacked much of southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities with several inches of snow, leading to dangerous driving conditions and scores of crashes and spinouts.

The week ahead is expected to be cooler than normal, but drier and less windy after Sunday. As for just how cold it will be, the National Weather Service says the high in the Twin Cities will be 25 on Monday but gradually drop to 18 by Friday. The lows will start out at 20 before gradually falling to 5 by Friday.

Saturday's storm dumped 10.2 inches on Madelia in southern Minnesota and 7.5 in Lakeville. Most of the metro saw lesser amounts: Chanhassen got 5.3 inches, Richfield had 3, the Twin Cities airport had 2.8 and Coon Rapids had 2.1 inches.

A winter storm warning was in effect for southern Minnesota until noon Sunday, with the metro area under a winter weather advisory. By 10 p.m. Saturday, 191 crashes had been reported statewide, including 18 that resulted in injury. Another 155 vehicle spinouts were reported throughout the day, as well as six jackknifed semitrailer trucks.

More than a dozen travelers hoping to fly to Minot, N.D., from the Twin Cities on Friday and Saturday had to wait until foggy skies cleared there.

James Braun was traveling from Detroit to Minot to visit his parents but was stranded from Friday night to Sunday evening.

"It's just really frustrating," Braun said.

The northern half of the state, meanwhile, was spared any snow, thanks to a system of dry air.

Sunny skies will return to the metro area Monday with north winds 5 to 10 mph, the Weather Service said. Tuesday will be partly sunny, with a high near 23.

Significant snow is not in the forecast for next week.

Staff writer Miguel Otárola contributed to this report. Mara Klecker • 612-673-4440