Dangerous travel conditions expected to develop Sunday across Minnesota and Wisconsin and persist into early Monday.

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A strengthening winter storm swept into Minnesota on Sunday — with more than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region — on what was expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.

The National Weather Service Twin Cities office 

 “dangerous, potentially life-threatening travel conditions” expected later Sunday into Monday morning — and said anyone with travel plans across the region on Sunday should consider making alternate arrangements.

For the Twin Cities, Faribault and Red Wing into western Wisconsin — a wintry mix changed over to snow through the morning hours Sunday, and was forecast to become heavy at times during the afternoon and evening. Snow totals of 7-10 inches are expected by Monday morning, with locally higher amounts.

To the west, snowfall may be somewhat less — but northwest winds gusting to 45 mph will cause whiteout conditions.

Blizzard warnings are in place from the Red River Valley southeast to St. Cloud, Willmar, the far western Twin Cities metro, Redwood Falls, Mankato, Rochester and Albert Lea — extending into parts of northern Iowa.

Temperatures will tumble through the day Sunday, with subzero wind chills across the region on Monday.

The National Weather Service in La Crosse said the snow is likely to start as the wet and heavy variety, before changing to lighter, fluffier snow as temperatures fall. That will increase the risk for blowing and drifting snow.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation 

 icy road conditions across much of the state Sunday morning. Authorities were responding to a steady stream of crashes and spinouts by mid-morning Sunday, including along Interstate 94 between the Twin Cities and Moorhead.

Highways were snow-covered across much of North and South Dakota, too.

At Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, officials were expecting more than 50,000 people to pass through security checkpoints on Sunday — one of the two busiest days of the holiday travel season.

 more than 100 delayed or canceled flights as of mid-morning Sunday. Air travel across the country 

 as winter weather affected various parts of the U.S.

These state transportation departments offer live updates on road conditions and crashes:

For bus and light rail riders in the Twin Cities, Metro Transit offers weather-related updates on its 

Is there is snow emergency in effect for St. Paul or Minneapolis? Find out on the 

If you’re planning to fly from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport or another airport around the region — or if you are expecting visitors to arrive by plane — airports offer flight status updates online:

Minnesota News

Weather and Climate News

Transportation

NewsPartners

Homepage

Fargo-Moorhead News

Minneapolis News

St. Paul News

Rochester News

Andrew Krueger

Author

MPR News Staff

A strengthening winter storm swept into Minnesota on Sunday — with more than a half-foot of snow and blizzard conditions expected across much of the region — on what was expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the holiday season.


Minnesota Department of Transportation

A snowplow clears an interstate in front of several cars.

Andrew Krueger | MPR News

A snowplow clears snow amid a winter storm

Dangerous travel expected as winter storm takes aim at Minnesota

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