Storm Ushers Arctic Air into Southeastern Minnesota

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The snowfall totals were mainly lower than what had been predicted, but the storm system that arrived in southeastern Minnesota this morning still produced difficult travel conditions.

At last report, troopers stationed at the State Patrol headquarters in Rochester had responded to 13 crashes involving property damage and 18 reports of vehicle spinouts. Statewide, the State Patrol was called to over 200 crashes, 112 vehicle spinouts, and 8 jackknifed semi-trucks. 24 of the crashes resulted in injuries, but no one was seriously hurt.

The National Weather Service says the preliminary snowfall totals in the Rochester area range from under an inch to around 2.5 inches, while areas in Houston and Winona counties reported around 3.5 inches of new snow. Travel conditions were also impacted by a coating of ice that formed on many roadways when the temperatures quickly fell below freezing with the arrival of a cold front early this morning. The system also brought strong northwest winds with gusts of around 35 miles-per-hour that ushered in arctic air that will likely stick around through the first half of next week.