Snow plows pulled in southeast N.D., no travel advised

FARGO, N.D. - Blowing snow has forced the Department of Transportation to pull snowplows from roads in southeast North Dakota. State officials have issued a no travel advisory for most of southern North Dakota due to blowing snow.

The Transportation Department says snowplows have pulled off the roads because of zero visibility and heavy snow. The worst conditions are south of Interstate 94.

Bruce Nord, maintenance supervisor for the department's Fargo district, said plows were pulled in the Forman, Lidgerwood, Lisbon, Wahpeton and Wyndmere areas. Two plows were stranded at the Interstate 29 rest area just north of Dakota Magic Casino, he said.

"He's on the on-ramp and can't see the interstate," Nord said of one of the plow operators.

The no travel advisory applies to all highways south of I-94 from Bismarck to the Minnesota border; U.S. 83 and U.S. 281 from I-94 to the South Dakota border; and I-29 from Christine to the South Dakota border.

As much as 14 inches of snow was reported south of Bismarck, Nord said.

The heavy snowfall is expected to let up around noon, and plows will be back on the roads, he said.

Snowfall totals reported as of 7 a.m. include 15 inches in Carson, 13 inches at Fort Yates, 5.5 inches in Linton and 4.6 inches in Bismarck.