Schools canceled or postponed athletic activities and several area cities have declared snow emergencies for this weekend after a storm Friday dumped up to 9 inches of snow on the west central region.
The National Weather Service had predicted the region would be squarely in the middle of the storm, which deposited from 5 to 9 inches of snow south and west of Interstate 94 and north and east of the Minnesota River Valley. The City of Willmar Public Works Department is declaring a snow emergency in the central business district at 12:01 a.m. midnight Monday.
The area affected will be from First to Seventh Streets Southwest and from Trott Avenue Southwest to the bypass.
Motorists may use city parking lots to park cars normally parked on the streets. Any vehicles left on the streets will be towed at the owner's expense. The emergency will expire at 6 a.m. Monday.
The Montevideo Police Department said Friday a snow emergency was declared for midnight. No parking on avenues will be allowed until plowed and no parking will be allowed on streets after 8 a.m. today until plowed.
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Olivia declared a snow emergency in effect from 12 midnight until 6 a.m. today. Vehicles were to have been removed from streets and alleys for snow removal during this period. Violators will be fined or towed.
Bird Island declared a snow emergency from Friday night into this morning.
A snow alert in Morris began at 12:01 a.m. today and extends until 12:01 a.m. Sunday. All vehicles are to be removed from city streets except those driven by physicians on emergency calls and emergency vehicles.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to use extreme caution in southwest Minnesota due to heavy snow and reduced visibility when meeting vehicles.
Motorists should watch for scattered slippery areas and compacted snow on roadways in sheltered areas. MnDOT snow plow operators are out in force and will continue to make highways safe, according to a MnDOT spokesperson.
