DULUTH -- Steady snowfall and gusty northwest winds are causing treacherous travel across the Twin Ports and around the Northland this morning, just as Black Friday shoppers searching for bargains hit the roads.
More than a half-foot of snow may fall in some parts of the region before the snow tapers off later today.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reports difficult to hazardous road conditions across Northeastern Minnesota this morning, with conditions particularly bad in the Twin Ports. U.S. Highway 53 south of Superior was snow-covered and hazardous as of 1 a.m.
Some plows were out in Duluth as of 1 a.m. Several cars could be seen spun out into ditches along Arlington Avenue and Rice Lake Road, as traffic for that time of night was heavier than normal because of the big post-Thanksgiving shopping rush.
The National Weather Service reported 3.3 inches of snow at the Duluth airport as of midnight. With snow still falling, other snowfall reports from around the region late Thursday and early today included:
ADVERTISEMENT
4 inches near Virginia
3.8 inches at Payne
3.5 inches at Cotton
3 inches at Two Harbors
2.2 inches at Cloquet
1.9 inches at International Falls
Northwest winds have been causing blowing and drifting snow across the region overnight. Winds have gusted as high as 35 mph in Duluth and 40 mph at Hibbing.
The Weather Service is forecasting a general snowfall of 3 to 6 inches across Northeastern Minnesota, including Duluth, the Iron Range and the Arrowhead.
ADVERTISEMENT
A winter storm warning is in effect until 4 p.m. today for Bayfield, Ashland and Iron counties in Northwestern Wisconsin, where lake-effect snow may push storm totals to 7 to 9 inches, with the greatest amounts along the Gogebic Range.
Scattered snow showers should diminish across the Twin Ports and Iron Range later this morning; they may linger into Friday afternoon in the Arrowhead and parts of Northwestern Wisconsin.
