Over 150 crashes, 60 spinouts reported during Friday morning snowfall

KSTP
Lanes of Highway 169 near Canterbury Road were shut down due to a crash. | MnDOT[KSTP]

You’ll want to be prepared before heading off to your destination Friday – snow is falling across much of Minnesota, causing roads to be slippery.

The Minnesota State Patrol reported 159 crashes — including 22 involving injuries — statewide between 5 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Friday. Fortunately, none of the crashes resulted in fatal injuries. An additional 66 vehicles off the road and spinouts were reported in the timeframe.

Snow was falling early Friday morning in western parts of Minnesota, and maps showed either fully or partially covered roadways, so you’ll want to take it easy.

Plow cameras from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) show there may be low visibility in areas near Marshall, as well as anywhere with open country.

Snow is expected to pick up just in time for the morning commute in the Twin Cities metro area.

Plows have been out since Thursday getting the pavement ready for those driving to work and school, but you’re still advised to take it slow.

While some schools are open in the state, dozens of others have either closed or moved to e-learning.

Snow is expected to end Friday night.

Meanwhile, heavy snow was spreading across a large swath of the Midwest, where travel conditions deteriorated and scores of schools closed or moved to online instruction.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for parts of Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa and Illinois, where forecasters were expecting up to 10 inches of fresh snow. The weather service tweeted that the snow will combine with gusty winds to produce slippery roads and reduced visibility.

Forecasters say the fast-moving storm may make travel difficult across parts of the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest into the Mid-Mississippi Valley through Saturday morning.