Storm Continues: Nightmare PM rush in progress

Posted at 3:36 PM on February 8, 2010 by Paul Huttner (2 Comments)

A car spins put on Highway 494 at Stone Road in Minnetonka this afternoon.(MNDOT traffic cam)

Here we go again.

Another nightmare rush hour is in progress in the Twin Cities. Travel anywhere in Minnesota is difficult today. On a scale of 1 to 10 the hassle factor on this storm is about a 9.

The slow moving low pressure system causing the hassle is spinning near Sioux Falls this evening as it churns slowly south into Iowa tonight. Snowfall will continue through this evening and into Tuesday in most of southern Minnesota before tapering off by around lunchtime as the storm begins to pull away. That means another slick rush hour on tap for Tuesday morning, and a rough night of travel around the state.

Widely variable snow totals:

Snowfall reports with the storm so far have been pretty close to expected with some interesting exceptions. As expected, the heaviest snow has fallen in central Minnesota and the south and west metro, with lesser amounts in St. Paul and the east metro. Here are some updated totals:

-Chanhassen 5.9"
-Deephaven 5.9"

0235 PM SNOW NEW MARKET 44.57N 93.35W
02/08/2010 M3.5 INCH SCOTT MN TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL 8.0

0137 PM SNOW LAKEVILLE 44.68N 93.24W
02/08/2010 M5.5 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0137 PM SNOW PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.43W
02/08/2010 M6.0 INCH SCOTT MN NWS EMPLOYEE

In a quirk of this storm, there appears to be a snow deficit near the Twin Cities Airport. So far the NWS is reporting only 2.4" at MSP through noon. This is likey due to the linear nature of the intense snow bands which have so far avoided the area neat Bloomington and Twin Cities Airport.

-Twin Cities International Airport 2.4"

1241 PM SNOW BLOOMINGTON 44.83N 93.32W
02/08/2010 M2.6 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

IN LAST 6.5 HOURS

0834 AM SNOW 5 SW ST PAUL 44.90N 93.17W
02/08/2010 M3.5 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

Since snowfall reports always come in dribs and drabs to the NSW from observers during storms, you can get the latest NWS snowfall summaries below.

Stay safe and allow plenty of extra travel time today!

-Twin Cities radar loop
-Latest snowfall summary
-MNDOT traffic cams and info

PH

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Comments (2)

Nightmare commute? Annoying commute, maybe. More like normal commute for a snowy day. Must all mundane events be made to appear spectacular?

Posted by Tom | February 9, 2010 8:03 AM

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Hi Tom:

Normal commutes?
Check out the info below regarding the hundreds of accidents and incidents Monday.

PH

State Patrol
February 8
State Troopers responded to the following calls for service:

Statewide
· 359 property damage crashes.
· 57 personal injury crashes-none serious.
· No fatal crashes.
· 416 vehicles off the roadway.

Nine County Metro Area (included in Statewide Totals)
· 187 property damage crashes.
· 29 personal injury crashes.
· 158 vehicles off the road.
· MSP and DOT closed SB I35 in Lakeville from 1030-1230 today due to several semis jack knifed and other crashes between 185th and 205th.

MnDOT

Three Minnesota Department of Transportation vehicles were involved in crashes during morning rush hour as a result of unsafe road conditions caused by the winter storm.

In southeastern Minnesota, a Mn/DOT snowplow and a vehicle on Highway 30 between Chatsfield and Stewartville were involved in a head on-crash.

In the Twin Cities, one Mn/DOT truck was hit about 8 a.m. on Highway 101 north of old Highway 212.

In another incident, a Mn/DOT truck at Interstate 494 and County Road 6 in Plymouth was struck by another vehicle.

Posted by Paul Huttner | February 9, 2010 8:11 AM

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