ROCHESTER, Minn. – (4 p.m.) The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises no travel tonight and into Friday morning in across sections of southern Minnesota due to the blizzard warning, which could produce hazardous road conditions and severely diminish visibility.
At this time, the no travel advisory will include the following counties where the National Weather Service has declared a blizzard warning: Dodge, Freeborn, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha and Winona.
Motorists should monitor MnDOT’s road conditions web site www.511mn.org for travel conditions overnight and early Friday. On the site, motorists can view road conditions, weather warnings, as well as images from snowplow and traffic cameras to get information to make good driving decisions.
Additionally, check MnDOT’s Twitter accounts in the region for immediate updates at @mndotsoutheast, @mndotscentral and @mndotnews.
The forecast for these counties, and others in southern Minnesota, is the type of storm that can create hazardous road conditions and force MnDOT to close highways because of high winds that create zero visibility with blowing snow and make it unsafe for even snowplow drivers.
MnDOT snowplow operators are on the roads to do their part to make highways safe, working around the clock. If travel is necessary, motorists should use slower speeds on all types of roads, travel with their headlights on and turn off their cruise control. When driving near snowplows, motorists should be patient and remember that snowplows are working to improve road conditions. Motorists should stay back 10 car lengths behind the plow.
For additional tips on safe winter driving, go to www.mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html.For updated
road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.
