DULUTH, Minn. — Heavy snow and fierce winds hit the North Shore on Wednesday, causing road and school closings and extensive power outages.
Snowfall amounts of 7 to 26 inches were measured by midday along Lake Superior, with accumulations increasing farther up the shore.
The Twin Cities were also seeing snowfall Wednesday following a record-breaking stretch of five days in the 50s, including the warmest Valentine’s Day since 1882 when the high reached 54 degrees. The National Weather Service in Chanhassen was expecting metro accumulations of 2 to 5 inches through Wednesday evening.
The National Weather Service in Duluth reported winds of nearly 70 mph Wednesday morning, with visibility less than a quarter mile. U.S. 61 was closed from Duluth to the Canadian border before being reopened by 7 a.m. as the winds began to ebb. However, travel is expected to remain hazardous through Thursday morning due to the blizzard conditions.
Difficult traveling conditions may also lead to extended power restoration times, according to Minnesota Power.
High winds could blow trees and tree branches onto power lines. Officials warned to stay away from downed power lines and not to attempt to remove branches that may have fallen on them.
“Always assume that downed wires are energized and can cause injury or death,” Minnesota Power said.
Related Articles
Apostle Island ice caves likely closed for season after storm
Here’s why the Apostle Islands ice caves closed a day after opening
Clear the snow and clear your calendar – it’s time to name a snowplow
Southern US enters a second week of biting cold and prolonged outages
New cold snap adds urgency to winter storm recovery across the South
Leave a Reply