Blizzard conditions that virtually shut down eastern North Dakota early Sunday will continue across parts of the Dakotas and Minnesota through tonight before departing into Canada late
Monday. Life-threatening subzero cold is following behind across Montana and the northern Plains.
The
Winter Weather Center reports that a potent storm will continue bringing dangerous blizzard conditions to the eastern Dakotas
and parts of Minnesota into Monday.
Bitter cold air, strong winds greater than 40 mph and snow are combining to produce potentially life-threatening conditions from the eastern Dakotas through Minnesota.
Whiteout conditions with heavy falling, blowing and drifting snow has halted travel across parts of the region. Visibility under a quarter of a mile could last several hours across northern and
central Minnesota.
According to the Grand Forks Herald, the nasty conditions this morning forced the closure of Interstate 94 between Jamestown, N.D., and Fergus Falls, Minn., and Interstate 29 from Canada to the South
Dakota border.
The Severe Weather Center lists the winter storm-related
watches, warnings and advisories in effect across the northern
Plains and the West.
Up to a foot of snow will fall from northern Minnesota to Ontario through Sunday night, while a larger corridor of 3 to 6 inches of snow will stretch back into the eastern Dakotas.
Snow amounts of around a foot have already been measured in Montana and North Dakota, including some record snow amounts that have stood for about a century.
Williston, N.D., shattered the long-standing snowfall record of 3.1 inches set in 1906 on Saturday when 11.4 inches fell in the town. Snowfall of 5.9 inches at Bismarck on Saturday far surpassed the
old record of 3.2 inches set way back in 1909.
On Saturday night, law enforcement in parts of the Dakotas advised residents not to travel due to near-zero visibility.
One report out of an area near Fairfield, Mont., described the blizzard as the "worst storm seen in decades." The report stated winds were so strong on Friday night that a person could barely stand.
The winds downed branches, damaged a roof and caused power outages 7 miles west of Fairfield.
The arctic cold front associated with the blizzard will press farther south and east today into the southern Plains and across the Upper Midwest. Temperatures behind the front will be dropping by as
much as 20 to 40 degrees by tonight from Kansas through Minnesota.
Dangerous, subzero cold is covering Montana and portions of the Dakotas. AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will plummet as low as -50 degrees today when factoring in the strong, biting winds.
This caliber of cold will make it dangerous to venture outdoors for even short periods of time, because hypothermia and frost bite will be a threat.
According to the
Midwest Regional News story, the subzero cold will stay put across the northern Plains through
the beginning of the week.
However, as the storm shifts into Ontario and Quebec on Monday, the heaviest snow will push across these Canadian Provinces. Only a few flurries will be left around the Great Lakes region in the
storm's wake.
Meanwhile, snow will continue to fall across the Pacific Northwest. Snow will make it all the way to the coast in some spots as arctic cold surges in from western Canada. By Monday, 1 to 3 inches of
snow is expected to fall in Portland with higher amounts north and east of the city in the foothills.
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