Tuesday storm ices the area

The Free Press staff and The Associated Press

March 10, 2009 10:56 pm

— March mayhem ruled the roads during a late-winter storm Tuesday that turned pavement into ice across much of the state, including this region.
Deteriorating weather conditions Tuesday morning prompted Blue Earth County officials to close a section of Highway 169 near Amboy.
The section near the highway’s junction with Highway 30 west of Amboy was closed as well.
On Highway 60 about a quarter mile east of Blue Earth County Road 30, a driver lost control of a truck he was driving on the ice-covered highway at about 7 a.m. He ran off the road into the median where the truck tipped on its side, Blue Earth County sheriff’s deputies said. The driver, Xia Liang Zhao of Dallas, Texas, was treated for a minor injury.
Among schools closing Tuesday were Maple River Schools, Minnesota Valley Lutheran, Madelia and St. Clair. Various meetings and events were canceled Tuesday night throughout the region as well.
As the weather worsened and the sun went down, Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Deputy John Park said activity on the roads decreased. Tuesday morning was the worst time for fender-benders and other incidents as the bad weather crept in, he said. Area sheriff’s offices reported the same, with little activity on the roads Tuesday night.
“So far, traffic is down, and the traffic that is out is running really slowly,” he said. “Which is good because the travel conditions around this area are absolutely down to nothing.”
Park said roads in Blue Earth County were icy with blowing and drifting snow making visibility slim to none in some areas. Roads were similar throughout the region, sheriff’s offices reported.
“Visibility is really bad,” he said. “Those cross winds will get you. ... It’s going to be a cold, blustery night.”
Park said traffic on Highway 169 was moving at between 30 and 40 mph. It was expected to stay that way through the morning, as the National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 7 a.m. today.
The total snow accumulation was expected to be 1 to 3 inches, according to the Weather Service. The clouds are expected to part today, but highs are only estimated at about 10 degrees.

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