Deadly storm continues to blast central US with near-blizzard ...

MINNEAPOLIS – A powerful and deadly spring storm bringing near-blizzard conditions to the central U.S. will continue to significantly impact the region with heavy snow and strong winds through Tuesday from parts of the Plains through northern Minnesota.

Winter weather alerts stretch for more than 1,000 miles from Texas to Michigan, including Blizzard Warnings that are in effect for portions of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota.

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The Minnesota State Patrol said it responded to hundreds of reports of crashes, spinouts and jackknifed tractor-trailers on Sunday due to the winter weather conditions, and at least two people were killed in storm-related crashes.

Officials said a woman was killed in a crash south of Minneapolis on Interstate 35 East in the town of Burnsville. Information about the second death was not available.

It was also a record-breaking day in terms of snowfall in the Minneapolis area after the Twin Cities picked up 8.2 inches of snow on Sunday, which broke the old daily record of 6.2 inches on that date in 1996.

Sunday was also the snowiest day in Minneapolis since January 2023 and the snowiest March day since 2007.

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Schools across the region from the Plains to the Upper Midwest were closed because of the storm, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation said Interstate 80 was closed for a nearly 150-mile-long stretch in the state from Kearney to Ogallala because of the treacherous travel conditions, including blowing and drifting snow.

The National Weather Service office in Hastings, Nebraska, warned people to stay off the roads because of the treacherous conditions.

"Travel should be restricted to emergencies only," the NWS warned in its Blizzard Warning statement. "If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you."

By Monday afternoon, Nebraska State troopers had responded to five crashes and helped more than 35 motorists during blizzard conditions. 

Video recorded at Denver International Airport showed what appeared to be graupel – more commonly known as "snow pellets" – falling from the sky as the storm impacted the area.

Another video showed the treacherous driving conditions in Timnath, Colorado, as the powerful storm dumped heavy snow across the region.

The FOX Forecast Center said the powerful storm will continue to impact the northern and central Plains and the Upper Midwest through Tuesday.

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Periods of snow and strong winds will also continue from the central Plains to northern Minnesota, along with some sleet and freezing rain in parts of the upper Mississippi Valley.

Although Minneapolis saw a record-breaking day of snow on Sunday, it won’t last long. The FOX Forecast Center said the snow will be replaced by rain on Monday before switching back to a mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow as the storm comes to an end on Tuesday.

But for those on the colder side of the storm, snow will continue.

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Bands of heavy snow with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour are expected from central Nebraska and eastern South Dakota to northern Minnesota.

Additional snow totals between 5 and 12 inches are forecast from central Nebraska to northeastern Minnesota, with more than a foot of additional snow possible across northern Minnesota and the Arrowhead, where Blizzard Warnings continue.

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Blizzard Warnings continue in parts of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota through Tuesday.

Winter Weather Advisories stretch from the Texas Panhandle to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, with the bulk of Winter Storm Warnings in effect from the Dakotas to northern Wisconsin.