UPDATE: Mower now under blizzard warning
Published 1:50 pm Thursday, January 8, 2015
Sundogs flank the sun as it falls low on the western horizon Wednesday afternoon. Though striking, it’s a sign that temperatures dipped to bone-numbing cold with conditions to continue through the week. — Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Southern Minnesota can’t catch a break with winter this week.
After several days of bitter cold, blizzard-like conditions blew into southern Minnesota Thursday.
The National Weather Service upgraded a winter weather advisory in Mower County to a blizzard warning, warning that winds are likely to increase this afternoon to 20 to 35 mph with gusts of 40 to 50 mph. The wind, combined with about 1-3 inches of fresh snow, could make for significantly reduced visibility, especially in open, rural areas. Near zero visibility was reported north of Austin on Highway 218 near Lansing Corners.
Several area schools closed early because of the worsening conditions.
The state remained in the deep freeze Thursday morning with temperatures dropping to minus 9 in Austin early this morning before steadily warming up to about zero at 6:15 a.m.
A wind chill advisory expired at 9 a.m. Thursday and another is likely overnight. Wind chills hit about 27 below last night and will 20 t0 30 below again tonight. A high of 14 is expected today before temperatures drop to minus 7 overnight. Friday’s high is forecasted at around zero with a low of 11 below.
—The Associated Press contributed to this report
