Blizzard conditions have let up, but harsh winter weather isn’t easing its grip on southern Minnesota just yet.

High winds and light snow halted travel and made for hazardous road conditions Thursday night and early Friday morning. Last night, the Minnesota Department of Transportation recommended no travel because of icy conditions and poor visibility from high winds after a few inches of snow earlier in the day.

This morning, visibility was improved, but drifting was still reported on rural roads.

Last night’s blizzard warning and a winter weather advisory expired, but 13 to 18 mph and 26 mph gusts were still making for some snow drifting on rural roads earlier today.

On Thursday, sustained winds reached 28 to 30 mph and gusts reached 46 mph, according to NWS readings.

The bitter cold is expected to stick around at least into early next week.

A wind chill advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday. After a high near 1 degree Friday, an overnight low near 11 below zero was expected. Wind chills Friday and overnight will reach 10 to 30 below.

The cold weather will ease briefly for the weekend, and highs should reach 14 on both Saturday and Sunday.

However, lows will drop to minus 1 Sunday night before another round bitter day on Monday, when the high will be 5 and the low will be minus 8.

According to extended forecasts, high temperatures should reach 29 by next Thursday and Friday and 33 by next Saturday.