First Real Snow Doesn’t Need To Bring More Accidents Across The State (update)

Today may be the the first real measurable snow in Minnesota. In the past, the first real snow has brought accidents across the state. A number of those accidents have left Minnesotans dying on the roads. With this week being Winter Hazard Week, it is hoped that education and reduce injuries as we head into the winter season.

This may end up being the biggest pre-Thanksgiving snow storm since 1991′s Halloween blizzard. Right now Kare11 is reporting:

SATURDAY TRAVEL WEATHER ON Interstate 35 and Interstate 94 from the Twin Cities:

I-35 north to Duluth: Cloudy and windy with rain snow in the morning and early afternoon and evening with accumulations likely up to 6" – some of the snow could be heavy at times especially Saturday evening – temperatures along the route will be in the mid 30s.

I-35 south to Des Moines: Cloudy and windy with rain mixed with snow and changing to all snow between the Twin Cities and Mason City, Iowa by late Saturday afternoon – heavier snow may fall in southern Minnesota during the afternoon and evening – farther south toward Ames and Des Moines it will be warm enough for rain. Temperatures along the route will be in the mid to upper 30s between the Twin Cities and the Iowa border to the low 40s in the Ames and Des Moines area.

I-94 east to Chicago via Madison and Milwaukee: Cloudy and windy with rain mixed with snow from the Twin Cities to Eau Claire then all rain from east of Eau Claire through Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago – some snow will mix in with the rain near Madison by Saturday evening but the accumulating snow will be from west of Eau Claire back into the Twin Cities Saturday evening. Roads along the route will be wet but may be slippery – temperatures along the route will be in the mid to upper 30s from the Twin Cities to Eau Claire then the low to mid 40s across central Wisconsin and near 50 degrees around Madison to the low to mid 50s in Milwaukee and the upper 50s in the Chicago area.

I-94 west to Bismarck via Fargo: Cloudy and windy with snow – the snow could be heavy at times from the Twin Cities through St. Cloud and Alexandria then lighter snow toward the North Dakota border and becoming sunny west of Fargo toward Bismarck. Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s from the Twin Cities to the North Dakota border and near 40 degrees in North Dakota.

The Minneapolis Tribune had the following suggestions:

• Make sure your vehicle is ready for snow. Gas up, top off the fluids, make sure your tires have enough tread, pack a shovel and a bag of sand.

• Test out your brakes before you get into traffic to see how they react in this snowfall.

• Leave cruise controls off because that setting makes it harder to regain control if you start to slide.

• Slow down. Don’t tailgate. Be careful on bridges and ramps. Your four-wheel drive won’t prevent you from slipping, though it might make it easier to drive through deep snow.