Hundreds of crashes reported across the Midwest as fast-moving blizzard blankets Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS – A storm system brought some of the heaviest snowfall of the season to places such as Minnesota and Wisconsin Thursday, leading to treacherous travel across parts of the northern United States

More than 5 inches of snow was reported in Minneapolis, while Arcadia, Wisconsin saw at least 8 inches of new powder.

Agencies from Wisconsin and Minnesota reported responding to hundreds of accidents, including several jackknifed tractor-trailers.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation deployed more than 800 snowplow crews to treat major thoroughfares throughout the state.

Snow and ice at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has caused dozens of flight delays.

The heaviest snowfall occurred in southern Wisconsin Thursday afternoon, reducing visibility and creating slippery road conditions.

FOX Weather Correspondent Brandy Campbell saw several spin-out crashes along I-43 nearby SheboyganWisconsin as drivers navigated the winter weather.

Due to the threat of the frozen precipitation, more than 12 million residents were under either a winter weather warning or a winter storm warning issued by local National Weather Service offices.

“It’s a good little shot of snow, something they haven’t seen in Minneapolis,” said FOX Weather Meteorologist Bob Van Dillen. “We have winter weather advisories that have just been upgraded to winter storm warnings.”

Therefore, you will see fewer winter alerts on the weather maps this year

As the snowfall ends, a cold front is expected to kick wind gusts up to 50 mph across the Plains, with communities in the Upper Midwest likely to see winds in the 30 to 40 mph range.

These strong winds will lead to blowing snow, potentially causing further travel difficulties on roads and at airports.

Hundreds of personnel are typically on standby from October to April to respond to frozen precipitation and keep planes flying in and out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport with minimal disruption

The rapid snowfall event is expected to mark the largest accumulation so far this season for cities such as Minneapolis and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Since meteorological winter began on Dec. 1, the Twin Cities have reported just 1.3 inches of snowfall, nearly a foot below average. Meanwhile Green Bay has reported just 1.1 inches in the same time period.

What is an Alberta Clipper, Manitoba Mauler, Saskatchewan Screamer?

High temperatures are only expected to reach the single digits and teens on Friday and Saturday, before a warm-up during Christmas week, which could be one of the warmest Christmas holiday weeks America has ever seen.

Forecasters expect temperatures to rise 15-25 degrees above average across the region over the holiday week, potentially challenging records set just a year ago.

Original article source: Hundreds of crashes reported across the Midwest as fast-moving blizzard blankets Minneapolis