St. Cloud, Minn.
Andy Kilanowski clears his sidewalk of snow along 33rd Street North in St. Cloud, Minn., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. Winter Storm Orko dumped snow in the Midwest and Plains just days after Winter Storm Nemo moved through. (AP Photo/The St. Cloud Times, Dave Schwarz)
Blizzard conditions from Winter Storm Orko in western Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas snarled traffic and closed schools and businesses Monday. The storm, part of the same system that spawned tornadoes in the South on Sunday, dumped a foot or more of snow in some areas.
Several highways were closed in Minnesota, including Interstate 94 from Alexandria to Moorhead, and Highways 10 210. Sheriff's deputies in Grant and Douglas counties assisted drivers who became stranded.
(MORE: Mississippi Tornado Wrecks Homes, University)
In the Dakotas, Interstate 29 remains closed between Sioux Falls, S.D. and Grand Forks, N.D. I-94 in North Dakota is closed between Fargo and Jamestown, and I-90 in South Dakota is closed between Sioux Falls and Wall. No travel is advised in other parts of the region.
Oko brought heavy snow and strong winds that contributed to numerous accidents, including a seven-vehicle chain-reaction crash on I-94 in southeastern North Dakota. The Highway Patrol said there were only minor injuries.
The National Weather Service says Glenwood, Minn., in Pope County got 12 inches of snow Sunday. Walker has about 11 inches and Hillman has 10 inches. The Minnesota Department of Transportation warned early Monday that most roadways in the state present difficult driving conditions.
The Minnesota State Patrol handled 326 crashes since Sunday morning, including 42 that involved injuries.
(MORE: Winter Storm Orko Forecast | Northeast Digs out from Nemo)
