The Minnesota Department of Transportation is advising no travel in a large part of the Northland north and west of Duluth on Friday afternoon as heavy snow continues to pile up and cause dangerous driving conditions.
The no-travel advisory includes U.S. Highway 2 between Brookston and Deer River, U.S. Highway 53 from Cotton to Cook, State Highway 210 from Cromwell to Brainerd, and U.S. Highway 169 from Mille Lacs Lake to Virginia, among other highways across the Iron Range and in the Ely, Grand Rapids, Floodwood and Aitkin areas.
A blizzard warning is in effect until midnight for the Grand Rapids, Hill City, Aitkin and Brainerd areas.
The Itasca County Sheriff's Office reported "blizzard-like conditions and zero visibility" in the county as of midday. The Aitkin County Sheriff's Office also reported whiteout conditions.
Roads in the Twin Ports area are rapidly deteriorating as sleet and snow start to accumulate.
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation and State Patrol reported numerous crashes and spinouts along Interstate 35 between Duluth and the Twin Cities as heavy bands of rain, sleet and snow -- accompanied by thunder at times - moved through the corridor.
MnDOT cameras showed snowy roads heading north on U.S. Highway 53 in Cotton. On the Iron Range the precipitation had changed over to snow earlier in the morning, and MnDOT cameras showed partly or completely snow-covered roads in Virginia, Hibbing and points north.
Find more information about road conditions in Minnesota here .
Find more information about road conditions in Wisconsin here .
