Icy conditions hit region
WORTHINGTON — As the latest bout of bad weather fades away, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is still reminding motorists to slow down when road conditions are risky.
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WORTHINGTON — As the latest bout of bad weather fades away, the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is still reminding motorists to slow down when road conditions are risky.
Across the state, more than 200 vehicles spun off the road between 5 and 10 a.m. Tuesday, and 94 crashes were recorded in the same time period.
“Many of the crashes and spin-outs we’ve seen are the results of people driving too fast,” said Minnesota State Patrol Lt. Eric Roeske. “Motorists need to be aware of the conditions and adjust their speed accordingly.”
Roads in southwest Minnesota were slushy, sloppy and slick Tuesday and Wednesday as precipitation varied between rain and snow according to temperature.
According to measurements taken at the water treatment plant in Worthington, 1.6 inches of rain, with a small amount of snow mixed in, fell between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.
By mid-afternoon Wednesday, roads in the southern counties — Nobles, Jackson, Rock — were rated fair for travel, but just a few miles north, Murray and Pipestone county roads were still considered difficult for travel, with ice and possible reduced visibility.
Motorists across the area described driving conditions that ranged from “slow and yucky” to “icy and slick.”
Late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning seemed to be the worst. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, Pipestone County Deputy Eric Ossefort said roads in town were salted and in drivable condition.
“We haven’t really had problems today or yesterday,” he said. “Things have gone very well, and we’ve been lucky.”
Murray County also reported no accidents as of Wednesday around noon, but the Lake Wilson Fire Department and First Responders were called out shortly before 3 p.m. to a one-vehicle rollover south of Lake Wilson on Minnesota 91.
Authorities in Nobles County received a report Tuesday night of a downed power line in Lismore shortly before 8 p.m., but power was restored by 9:30 p.m., the report states.
In Worthington, there were several fender-bender type crashes Tuesday and Wednesday.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Mike Buss said the area can expect a high of 37 today, with highs in the lower 30s for the next few days.
“By Tuesday we should be back up near 50,” he predicted. “A nice warming trend.”
The higher temperatures should take care of the layer of ice that formed on trees, fences, decks and anything else outdoors.
There have been reports across the area of branches breaking off trees from the weight of the ice, littering yards that were already swampy with an ice/snow slush.
While the ice and freezing rain were bothersome for motorists, Buss said it would help the area get back where it was supposed to be, moisture-wise.
“Fall was pretty dry,” he said.
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