/usr/web/www.marshallindependent.com/wp-content/themes/coreV2/single.php
×

Cold, wind and maybe snow during SMSU homecoming parade

This morning’s Southwest Minnesota State University homecoming parade will require plenty of warm clothing.

Cold and windy conditions that shocked the Marshall area Friday continues today. The parade starts at 11 a.m. with route starting on Lyon Street and proceeds down Main Street through the downtown area. Other homecoming activities continue throughout the day including the football game against Bemidji State.

Temperatures will be in the 30s today, according to the National Weather Service. Light rain or snow with lots of wind is also forecasted throughout the day.

However, weather conditions are lot more severe west of Minnesota.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on Friday activated the state’s emergency plan due to what he called a crippling snowstorm that closed major highways and had farmers and ranchers bracing for huge crop and livestock losses.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for northern North Dakota and winter storm warnings and watches elsewhere in the state and into parts of South Dakota and Minnesota through Saturday. One to 2 feet of snow was expected to accumulate Friday in parts of North Dakota. with winds gusting up to 65 mph (105 kph).

The October storm already has dumped more than a foot of snow on Bismarck, the state capital. The National Weather Service reports 13.2 inches (33.5 centimeters) of snow fell in Bismarck as of late Friday morning. Jamestown has a report of 14 inches (35.6 centimeters). Weather Service meteorologist Bill Abeling said the snow was still falling late Friday afternoon and that Bismarck could see up to 4 more inches (10 centimeters) by Saturday afternoon.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol tweeted that over a dozen road rescues happened between Jamestown and Crystal Springs Friday morning. One was a bus with 42 people on board.

In western Nebraska, a Scottsbluff man died in a crash on an icy highway Thursday night. Adam Hawk, 20, was driving on U.S. Highway 20 when his vehicle rolled, killing Hawk and injuring two people, KNEB Radio reported.

Dozens of schools in the Dakotas were closed Friday because of deteriorating travel conditions. That follows school closures and travel headaches Thursday in the Great Plains.

Hundreds of miles of miles of Interstates 29 and 94 and U.S. Highway 2 in North Dakota were closed on Friday due to severe winter conditions and poor visibility.

Highway Patrol Sgt. Wade Kadrmas said no traffic fatalities had been reported as of Friday morning.

Carl Jones, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks, said the storm likely is historic. He said up to a foot (0.3 meters) of snow already had fallen through much of the state by Friday to be topped by up to 3 feet (0.9 meters) more later in the day.

“These are unheard of amounts for any time of year,” he said.

The north-central and northeastern part of the state was taking the brunt of the storm but Bismarck, in the central North Dakota, had nearly a foot of snow by Friday.

“I’m expecting massive crop losses — as devastating as we’ve even seen,” said Jon Nelson, a state lawmaker who farms several hundred acres near Rugby in north-central North Dakota.

Unharvested wheat in the region probably will be a total loss, he said.

“A lot of the standing stuff is flattened to the ground,” Nelson said. “It’s shot and some guys are putting their combines away and won’t bring them out again.”

Erika Kenner, who ranches with her parents in Leeds, North Dakota, said she felt helpless Friday as she was unable to check on the family’s herd of several hundred cows due to deep, drifting snow.

“I just hear the wind howling and think of those poor cows out there,” she said. “Cattle are tough but this kind of weather just wears on them.”

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today