MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A potent winter storm caused blizzard conditions across western Minnesota Thursday iand today, while parts of the southern half of the state could get up to a foot of snow.

A blizzard warning will be in effect across southern Minnesota as winds of near 50 mph will whip up accumulating snow, according to the National Weather Service.

As temperatures drop, Marshall, Worthington, Slayton, Willmar and Alexandria could get between 3 inches and 7 inches of snowfall by this afternoon when the storm is set to wind down, the weather service said.

Lesser amounts are expected in an area from Fergus Falls to Brainerd to Hayward, Wisconsin.

A winter storm warning is posted until Friday evening for an area along the I-35 corridor from the southern Twin Cities suburbs south to the Iowa border.

Between 6 inches and 10 inches of snow is forecast to fall in the Twin Cities with up to a foot possible in places such as Fairmont, Mankato and Albert Lea.