Strong winter storm bears down on the Dakotas

• Icy

North Dakota State University junior Peter Erickson of Moorhead, Minn., scrapes off his ice-coated windshield after classes on Friday.

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BISMARCK — Many western South Dakota schools canceled classes as a winter storm moved into the Dakotas.

The National Weather Service has posted a variety of advisories and warnings, including a blizzard warning in eastern North Dakota through this morning. Forecasters say freezing rain will turn into snow, and strong winds will blow it around and make travel hazardous. Some areas could get a foot of snow.

North Dakota’s Transportation Department had issued a travel alert through this morning, urging motorists to use caution. KEVN-TV reports officials in western South Dakota’s Black Hills on Thursday were getting snowplows ready.

Many residents headed to stores Thursday to stock up on essentials. Janet Knodel of Fargo said she bought items such as milk in case she gets snowed in.

Officials in northwest North Dakota, including Divide County, issued no-travel advisories by late Friday afternoon. Most of the northeast part of the state was in a travel alert because of the chances for icy roads, blowing snow and reduced visibility.

But roads in the northeast part of the state were not in bad shape into late Friday afternoon, said Lt. Aaron Hummel of the Highway Patrol’s Grand Forks district.

“The freezing rain this morning didn’t create a lot of problems,” he said.

Above freezing temperatures into Friday morning helped, as did state and local trucks spreading sand on roadways, he said.

Tags: winter storm, news, snow, blizzard, ice