Storm brings freezing drizzle, snow to the Dakotas

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GRAND FORKS — A winter storm dropped heavy snow in some parts of the Dakotas and brought freezing rain to others, shutting down schools and creating problems for motorists.

The National Weather Service issued storm warnings and advisories in the two states through Monday night and into Tuesday in some areas. The storm with mixed precipitation and gusty winds moved east out of Montana and crossed the Dakotas into Minnesota and Iowa.

“There's quite a variance (in precipitation) depending on where you are, but overall it's a pretty large storm system,” said Dave Kellenbenz, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks, in northeastern North Dakota.

That region took the brunt of the storm early Monday. Devils Lake had 10 inches of snow by midmorning and the town of Sarles had a foot of snow, with more falling, Kellenbenz said.

Northwestern North Dakota got snow and freezing rain. Sheriff's offices in Renville, Divide and Williams counties advised no travel early Monday. The weather service posted a blizzard warning for that region.

In southeastern North Dakota and parts of eastern South Dakota, freezing rain that coated roads was more of a problem. No travel was advised in parts of southeastern North Dakota early Monday, and motorists were urged to use caution in many in other areas. There were no immediate reports of major accidents.

Many schools in the two states started classes late or canceled them for the day.

The storm was not expected to worsen the outlook for spring flooding in the Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota because the precipitation is not out of the norm for this time of year. The heavier snow also fell in the northern part of the valley, rather than in the south where the river begins and flows north, Kellenbenz said.

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