Storm total: 9-10 in.
Published 9:40 am Wednesday, February 10, 2010
After all the schools in the area canceled classes on Monday and Tuesday as a result of a snowstorm, a handful began classes late today.
In the Albert Lea area, Alden-Conger, United South Central, Lake Mills and Northwood-Kensett delayed the start of classes for two hours.
Alden-Conger intends to reschedule its recreation day called Winterim.
The snowstorm that lasted from Sunday evening to Tuesday morning brought about 9 1/2 inches of snow to Albert Lea, and about 10 inches of the white stuff to Ellendale, Geneva and Clarks Grove. Kiester, Wells, Emmons and Glenville had in the neighborhood of 8 to 9 inches.
Pope County appears to have received the most snow in the Chanhassen-based monitor area of the National Weather Service. It reports Starbuck had 11 1/2 inches, and Glenwood received 11 inches. Faribault in Rice County reported 11 inches, too.
Monday had traffic problems all over the place, but Tuesday had its share, too. There were reports of cars waiting for an accident to clear on U.S. Highway 65 between Albert Lea and Glenville. On southbound I-35 cars were backed up a bit north of Ellendale as they converged into a single lane to drive around a semi that had jackknifed and ended up partially in the ditch.
A truck overturned on U.S. Highway 14 near Goose Lake and was left in the ditch overnight because it had to be offloaded by hand before it could be towed out. The offloading chore was slated for this morning.
Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office reports stated there were three vehicle rollovers on Interstate 90 Tuesday evening and this morning. The first, a mile west of the Mower County line, took place at 5:14 p.m. Tuesday. The Sheriff’s Office log stated extrication was needed.
The second rollover, a mile east of the KOA Campground, took place at 12:33 a.m. today, and the third took place at 1:02 a.m. today near the KOA. In this instance, the driver was cited for driving too fast for the conditions.
The Minnesota State Patrol, which is in charge of reports on the interstates, did not yet have more detailed information on these crashes.
There was also a rollover reported on Interstate 35 south of Albert Lea at 5:34 p.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.
According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, roads in Faribault, Blue Earth and Waseca counties and places to the west still were in difficult shape this morning. Freeborn, Steele, Rice and Mower counties and places to the east had roads in fair condition, though slippery because of patches of ice.
The big work for most people appeared to be digging out their driveways and sidewalks. You couldn’t go outside on Tuesday in Albert Lea without seeing snowblowers in action.
The Albert Lea forecast for Wednesday looks to be mostly sunny, with a high of 17. Expect wind chill between 1 below and 11 below.
Why the cold?
Dry air works differently than humid air. Humid air of summer captures the heat of the day and keeps it from escaping upward. Summer nights in the Midwest are warm. Summer nights in arid deserts can get cold.
In the dry air of winter, the good thing about cloud cover is it traps warmth, however little there is. Once the skies open, the warmth escapes and leaves the cold. That’s why folks had to come to work this morning in subzero temperatures. The air was 4 below around 8 o’clock.