Friday, December 9, 2016

Blizzard Shuts Down Nearly 300 Miles of Major Interstate in North Dakota; Brutal Cold to Follow


Blizzard Shuts Down Nearly 300 Miles of Major Interstate in North Dakota; Brutal Cold to Follow
https://www.wunderground.com/news/north-south-dakota-minnesota-blizzard-impacts


Dangerous wind chill factors will continue to plague residents in the Northern Plains Wednesday after a blizzard shut down a nearly 300-mile stretch of a major interstate Tuesday in North Dakota. 

The North Dakota Department of Transportation and Highway Patrol extended the 230-mile closure of Interstate 94 further east to Fargo, according to the Associated Press. Both lanes of I-94 were closed from Dickinson to Fargo; northbound and southbound Interstate 29 was also closed between Fargo and the Canadian border due to zero visibility and blowing and drifting snow.
In addition, an approximately 60-mile stretch of Highway 2 from Lakota to the Grand Folks Airport was shut down due to strong winds and zero visibility.


As of Wednesday afternoon, however, most roadways had reopened.
Strong winds will persist Wednesday in parts of the Dakotas and northwest Minnesota, contributing to areas of blowing snow, says weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. Those winds will also create dangerously cold wind chills, which are in the teens and 20s below zero Wednesday morning.


The brutal cold will continue as sub-zero low temperatures are forecast in portions of the Dakotas Thursday and Friday mornings.


Residents have been asked not to travel in Minot, Devils Lake, Bismarck, Valley City, Fargo, Grand Forks and surrounding areas.


Some protestors fighting the Dakota Access pipeline have taken refuge in a nearby casino and area shelters overnight. However, many remained at a camp in southern North Dakota.




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