UPDATED 1:45 p.m.
FARGO - The North Dakota Department of Transportation has lifted its no travel advisory for the Fargo and Wahpeton areas today.
The advisory was lifted at 1:10 p.m. after the DOT previously put a travel ban for interstates 29 and 94 earlier today because because of heavy and blowing snow and reduced visibility.
However, the DOT said in a news release that all travelers are encouraged to use caution and monitor road conditions, reduce traffic speeds as weather conditions occur and use caution while traveling. If motorists become stranded they should stay with their vehicle and call 911 for emergency assistance.
Weather conditions prompted a no travel advisory on I-94 from Medina to the Minnesota border and on I-29 from Hillsboro to the South Dakota border. The advisory included all roads south of U.S. Highway 200 to the South Dakota border in the eastern portion of the state. U.S. Highway 200A near Washburn was blocked.
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A no travel advisory also was lifted in southwest and central North Dakota, including the Dickinson, Minot and Bismarck areas.
Barnes County Sheriff Gene Bjerke said the Valley City area had received about 2 inches of snow, and wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph were whipping it around, creating hazardous driving conditions.
"Visibility is the big thing," he said. "Sheltered areas are filling in."
No serious accidents had been reported, he said.
School was canceled in Valley City, and some local businesses were opening late, he said.
Fargo was expected to see sustained winds around 30 mph and gusts of 40 mph or higher through early afternoon, National Weather Service meteorologist Geoff Grochocinski said.
Two to 5 inches of snow is expected from Devils Lake to Fargo to Wahpeton, the weather service said.
A blizzard warning is in effect until 3 p.m., and winds should become light again by late evening, he said.
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However, blowing snow will give way to bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills overnight, with low temperatures in the lower negative 20s and wind chills around 30 to 40 below zero, Grochocinski said.
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