BISMARCK - Heavy snow fell over a large area of Minnesota on New Year's Eve, making roads icy and contributing to numerous traffic accidents and two fatal crashes that killed three people.
The National Weather Service predicted up to 10 inches of snow by midnight in parts of east-central and south-central Minnesota, extending into the northern and western suburbs of the Minneapolis-
St. Paul area.
Brisk north-northwest winds were causing blowing and drifting in central and south-central Minnesota.
Snow also was moving across northeastern Minnesota, where 4 to 8 inches of snow was expected. Northwestern Minnesota also received several inches of snow.
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On an evening known for parties and revelry, the Minnesota State Patrol was recommending that people stay at home.
Lt. Mark Peterson of the State Patrol said the two drivers died in a head-on collision on Minnesota 47 in Isanti County and another driver was killed in a Carver County crash that temporarily closed U.S. 212 near Chaska.
Names of the crash victims were being withheld until relatives had been notified.
Meanwhile in North Dakota, residents were digging out under clear skies Sunday after a winter storm blanketed parts of the state with heavy snow.
"The storm is over," Bill Abeling, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Bismarck, said Sunday morning. "We're only looking for pleasant weather now."
Bismarck had 10.2 inches of snow Saturday, which nearly set a December record for accumulation in a 24-hour period, Abeling said. The city had 10.4 inches Dec. 30, 1918, he said.
Abeling said the winter storm did not catch forecasters by surprise but it did his snowblower, which was reluctant to fire up after being stored for about a year.
"It took 25 pulls to get it started," Abeling said.
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Ashley, in south-central North Dakota, got 16 inches of snow Saturday, the most in the state.
"What an honor," said Ashley Mayor Don Kosel, who was still shut in from the storm late Sunday morning.
Many of the city's 882 residents were pushing snow shovels Sunday, he said.
The city's snowplows had been idle for more than a year until late Saturday. He said crews were out clearing roads Sunday, focusing on the city's main streets and around the hospital.
Hazelton got 14 inches of snow, and Wishek got more than a foot Saturday, the weather service said. Underwood and Linton got about
11 inches of snow.
Dickinson and most of the southwest part of the state "barely got a trace," Abeling said. Williston got 3.6 inches, and Minot had 2.5 inches, he said.
Grand Forks got 6.7 inches of snow, said Dave Kellenbenz, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks. Fargo had about an inch, he said.
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The eastern part of the state got sleet and freezing rain Saturday.
"It was a pretty varied storm system," Kellenbenz said. "We had it pegged as good as we could. It was a tricky forecast for the end of December - this time of year we're usually just dealing with snow."
State transportation officials said snowplows were pulled off many roads early Saturday night due to heavy snow and reduced visibility.
More than 20 vehicles were off the road from Medina to Spirtwood, along Interstate 94 on Saturday night, Highway Patrol Lt. Eric Pederson said.
