FARGO — A no-travel warning for eastern North Dakota was lifted Monday morning, Dec. 31. Just after noon, the no-travel warning was also lifted for west-central Minnesota.
Drivers in both states are still cautioned to be aware that driving conditions could still be difficult due to blowing snow reducing visibility and icing-up roads.
The city of Fargo closed 19th Avenue North on Monday morning from Dakota Drive North to 18th Street North due to blowing snow and lack of visibility. Traffic is being detoured to 12th Avenue North via Dakota Drive North and 18th Street North. It will remain closed until conditions improve.
A fluffy, overnight snowfall, combined with strong winds gusting at times to more than 40 mph, drastically reduced visibility and produced near white-out conditions at times during the morning drive-time in Fargo-Moorhead.
Most people heeded the travel warnings, as interstates 29 and 94 in Fargo-Moorhead and other arterial roads had relatively light traffic Monday morning (though that may have been helped by New Year's Day falling on Tuesday, making Monday a tempting day to take off from work to create a long weekend).
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Dangerous wind chills in the 30- to 45-below range are expected today even as the area prepares to celebrate New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, WDAY-TV Meteorologist Lydia Blume and the National Weather Service warned. That combination of cold and fierce wind can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 to 15 minutes, Blume said.
Temperatures in the F-M area could drop to the minus-25 degree range overnight Monday into New Year's Day morning, with wind chills in the minus-45 range, WDAY meteorologist Summer Schnellbach said Monday.
