Storm Continues: Nightmare PM rush in progress

A car spins put on Highway 494 at Stone Road in Minnetonka this afternoon.(MNDOT traffic cam)

Here we go again.

Another nightmare rush hour is in progress in the Twin Cities. Travel anywhere in Minnesota is difficult today. On a scale of 1 to 10 the hassle factor on this storm is about a 9.

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The slow moving low pressure system causing the hassle is spinning near Sioux Falls this evening as it churns slowly south into Iowa tonight. Snowfall will continue through this evening and into Tuesday in most of southern Minnesota before tapering off by around lunchtime as the storm begins to pull away. That means another slick rush hour on tap for Tuesday morning, and a rough night of travel around the state.

Widely variable snow totals:

Snowfall reports with the storm so far have been pretty close to expected with some interesting exceptions. As expected, the heaviest snow has fallen in central Minnesota and the south and west metro, with lesser amounts in St. Paul and the east metro. Here are some updated totals:

-Chanhassen 5.9"

-Deephaven 5.9"

0235 PM SNOW NEW MARKET 44.57N 93.35W

02/08/2010 M3.5 INCH SCOTT MN TRAINED SPOTTER

STORM TOTAL 8.0

0137 PM SNOW LAKEVILLE 44.68N 93.24W

02/08/2010 M5.5 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER

0137 PM SNOW PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.43W

02/08/2010 M6.0 INCH SCOTT MN NWS EMPLOYEE

In a quirk of this storm, there appears to be a snow deficit near the Twin Cities Airport. So far the NWS is reporting only 2.4" at MSP through noon. This is likey due to the linear nature of the intense snow bands which have so far avoided the area neat Bloomington and Twin Cities Airport.

-Twin Cities International Airport 2.4"

1241 PM SNOW BLOOMINGTON 44.83N 93.32W

02/08/2010 M2.6 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER

IN LAST 6.5 HOURS

0834 AM SNOW 5 SW ST PAUL 44.90N 93.17W

02/08/2010 M3.5 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER

Since snowfall reports always come in dribs and drabs to the NSW from observers during storms, you can get the latest NWS snowfall summaries below.

Stay safe and allow plenty of extra travel time today!

-Twin Cities radar loop

-Latest snowfall summary

-MNDOT traffic cams and info

PH