Deaths Rise as Blinding Storm Rakes Midwest

Minnesota’s governor sent the National Guard to rescue motorists stranded in a howling snowstorm and arctic chill that raked the upper Midwest today, while another storm swept out of the Gulf of Mexico and spread rain and snow over the Southeast.

The blinding Midwest storm, blamed for at least five traffic deaths, this morning lashed parts of southern Minnesota, Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Michigan and northern Indiana. Near-blizzard conditions were reported in some spots, as snow was whipped by northwest winds of 20 to 35 m.p.h. Wind chill factors were in the range of 30 to 50 below zero.

Blowing and drifting snow forced authorities to close a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 35 from Ames, Iowa, to Albert Lea, Minn. Several other main highways as well as smaller roads were closed as the blinding snow reduced visibility to near zero.

The frigid conditions prompted numerous school and business cancellations in Iowa, Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, where a blizzard Sunday closed a 130-mile stretch of Interstate 90.

15 Inches of New Snow

As much as 15 inches of new snow fell overnight along the Lake Superior snow belt region of far northern Wisconsin. Gusty north winds were creating whiteout conditions, keeping even road crews off of the highways.

In northwestern Minnesota, National Guard troops Sunday night battled through the blinding snow in armored personnel carriers to bring 15 motorists, including a mother and her child, to safety around Crookstown, Polk County sheriff’s dispatcher Bob Janorschke said.

Also among those rescued was the crew of an ambulance stuck for two hours in a snowdrift on the way back from treating a patient in a backcountry home.

Gov. Rudy Perpich ordered out the National Guard after the storm forced even police squad cars off the roads.