Minnesotans spend Christmas Eve digging out after blizzard
[anvplayer video=”4995009″ station=”998122″]
Wednesday’s storm proved it’s officially winter here in Minnesota. The blizzard made driving extremely difficult and many Minnesotans spent the day digging out.
For some, however, the snow is exactly what they wanted for Christmas.
“I just love getting outside and playing in the snow, making snowmen, sledding,” said six-year-old Emma Bradby at Bde Mka Ska Park. “My cheeks are cold, I don’t mind too much.”
With wind chills as low as -25, she and her father Mark Bradby walked their dog along the lake. Her siblings stayed cozy inside their Minneapolis home.
“She really wanted to come out, little six-year-old polar child here,” said Mark Bradby.
They soaked up the sun as ice crystalized on the lake.
“It is super nice if you bundle up, it’s just a beautiful day,” he said. “If it warms up at all we’ll take the kids sledding but it’s almost too cold to be out too long.”
After so many cloudy days, the sun that followed the snowfall was a nice break.
“To have a white Christmas is really special,” said Mark Bradby.
Emma added, “I think it is a miracle that it happened and it’s just very good to have snow to have a normal Christmas, except for coronavirus.”
Runners, walkers and bikers also headed outside not deterred by the frigid weather.
“It’s not so bad really, the sun is shining,” said Paul Lussenhop, who lives near the park. “I shoveled my driveway and felt like I spent so much time putting on these warm clothes that I might as well take a walk.”
He hoped the roads would clear up as well, with a trip planned to see his mother in an assisted living facility later in the day.
“It’s a bad day to be driving,” said Lussenhop. “I feel bad for the people that are going to be traveling anywhere.”
Statewide from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, the Minnesota State Patrol reported 346 crashes, 333 vehicles spinning out or going off the road and 13 jackknifed semis.
State Patrol: Over 345 crashes, 330 vehicle spinouts Thursday morning into afternoon
The rain that fell earlier on Wednesday created a slick layer on the roads, covered by snow, which was then compacted.
MnDOT told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they have more than 200 plows out in just the metro, plus more statewide. Crews are expecting to work into Christmas when warmer temperatures will help make the salt and brine work better.
The Minnesota National Guard has also been busy helping those who were stranded by the storm. Gov. Walz activated the National Guard on Wednesday.
Soldiers opened two armories as emergency shelters, serving 25 people in Olivia before closing the shelter today. Another three stranded motorists stayed the night at a shelter in Fairmont.
Other shelters were open across the state. According to county emergency managers, 46 people stayed overnight at shelters in Cottonwood County. More than 67 people were housed at shelters in Jackson County, while four people stayed overnight at a McLeod County shelter.
In Renville County, 35 people stayed in shelters overnight. A total of 22 people stayed at shelters in Yellow Medicine County, where there were 100 calls for assistance during the storm.