Commuter Conditions

Winter Storm Seneca Brings Another Dangerous Wintry Blast to Midwest

Winter Storm Seneca wound down over the Midwest Friday, casting a final round of heavy snow and vicious winds across the area.

At least two deaths occurred – one on icy roads in Minnesota and one in Michigan.

Here’s a rundown of the latest news from the areas that were impacted by Winter Storm Seneca.

Michigan

A February storm dumped more than a foot of snow in some places. Schools closed Friday in the state's three largest districts: Anoka-Hennepin, Minneapolis and St. Paul.

While the official snow total in the Twin Cities was 9.9 inches, northeastern Minnesota saw far more. The National Weather Service reported 14.5 inches in Alborn, 13 inches in Twig and 11 inches in Proctor.

National Weather Service chief meteorologist Dan Luna in Chanhassen says the 55.5 inches total accumulation so far this year in the Twin Cities is 16.2 inches above normal.

(MORE: 10 Cities That Have Had a Top-5 Winter for Snowfall)

In Western Michigan, the snow caused whiteout conditions, leading to numerous crashes on the road, while strong winds caused scattered power outages contributing to shutting down the Mackinac Bridge. The bridge was reopened Friday night.

In the Grand Rapids area, multiple crashes were reported, including along Interstate 96. A blizzard warning was posted for parts of the Upper Peninsula, where up to 11 inches of snow fell by late Friday morning. In Allegan County, David Yettaw, 72, of Portage, died when his car struck a tour bus on U.S. 131. No one aboard the bus was injured.

Rain and melting snow earlier in the week caused road flooding. In Port Huron, authorities authorized icebreaking efforts along the Black River to prevent flooding from hitting area homes. Starting Friday and working over the next several days, crews in tug boats will begin at the mouth of the Black River and work inland. They'll be breaking ice to allow better water flow. People are asked to stay off the ice.

(PHOTOS: Apostle Island's Ice Caves Will Amaze You)

Minnesota

Winter Storm Seneca produced more than a foot of snow in some parts of Minnesota early Friday, where once again authorities advised against travel and schools closed. The heavy, wet snow and strong winds knocked down power lines, leaving thousands of residents without service. The storm's high winds knocked out power to nearly 50,000 Xcel Energy customers in Minnesota, company spokesman Tom Hoen said. By late Friday night, he said, 95 percent of those customers will have their power restored. The rest will see electricity restored by noon Saturday.

State troopers have responded to nearly 1,000 crashes across the state, plus another 2,300 vehicles that spun out or ran off the road.

Driving conditions remained difficult early Saturday afternoon. Road crews were out in force, but the combination of snow and cold was impeding their efforts to clear roads and highways. Officials continue to advise residents to stay home if possible.

Conditions have been so bad that Gov. Mark Dayton declared a state of emergency in some parts of the state. He called out the National Guard to help rescue stranded drivers. Nearly 300 people spent time in shelters set up in eight counties southwest of the Twin Cities.

The State Patrol responded to more than 4,400 calls for service, including about 1,100 stalls and 74 jackknifed semi trucks.

One person was killed in Wabasha County. The driver of a van was killed after colliding with a semi on ice-covered Highway 42.

Wisconsin

Winter Storm Seneca dumped more than a foot of snow in some parts of Wisconsin and whipped up winds, creating treacherous travel conditions. In northwestern Wisconsin, firefighters rescued a man pinned underneath the collapsed awning of his mobile home in Altoona early Friday. He was treated at the hospital for a leg injury, officials said. In nearby Eau Claire, part of a roof collapsed at a Kmart store under the weight of heavy snow, but no one was hurt.