Due to the large amounts of snow and strong wind conditions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation advises no unnecessary travel in most Central Minnesota counties. There is low visibility, slippery roads and a large number of crashes.

The advisory includes Stearns, Todd, Morrison, Wright, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Crow Wing, Wadena counties and surrounding areas.

MN-DOT’s Maintenance Operations Supervisor Domingo Aguilar says they are seeing dozens of cars in the ditch or involved in crashes Thursday, including one crash where a snowplow was rear-ended near Pease, which is south of Foreston.

If you can delay travel, do so, and those who must travel should simply slow down.

Most roads in Central Minnesota are covered with compacted snow, with areas of ice. Heavy snowfall and low visibility are expected to continue through this afternoon, followed by blowing and drifting snow into Friday morning.

For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota, visit 511mn.org.