Upper Midwest Stymied by Snow

Heavy snow driven by wind gusting to 40mph closed courts, clinics, and businesses and shut down a major highway across the Upper Midwest. Up to a foot of snow was forecast today for parts of eastern North Dakota. The National Weather Service posted blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings for wide areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

Minnesota and North Dakota authorities shut down a 130-mile stretch of Interstate 94. Fargo residents were advised to just stay home. "Travel will become nearly impossible for employees trying to return home in afternoon hours," a Fargo city government statement said. "Today would be a great day for people to enjoy maybe a movie at home," West Fargo’s police chief said. (More snowstorm stories.)