B-B-E schools will be closed as of 11am today. There will be no after-school events or evening Community Ed classes. At Minnewaska, school will be released at 11:45am.
**Update at 3:30pm...All state highways in west central and southwestern Minnesota have closed until further notice
The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota State Patrol ordered the road closing. MnDOT are pulling their snowplows and roads will become impassable.
The road closing includes highways south and west of Willmar, including U.S. Highway 71 and state Highways 23 and 40.
Additional west central counties included in the closing Chippewa, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood and Yellow Medicine.
Motorists are urged to plan accordingly.
When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.
Motorists are advised not to travel until conditions improve and state and county crews have clear the roads.
MnDOT and the State Patrol will determine when the roads are safe for travel.