Polk County has pulled plows off the roads until 4:00 a.m. Friday. No travel is advised on any of the county roads.
UPDATE FROM THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Polk County Road 17 between County Road 60 and County Road 20 East of East Grand Forks and North of Fisher, MN is closed due to a drift that has blown the road shut.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is Advising No Travel in Polk County until further notice. Polk County is under a blizzard warning until 9:00 PM. Visibility is decreasing throughout the County.
Even after it becomes safer to travel the Polk County Sheriff’s Office urges people to make sure that they have their winter survival kits in their vehicles.
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation has expanded a no travel advisory in northwestern Minnesota due to low visibility and dangerous driving conditions. High winds and blowing snow are causing whiteout conditions. The expanded no travel advisory includes all northwestern Minnesota highways located west of, but not including Highway 59. It applies to the following locations:
- Hwy 1- Thief River Falls to Oslo
- Hwy 2- Crookston to East Grand Forks
- Hwy 9- Crookston to Borup
- Hwy 11- Karlstad to Robbin
- Hwy 32- Thief River Falls to Syre
- Hwy 75- Canadian border to Perley
- Hwy 92- Brooks to Hwy 32
- Hwy 102- Crookston to Fertile
- Hwy 175- North Dakota Border to Hwy 59
- Hwy 200- Hwy 9 to Hwy 75
- Hwy 220- Robbin to Climax
The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds motorists of the importance of good winter driving habits. MnDOT snowplow operators will do their part to make highways safe and motorists should remember to:
- Stay alert for snowplows, which turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. They also may travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions.
- Stay back at least 10 car lengths behind the plow. Don’t drive into a snow cloud.
- Slow down to a safe speed for current conditions.
- Turn on your headlights and wear your seat belt.
- Turn off the cruise control.
- Be patient and remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.
- Don’t drive distracted.
- Check MnDOT’s road conditions map at 511mn.org
For additional tips on safe winter driving, go to mndot.gov/workzone/winter.html.
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