Storm Dumps 6+ Inches On The Metro, Nearly A Foot In Southern Minn.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – More than 6 inches of snow fell on the Twin Cities metro after a weakened winter storm swept through, prompting snow emergencies and causing hundreds of crashes and spinouts.

The National Weather Service says that as of noon Sunday, 6.7 inches of snow had fallen at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Further south, where the snowfall was greater, totals close to a foot of snow were recorded in Redwood Falls, Faribault and Northfield, according to WCCO's Weather Watcher Network.

The snow system, which swept into the state Saturday, made travel treacherous, playing a role in 600 crashes and 227 spinouts across Minnesota, according the State Patrol. Most of the crashes and spinouts happened in the metro, and although dozens of injuries were recorded, none were fatal or serious.

Minneapolis and St. Paul both declared snow emergencies, with rules going into effect Sunday night. Several other metro suburbs also sounded the snow emergency alarm.

Following the weekend snow, a blast of arctic air will descend on Minnesota during the workweek, dropping daytime highs to the single digits.

When the cold lets up next weekend, there'll be another chance of significant snow. Early models suggest that the Twin Cities could see up to a foot – yup, a foot – of snow. So, the weekend winter wonderland trend could continue.