[0:00] The weekend snowstorm turned the north [0:02] metro into a winter wonderland. [0:04] >> Unfortunately, it didn't happen before [0:06] Christmas cuz then we could have got [0:08] that nice Minnesota Christmas winter. [0:10] >> From frosted trees to mounds of snow [0:13] that looked like a mini mountain range, [0:16] there were plenty of scenic sights. [0:21] For Brian Witbeck, it was time to crank [0:24] up the snowblower and clear the driveway [0:27] and sidewalks at his sister's house in [0:30] Blaine. [0:31] >> I know it was holling like crazy last [0:33] night, so it probably blew around quite [0:36] a bit. This actually wasn't too bad. [0:38] It's I think it uh dried out enough so [0:40] it's like crystallized. It's not that [0:42] heavy heavy snow. It's just kind of a [0:44] bit more [0:45] oh lighter, drier. [0:49] Meanwhile, it was slow going on most [0:52] roads in the north metro as drivers [0:54] dealt with slippery conditions [0:56] on Lexington and 109th and Blaine. There [1:00] were three cars that slid off the road [1:02] and into the snow. [1:04] >> I couldn't believe it. I was driving 50 [1:05] mph on 35W and 35 and people were [1:09] passing me like crazy. According to [1:11] MDOT's Kent Bernard, there were over 500 [1:14] crashes in Minnesota, including injury [1:17] collisions, spinouts, vehicles off the [1:21] road, and jack knife semiis. Even some [1:24] highway signs were hard to recognize. [1:28] We had full crews on trying to fight it, [1:31] but the blowing and drifting snow and [1:32] just the volume we got made things [1:34] difficult. Uh we're now into the storm [1:38] cleanup mode, but I would like to remind [1:40] people that bridge decks, ramps, loops [1:43] are still very snow covered and [1:46] slippery. [1:47] >> Major highways in the North Metro such [1:50] as I35W, [1:52] I35E, [1:54] and US 10 were in good shape by midday [1:57] Monday. Thanks to Mandot's fleet of [2:00] plows, [2:02] we had full crews on duty starting at [2:04] 5:00 a.m. Sunday morning in anticipation [2:07] of the snow that was then forecast to [2:09] move into the area. Well, the real issue [2:11] we have is as it starts warming up here, [2:13] then in the next day or so, we're going [2:15] to have melting snow, which is going to [2:17] refreeze into ice and will create more [2:20] hazardous conditions. Plus, there's [2:22] always black ice that forms on the [2:24] roadways, bridge decks, ramps, etc. And [2:27] that makes it more difficult because you [2:29] can't really see black ice. You hit it, [2:31] you spin out, and bam, you're in the [2:33] ditch. You may run into some areas where [2:35] you still have some snow compaction and [2:38] some slipperiness. So, it behooves one [2:41] to drive very carefully. [2:42] >> In Blaine, I'm Eric Nelson, North Metro [2:46] TV News.