I-29 reopens to South Dakota border; region digs out from storm

Snowplows are busy in Grand Fork-East Grand Forks and around the region this morning cleaning up from Blizzard Cooper, which broke snowfall totals in Grand Forks and Fargo.

The Herald named the storm after media personality Anderson Cooper, who befriended local columnist Marilyn Hagerty after she went viral in 2012.

Grand Forks and East Grand Forks schools canceled classes. However, the Grand Forks Central vs. Red River girls and boys varsity basketball games will be played as scheduled.

Police and other officials were dealing with traffic hazards throughout the area as vehicles became stuck in unplowed streets and roads in and around the cities.

I-29 reopened at about 10:20 a.m. between Grand Forks and Fargo, reopened at about 5 p.m. from Fargo to the South Dakota border, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation and North Dakota Highway Patrol.

I-94 also reopened Monday morning between Fargo and Jamestown.

U.S. Highway 2 also reopened this morning, after being closed overnight between East Grand Forks and Crookston, although no travel was still advised. Minnesota State Patrol reports that driving conditions are difficult throughout west central Minnesota, especially areas south of Polk County.

A no-travel advisory was lifted Monday evening for areas south of Fargo, including Wahpeton and Lisbon, N.D.

Weather should continue to improve today, according to the National Weather Service.

“Winds are still pretty breezy, so there’s still some blowing around, especially in open areas,” Meteorologist Jeff Makowski said this morning. “The winds should calm down through the day.”

Grand Forks had 4.8 inches, breaking its record for Feb. 10 of 3.1 inches, set 18 years ago, according to the National Weather Service.

Fargo set a record with 9.3 inches of snow, breaking the city's 60-year-old record of 3.1 inches, the weather service said.

The National Weather Service says in South Dakota, Aberdeen had 8.4 inches of snow Sunday, breaking the city's record for the date of 3.4 inches set 65 years ago. Huron had 9 inches, breaking that city's 54-year-old record of 4.9 inches.

The line separating heavy snow from lighter accumulations ran roughly from Crookston, Minn., through Mayville, N.D., with heavier snowfall occurring south and east of that line.

Fargo received 9.3 inches of snow, while Breckenridge, Minn., got 12.1 inches. Lidgerwood, N.D., received 15.5 inches.

Similar totals, from 12 to 18 inches, fell along a line from the Lidgerwood area through the Detroit Lakes and Pelican Rapids, Minn., areas, according to the weather service.

Snowfall totals are not available yet for many locations around the region. As of early Sunday night, Fertile, Minn., reported 6 inches, while Bagley, Minn., reported 10 inches of snow. However, Argyle, Minn., reported just 2 inches.

The Herald will update its snowfall reports today, at www.grandforksherald.com, as the reports are received by the weather service in Grand Forks.

Meanwhile, the weekend storm is causing some delays in trash and recycling pickup in Grand Forks, as street crews are in the process of clearing streets.

Most main streets are already cleared, but residential streets will likely take until later this afternoon to complete, according to Kevin Dean, public Information officer.

As a result, trash pickup may take place later than normal today, but all trash routes will be completed.

However, recycling routes will be pushed back one day for the entire week.

Today’s pickup will take place on Tuesday, Tuesday’s on Wednesday, etc. Friday’s pickup will take place on Saturday this week.

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