No travel advised in parts of rural northeast North Dakota; snowfall could hit 12 inches in some areas

Grand Forks could see a total of 6 to 9 inches of snow by Tuesday morning, as Winter Storm Eric passes through the Red River Valley.

Grand Forks unofficially recorded about 5 inches of snow as of 3 p.m. today, according to the National Weather Service.

The snow was expected to taper off by mid- to late-afternoon, before light snow resumes this evening or overnight, with another 1 to 3 inches possible by 6 a.m. Tuesday.

"The Devils Lake Basin and the northern valley are getting the brunt of it," said Jim Kaiser, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks.

Devils Lake received about 11 inches of snow, while Sarles, in northwest Cavalier County recorded 12 inches by midday, according to unofficial reports to the weather service.

Cavalier and Pembina, N.D., could get another 1 to 3 inches of snow by morning, according to the weather service.

Cavalier County issued a no-travel advisory this morning, while Pembina and Walsh counties advised no travel on county roads because of heavy snow and winds, which were creating drifts along roadways.

About a foot of snow had fallen in parts of Cavalier County this morning, and heavy snow continued to fall early this afternoon, according to a spokesman for the Cavalier County Sheriff's Department.

Under a travel alert, conditions are such that motorists can still travel on state highways in these areas, but should be advised of challenging winter driving conditions, according to the highway patrol. Motorists are encouraged to reduce speeds and drive according to the conditions.

A travel alert has the potential to change to a no-travel advisory if conditions deteriorate.

Meanwhile, no-travel alerts also were in effect in other areas of the state, including the Jamestown and Valley City areas, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation and North Dakota Highway Patrol.

The storm with mixed precipitation and gusty winds moved east out of Montana overnight Sunday and crossed the Dakotas into Minnesota and Iowa.

"There's quite a variance (in precipitation) depending on where you are, but overall it's a pretty large storm system," said Dave Kellenbenz, a weather service meteorologist in Grand Forks.

While as much as a foot of snow has fallen on some parts of the northern valley and Devils Lake Basin, the southern valley has seen much less.

Fargo had about 2 inches, as of about 2:30 p.m., with another 1 to 2 inches expected.

Snow did not start falling until early afternoon in the Bemidji area, which could see 5 to 8inches of snow by Tuesday, according to the weather service.

Here are some unofficial snowfall reports from around northeast North Dakota, as reported to the weather service, as of 3 p.m. today:

-- Sarles (near the Canadian border in Cavalier County): 12 inches.

-- Devils Lake: 11 inches.

-- Pembina: 9 inches.

-- Minnewaukan: 6 inches.

-- Gilby: 10 inches; 2- to 3-foot drifts along roads.

-- Mayville: 8 inches.

-- Park River: 6 inches.

-- Cavalier: 5 inches.

-- Grand Forks: 4 inches.

-- Baldhill Dam (Barnes County): 3.5 inches.

-- Grand Forks: 2.5 inches.

-- Hillsboro: 2 inches.

-- Clearwater, Minn., 2.5 inches.

South-southeast winds of 10 to 20 mph will turn to the north today.

The falling snow and winds will combine to reduce road visibilities to a quarter-mile or less at times, making travel hazardous, especially in unsheltered areas, the weather service said.

By Tuesday morning, north winds will increase to 15 to 30 mph in eastern North Dakota and the Red River Valley, resulting in blowing snow and reduced visibility.

See Severe Weather Announcements at www.grandforksherald.com for school closings and other weather-related announcements.