State Patrol closes all highways south of Owatonna, Minn.

(KMSP) - The Minnesota State Patrol closed I-90 and all state highways south of Highway 14 at 2 p.m. on Tuesday due to whiteout snow conditions. I-90 west of I-35 in Albert Lea is also closed.

Anyone found traveling on closed roads faces a possible $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.

The State Patrol is advising people to avoid travel in Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Martin, Nobles, Rock, Watonwan, Waseca, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood, and Renville counties.

According to the State Patrol, there have been 370 crashes and 309 vehicle spin-outs or vehicles off the roadway between 6 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. -- 38 of those crashes resulted in injuries. 

Find out how the snowstorm will affect your commute - Snow timeline and commute impact for Minneapolis-St. Paul

If you must travel, remember to:

• Check road conditions at www.511mn.org or call 511; it takes time to get roads back to good driving conditions.
• Be patient and remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.
• Stay back at least five car lengths behind the plow, far from the snow cloud.
• Stay alert for snowplows that turn or exit frequently and often with little warning. They may also travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions.
• Slow down to a safe speed for current conditions. Snowplows typically move at slower speeds.