MN weather: Snowy roads lead to hundreds of crashes on Thursday

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The largest snowfall of the season so far in the Twin Cities has led to numerous crashes on roadways in the metro and across Minnesota on Thursday. 

Crashes on Minnesota roads 

READ MORE: School bus slides into Brooklyn Center ditch, no injuries

By the numbers: The Minnesota State Patrol reported 453 crashes across the state on Thursday. Additionally, there were 38 injury crashes, 281 vehicles off the road, 37 jackknifed semis and 28 spinouts. 

Dig deeper: The State Patrol said one person died on Thursday due to a collision. The crash report indicates a semi was eastbound on I-94 near Clearwater Township when it jackknifed into the median cables. Shortly after, a 61-year-old man driving a Honda collided with the trailer of the semi. 

Another semi-truck driver then collided with the first semi, causing the Honda to roll. The crash report says the 61-year-old man from Monticello died as a result of the crash. 

In an incident in Brooklyn Center, a bus slid off the road near Highway 100 and 57th Avenue. Police told FOX 9 there were children on board the bus at the time, and were transferred to another bus. No injuries were reported, and police don't believe the bus sustained any damage. 

Around 9:15 a.m., Shakopee officials posted on Facebook advising drivers to avoid northbound Highway 169 near the Canterbury Road entrance because multiple cars and semis are in the ditch along the left lane.

Shakopee officials say there are multiple semi-trucks and cars in the ditch on northbound Highway 169 Thursday morning.  (City of Shakopee / Supplied)

With less than ideal driving conditions, drivers should remember to slow down, plan for traffic delays, be patient with snowplows, turn on your headlights, wear your seatbelt and put the distractions away, according to the State Patrol. 

Minnesota road conditions

What we know: Snow will continue to fall through the morning commute, which has been making travel a bit difficult. 

It's slow-going on Minnesota roadways, with average speeds around 20 to 30 mph. Slippery road conditions are taking some drivers by surprise, while some roads are snow covered, so it's difficult to see where the lanes are. 

The Minnesota Department of Transportation's website lists most roads in the Twin Cities as being snow-covered on Thursday morning. Here's a map of the road conditions as of 9:30 a.m. Thursday:

What to expect with Thursday's snow

Timeline: Here's what to expect with Thursday's snow across the Twin Cities:

• Thursday morning: Light to moderate snow will make for tricky road conditions for the morning commute; 2-4+ inches of snow is possible.
• Thursday afternoon: Lighter snow as flakes become more off and on, with some gusty breezes; another 1-2 inches of snow is possible.
• Thursday evening: Scattered flurries will taper as the snow moves out of the region. There may be some blowing and drifting snow; a dusting of snow is possible.

Snow accumulations are forecast to be in the 3-6 inch range around the Interstate 94 corridor. Farther south and north of the corridor will see snow totals in the 1- to 3- inch range. 

Here's the snow potential map: 

The high on Thursday will be around 26 degrees in the Twin Cities, but then it turns colder. The high on Friday will be in the teens, but it will feel more like single-digits.