LIVE UPDATES | Minnesota weather: Slippery roads in Twin Cities, white-out conditions in NW MN

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Strong wind gusts and some snow are causing visibility issues in some portions of Minnesota on Thursday. 

Plunging temperatures, gusty winds and bursts of snow are creating challenging travel conditions in the Twin Cities metro, as well as much of northern and central Minnesota, which are under a winter weather advisory. Meanwhile, portions of northwestern and southern Minnesota are under a blizzard warning or winter storm warning.

Find live updates on the wintry weather and road conditions across Minnesota below. 

MINNESOTA WEATHER FORECAST: Falling temps, gusty winds and snow showers Thursday

RELATED: Weather alerts currently in effect

7:15 p.m. - Ground stop at MSP

A ground stop has been put in place at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport due to the weather. Flights are currently halted.

6:30 p.m. - Road conditions improve in Twin Cities

The road conditions are improving in the Twin Cities, with some roadways returning to normal. Several crashes continue to be reported in the area, so continue to be cautious while driving. 

In southern Minnesota, conditions remain poor, with visibility continuing to be reduced and blowing snow on the roadways. 

Roads in northwestern Minnesota remain closed to winter weather. 

Strong winds are making road conditions difficult across the state, with wind gusts up to 50 mph in some areas. 

5:15 p.m. – Weather update

The winds are howling at 20–40 mph in the Twin Cities metro, making the temperature feel like it is -6 degrees. 

The strong winds are causing snow squalls and ground blizzards in some areas of the state, leading to low visibility. 

There is a blizzard warning for parts of southern Minnesota until 10 p.m. A wind advisory is in place for western Minnesota, and parts of the western Twin Cities until 9 p.m.

A winter weather advisory is in place for the northern and eastern part of the state, including parts of the Twin Cities until 9 p.m. 

4:30 p.m. - Crash numbers

The Minnesota State Patrol says between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. there has 102 property damage crashes, 10 injury crashes, two spin outs, 50 vehicles off road and three semi trucks jackknifed. 

4:30 p.m. — No travel advisory in McLeod County

The McLeod County Sheriff's Office issued a no travel advisory for the county, which is west of the Twin Cities, due to blowing snow and low visibility. 

4 p.m. — I-35 at Highway 14 closed

Interstate 35 (I-35) is closed at Highway 14 in southern Minnesota due to several crashes blocking the roadway. The crashes are due to high winds and blowing snow causing whiteout conditions.

2:40 p.m. — Whiteout conditions in western and southern MN 

Whiteout conditions are expected to continue into the afternoon for western and southern Minnesota, especially across open areas. 

In the far northwestern part of Minnesota, many roads are closed due to whiteout conditions and drifting snow on the roadway. 

Visibility in that area is reduced to one tenth of a mile or less. 

In southern Minnesota, there are whiteout conditions with low visibility as well. 

In the Twin Cities, most of the roads are partially covered in ice and blowing snow, causing several crashes in the area. 

Here are the latest road conditions in Minnesota:

2 p.m. — Crashes and spinouts around the metro 

Road conditions in and around the Twin Cities metro area are starting to deteriorate ahead of the evening commute. MnDOT is reporting several crashes, spinouts and vehicles off the road on major roadways. Meanwhile, a multi-vehicle crash near Fairmount has reduced eastbound I-90 to one lane. 

MnDOT lists the majority of metro roadways as normal though a stretch of I-35E and Highway 100 has light ice on the surface.  

1 p.m. — Changing road conditions 

As of 1:30 p.m., MnDOT reports that roads near Montrose and Buffalo are partially ice-covered, while areas farther south of the metro are seeing light snow on the pavement. Most major metro roads appear to be clear, but a stretch of I-35E has ice on the roadway. Additionally, some MnDOT cameras are starting to ice over, meaning other surfaces could soon become slick. 

The latest road conditions can be found here.

12:45 p.m. - Blowing snow starting in the Twin Cities metro

Snow is starting to fall in the Twin Cities Metro, but with windy conditions, it could create some visibility concerns. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued a snow squall warning until 1:30 p.m. for parts of U.S. Highway 169 near Chisholm and Hibbing, as well as U.S. 53 near Virginia.

Plow cameras from MnDOT near Appleton in Swift County show quick bursts of snow moving through the region, sharply reducing visibility. These bursts will continue tracking east through the afternoon. With temperatures also dropping quickly, the risk of flash freezing remains a concern on untreated roads and surfaces.

Noon — NWS expands winter weather advisory

Temperatures have officially fallen below freezing in the Twin Cities, though the snow is still holding off. 

The National Weather Service expanded its winter weather advisory to cover nearly the entire state, though far northwestern Minnesota is still under blizzard and winter storm warnings.

10:30 a.m. — Highways closed in northwestern Minnesota

As of 9:55 a.m., MnDOT has closed several highways in northwest Minnesota due to no visibility and stalled vehicles on the roadways. This is in addition to the no travel advisory issued earlier today, which still remains in effect. 

The following roads are closed: 

• Highway 1- North Dakota border to Warren
• Highway 2- East Grand Forks to Crookston
• Highway 75- Shelly to Canadian border
• Highway 175- North Dakota border to Hallock
• Highway 220 – Climax to Hwy 11

No travel is advised on the following roads:

• Highway 9- Crookston to Borup
• Highway 102- Crookston to Fertile
• Highway 11- North Dakota border to Karlstad

MnDOT is reminding drivers that driving on closed roads is illegal and can carry a $1,000 fine and can face up to 90 days in jail. Additionally, if a motorist needs to be rescued from a closed road, they face additional expenses and penalties. 

9:15 a.m. - Gusty winds pick up in metro ahead of falling temperatures

Rain showers are already wrapping up as of this morning, and now the focus shifts to the wind. While we didn’t get much rain, it left behind damp surfaces. As wind gusts pick up, it will help dry out the roads, sidewalks and driveways before temperatures fall below freezing. 

If surfaces remain wet, a flash freeze could leave behind a thin glaze of ice on any untreated areas. The Twin Cities metro will cool more slowly, compared to the surrounding areas, giving a little extra time to hopefully dry things out before the colder air settles in.

8:30 a.m. - No travel advised in northwestern MN

There's a blizzard warning in effect in northwestern Minnesota, which has prompted a no travel advisory near the North Dakota border. 

Visibility in some areas is down to less than 1/10 mile, with some areas experiencing white-out conditions. Drifting snow is also possible in the area. 

According to MnDOT, the no travel advisory includes the following roads: 

• Highway 1- North Dakota border to Warren
• Highway 2- East Grand Forks to Crookston
• Highway 9- Crookston to Borup
• Highway 11- North Dakota border to Karlstad
• Highway 75- Shelly to Canadian border
• Highway 102- Crookston to Fertile
• Highway 175- North Dakota border to Hallock
• Highway 220 – Climax to Hwy 11

Patchy and brief white-out conditions can be expected into the early afternoon across a lot of western Minnesota. The latest road conditions can be found here.