Benson schools closed today - Thursday

A two hour late start has turned into the cancellation of school as morning light revealed slippery roads.
The promise of high winds picking up again combined with the road conditions will make travel hazardous today as a blizzard rolls into the area.
 

A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT NOW THROUGH TONIGHT IN WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA WEST OF A LINE FROM ALEXANDRIA...TO PAYNESVILLE...HUTCHINSON AND OWATONNA. OBSERVED WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 60 MPH ARE CAUSING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL SPREAD LATER THIS MORNING. MEANWHILE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA DUE TO REDUCED VISIBILITIES FROM BLOWING SNOW.

LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS AND INCREASING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH...WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND DRIFTING AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY. LASTLY...TEMPERATURES
WILL RAPIDLY FALL BELOW ZERO...WITH WIND CHILL READINGS APPROACHING 30 BELOW ZERO BY THURSDAY EVENING. 

Today

Day: Very windy with occasional snow. Highs around 25°F. Wind chill around 7°F. Very windy, with a north northwest wind to 38 MPH, gusting to 53 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 100%.
 

Night: Partly cloudy with blowing snow. Lows around -9°F. Wind chill around -35°F. Very windy, with a north wind 15 to 33 MPH, gusting to 45 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 35%.
 

Friday Jan 17

Day: Partly cloudy with patchy blowing snow. Highs around 12°F. Wind chill around -0°F. Northwest wind 8 to 13 MPH.
 

Night: Mostly cloudy with scattered snow showers. Lows around 10°F. Wind chill around -5°F. Windy, with a south wind 8 to 22 MPH, gusting to 30 MPH. Chance of precipitation near 40%.