Staff photo by Clay Schuldt High winds and heavy snow made it hard to see and harder to get around, as this shot of the Glockenspiel Saturday in downtown New Um shows.

NEW ULM — The weather outside was frightful and made sure no one had any place to go.

The snow started shortly before 2 p.m. and continued in full force. By 2:30 p.m. roads throughout New Ulm were covered by snow. The storm let up around 3:30 p.m., but returned by dusk.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation listed Highway 14 from Sleepy Eye to Nicollet as completely covered. By the evening the roadway was covered all the way to Mankato. The only roads in southern Minnesota not covered by snow were routes in and out of the Twin Cities Metro area.

The New Ulm Police Department did report several vehicles sliding on roadways. Several cars were unable to make it up Center Street hill. Other vehicles coming down the hill were sliding through Garden Street intersection, but police only reported a single accident caused by sliding vehicles on North Jefferson.

The snow is expected to remain strong throughout the night and into Sunday morning. The blizzard is expected to end by noon Sunday.