The storm left as much as 9 inches of snow in the Mankato area and prompted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to activate the National Guard to provide support for emergency storm operations and declare a peacetime emergency in southern Minnesota.

“During a time of peak holiday travel, the winter winter weather moving across the state poses a major risk for anyone on the roads,” said Walz. “As we work to alleviate dangerous conditions, I’m grateful to the National Guard for stepping up to help drivers get home safely.”

The state received a request for National Guard assistance from the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office to provide personnel, equipment, facilities and resources necessary to respond to the severe weather and rescue stranded motorists.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) issued a No Travel Advisory for all state highways and I-90 in South Central Minnesota at 10:40 a.m. Sunday due to strong winds and blowing snow creating blizzard and whiteout conditions. The no travel advisory for Blue Earth, Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Le Sueur, Martin, Nicollet, Nobles, Rock, Sibley, Waseca and Watonwan Counties was extended to remain in effect Sunday night.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch A large snowdrift is pictured on 3rd North St. near the Minnesota St. intersection Monday. The snow was removed by a snowblower later Monday. The City of New Ulm declared a Downtown Snow Emergency for Tuesday, Dec. 30, from 1:30 a.m. to snow removal completion.

A MNDOT webcam east of Mountain Lake showed zero visibility at 10:51 a.m. Sunday.

The no travel advisory was lifted at 10 a.m. Monday. Motorists were advised to reduce speed and drive according to conditions including some snow-covered roads and reduced visibility in areas without windbreaks.

Wind gusts were measured at 40 to 60 mph in parts of Minnesota and Iowa. Gusts were measured at 52 mph at the Tracy Airport and 46 mph at the Marshall Airport, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Snowfall was measured at 6.5 inches Sunday and early Monday in and around New Ulm. The highest New Ulm Airport wind gust over the weekend was 48 mph at 5:55 p.m. Sunday, according to the NWS.

Warmer days are forecast with a high of 35 degrees for Tuesday and 30 degrees Wednesday. The temperature is forecast to dip to 5 degrees on New Year’s Eve with highs in the upper teens Jan. 1 and 2. Then daytime highs are forecast for the 20s and lower 30s through the weekend and early next week.

“New Year’s Eve has a chance of light snowfall, less than an inch. Enough to be a nuisance, but nothing like we saw Sunday and Monday. The cold won’t stick around long,” said NWS Meteorologist Ryan Dunleavy in Chanhassen.

A Downtown Snow Emergency has been declared in New Ulm for Tuesday, Dec. 30 from 1:30 a.m. to snow removal completion. Vehicles in designated downtown snow emergency routes will be tagged and towed.

Overnight parking during the snow emergency is available in the parking lot at 3rd North and German Street, and in the city hall parking lot. Motorists are asked to not park in leased parking spaces.