HEAVY SNOW-Ed Kokesh shovels snow on Minnesota Street as the storm dropped more snow around him. Left: Broadway was a scene of poor visibility with motorists edging slowly from the side streets. (Photos by Ron Grieser)

A winter storm, more suited for Christmas than Easter, struck most of the state Wednesday night and today, closing many schools and causing hazardous driving.

The power of the storm caused one National Weather Service spokesman to say Wednesday that the storm is potentially equal to the Jan. 10-12 blizzard, which the Weather Service called the state’s most severe winter storm of the 20th century.

Four inches of new snow fell Wednesday and today in New Ulm, making 19 inches of snow for March. There are 8 inches of snow on the ground.

Sixty-two inches of snow has fallen this winter, 17 more than normal for this area.

MOST AREA schools were closed because of Easter. However, schools in St. Peter, Sleepy Eye, St. James and New Ulm, scheduled for classes today, also closed.

New Ulm schools used their fifth and final snow day today. School is scheduled to reopen Tuesday.

St. Cloud State College and about 55Minnesota public school systems in the southern and central portions of the state canceled classes today because of the weather conditions and the forecast of worse weather to come.

WINTER STORM warnings were issued for most of the entire five-state area, with 4 to 8 inches of snow forecast today and Friday.

Snow, changing to freezing rain with thunderstorms, is forecast for later today.

Winds of 20 to 50 miles an hour were predicted for late tonight and Friday, causing considerable blowing and drifting snow.

Snow plows went out at 5:30 a.m. today to rescue trucks. Highway 14, east from Sleepy Eye, was open early this morning. Sheriff Bud Geschwind drove from Sleepy Eye today.

Two Journal delivery routes weren’t completed Wednesday. Vernie Schwantes of New Ulm had to stop in Hector on his route north of New Ulm. Mrs. Mickey Eischen quit at Redwood Falls.

No commercial buses were running today in the New Ulm area.

No mail arrived in New Ulm this morning.

Harvey Suedbeck, Brown County Highway Engineer, said general visibility in the county was between one-quarter and one-half mile.

Roads were partially blocked in some sheltered and isolated locations. Where there was no heavy buildup, roads were icy and treacherous. Suedbeck advised no travel in the area.

Visibility was about 2,000 feet in the Comfrey area, with some drifting. Snow blocked isolated spots on Highway 4, south of Sleepy Eye.

NICOLLET COUNTY

Strong winds and heavy snow covered most of the county. “We’re advising everybody to stay home,” a spokesman said at the Nicollet County Sheriff’s office.

School was dismissed at St. Peter schools.

RENVILLE COUNTY

No travel was advised in Renville County, according to the sheriff’s office. School was called off in Olivia. “Weather is terrible,” a spokesman at the sheriff’s office said.

SIBLEY COUNTY

Traffic was nearly at a standstill in parts of Sibley County. In Gaylord, there was some traffic but most was getting stuck. A spokesman said wind in downtown Gaylord was making it difficult to walk on the streets. No power outages were reported.

REDWOOD COUNTY

Many Redwood County Rural Electrical Association customers were without power today in the county. Up to 5 inches of new snow had fallen by 9 a.m. today. No travel was advised. Roads are icy and drifted in some areas.

WATONWAN COUNTY

Six inches of snow fell on Highway 15, with visibility from zero to one-half mile. High winds and blowing snow could make visibility zero, according to a spokesman in the sheriff’s office.

There was 212 to 3 inches of snow in St. James at 8:30 a.m. today.

McLEOD COUNTY

State plows were tied up in the Hutchinson area. Visibility was very poor in the county and no travel was advised. Highway 22 to Hutchinson was blocked. Heavy snow was reported.

Mankato Highway Patrol advised no travel. Some cars south of Winthrop were reported in ditches. Most of the county plows in the district were out.

While Minnesota was experiencing blizzard conditions, other areas of the country were reporting tornadoes and hurricane-force winds.

A tornado killed one person and injured 45 others in the Texas Panhandle village of Lefors.

Winds gusting up to 100 miles an hour ripped parts of Southern California Wednesday, uprooting trees, downing power lines and flipping over some farm buildings.

New Ulm Daily Journal

March 27, 1975