Update: Snow likely to continue through evening

• Shoveling

Richard Doerr, manager of the Maple Mall on First Avenue in downtown Jamestown, shovels off the sidewalk in front of the businesses there following the Saturday-Sunday snowstorm. More snow is expected this week and a blizzard watch was issued Sunday effective Tuesday and Wednesday. (Kari Lucin / The Sun)

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The storm hovering over the Jamestown area is expected to continue through Sunday evening, but will likely wind down around 9 p.m., a meteorologist from the National Weather Service said.

“(Jamestown) probably may pick up at most, maybe another inch or so,” said meteorologist Patrick Ayd. “… it’ll be breezy through the evening and close to midnight, we’ll really see the winds drop off.”

Some flurries are expected after midnight. Temperatures will likely reach a low of 4 below zero, with wind chills of 10 to 15 below overnight, Ayd said.

As of 4 p.m. Sunday, 5 inches of snow had fallen at the official gauge at the North Dakota State Hospital.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation and the North Dakota Highway Patrol issued a travel alert for central and eastern North Dakota.

Meanwhile, local officials advised against any unnecessary travel in the Jamestown area.

People should not be driving unless absolutely necessary, warned Lt. Bruce Judd of the Jamestown Police Department, the supervisor at the Law Enforcement Center dispatch Sunday afternoon.

“Just be extremely careful because it’s going to be really icy, and until they get the snow moved they probably won’t be doing much sanding — a little bit, maybe, but not a lot,” Judd said.

The plows were out clearing snow away from city streets Sunday afternoon, but the snow had already become a factor in multiple collisions in the area.

A major accident with reports of multiple injuries occurred at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Interstate 94 near Medina. Early reports indicated a semi truck was lying on its side and people were trapped in a pickup truck.

Two ambulances, the North Dakota Highway Patrol and other agencies responded to the scene.

Another crash had been reported by the bypass, Judd said, “so our resources are a little thin right now.”

Few problems had been reported in town early Sunday, likely because people had not been out driving, he added.

NDDOT and the Highway Patrol warned motorists that blowing snow was sticking to roads, which will continue to create icy conditions for the rest of Sunday and overnight. Drivers should be aware they may encounter areas of blowing snow, which could create drifts, reduce visibility and cover roads. Drivers should reduce speeds and drive according to conditions.

NDDOT and the Highway Patrol also advised travelers to be patient, stay at least five car lengths behind any plow, stay alert for plows that must turn or exit frequently and slow to a safe speed for current conditions.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, snow, weather, storm, news, breakingnews