IT’S LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON and we should be on the interstate right now driving from Faribault to Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport. But instead, wicked winter weather changed everything. We are hunkered down at home, in the midst of a good old-fashioned Minnesota blizzard predicted to drop as much as 10 inches of snow on our area.
Fifteen minutes to the south, Interstate 35 southbound is closed from Owatonna into Iowa. Travel is not advised in many areas, including north of Faribault, the direction we would be going. There are crashes, spin-outs, jack-knifed semis. Snowplows have been pulled in some counties due to deteriorating conditions with wind whipping snow, creating white-out conditions.
And at the airport, where we should be headed to drop off our son for his 7 pm flight back to Boston, cancellations and delays are stacking up. Saturday afternoon he rebooked to an early Tuesday morning flight per our suggestion. We did not want to be driving on Interstate 35 to the airport in a blizzard.
But Randy and I did head downtown Faribault, a short drive from our house, to celebrate a friend’s 80th birthday earlier this afternoon. In the 90 minutes we were there, weather conditions worsened substantially. The wind picked up, swirling snow along Central Avenue. If things look this bad in town, I can only imagine how conditions are in the open countryside.
Yup, I’m thankful to be home and not attempting a trip to the airport. The son can work remotely on Monday. We’re all safe, sheltered inside waiting out this blizzard.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Luckily we were already at our destination when the storm hit!
I’m glad to hear that, Keith. Upstate New York?
Yes. Canandaigua.
I’m glad to read that you are all safe, that you made it to your friend’s party and that your son has rescheduled for Tuesday. that blizzard looks like a doozy. in contrast, for some reason , we had temperatures close to 60 degrees today and it was rainy, and it will be dropping to the 20s tonight with high winds and snow squalls. I’ll be staying in tomorrow. –
It sounds like you are in for some nasty weather. Ours yesterday started as freezing rain. Today is sunny, bright and beautiful. I’m thinking by this afternoon the interstate and other highways in my area should be clear. Earlier we were still under a no travel advisory in part of our county.
it’s hard to plan things ahead, so as you did, we just have to adjust things as we go, and I’m very grateful that I’m not commuting anymore.
Glad you all are safe and snug at home. Been there, done that – and then some! Nothing is better than sipping one’s favorite drink while watching the blizzard from indoors of a warm, comforting house with your warm fuzzy socks on.
I like your comforting description of what to do during a blizzard. I was reading a book, aptly titled “The Heart of Winter.” This title doesn’t reference a winter storm, but rather a family name. A really good book thus far.
Looks like we’re getting a taste of the Minnesota we were warned about before we moved here. 🥶 What fun (as long as we don’t have to leave the house). 😉 Almost (almost) starting to miss the deer flies… 🪰
LOL. I’m “glad” you finally got that promised winter storm. No deer flies in Faribault. But I know they can be awful in some places in Minnesota.
Ah! A REAL storm!
That is an accurate statement.
Nice to have Caleb around a bit longer, especially since he can work from home. Hopefully all will go well on Tuesday.
Yes, I love having him here one extra day. I think travel should be good tomorrow.
I so do not miss those days and when you have to drive or do anything in that type of weather. We have had the fog roll in here and we have Floridian Winter coming in this week. May need to put some sleeves on – ha! Stay Warm and Here’s to Bringing in the NEW YEAR!!!
We had an airport run early this morning (left home at 4 am) to drop the son off for his rebooked flight back to Boston. Roads were great, traffic minimal. Then, within two hours of arriving home, snow started falling, just enough to slick up road surfaces. I was incredibly thankful we were home and not on the interstate.
Fog is not fun either and we’ve had plenty of that recently, too. Be safe. And stay warm.
Wise to rebook that flight—- that weather looked treacherous from all the news reports I saw. Glad Caleb was able to rebook to a better weather day.
Yes, his choice for rebooking was that early morning flight. But at least he could rebook. Having him in MN an extra day was nice.