Weather
Military Tank Gets Stuck In Minnesota During Blizzard
The tank became stuck while the Minnesota National Guard was conducting search and rescue operations.
WABASHA, MN — A blizzard that hit Minnesota Sunday became so bad, a military tank got stuck while authorities were trying to help people stranded out on the roads. The incident happened after Gov. Tim Walz declared a state of emergency and ordered the Minnesota National Guard to provide emergency relief services during the storm.
Heavy snow, strong winds, and subzero temperatures created dangerous conditions for motorists, even people driving tanks.
According to the Wabasha Police Department, a tank became stuck while the National Guard was conducting search and rescue operations.
Find out what's happening in Northfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Images of the tank are not yet available. "Unfortunately we cannot get to it," police told Patch.
The blizzard that hit Sunday created scenes in Minnesota that looked like something from a snowy apocalypse.
Find out what's happening in Northfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
200 people spent the night at the Owatonna National Guard Armory. Up to 120 could spend another night if the roads are not cleared. That very well could happen. @kare11 pic.twitter.com/rhTMQpwMDC
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) February 25, 2019
This is a common scene across #SEMn today. Severe drifting undoes the work of our #snowfighters in minutes. We will not see significant improvement until those winds die down overnight. Many roads remain impassable. Travel is still not advised.#MnDOT #mnwx #Rochmn pic.twitter.com/0HsKBbjH0T
— MnDOT District 6 (@mndotsoutheast) February 24, 2019
Guys this is no joke....we’re doing 20 on I-35 and we can’t see anything. This is from our GoPro mounted outside the car. @kare11 @kare11wx #mnwx pic.twitter.com/47WzvpxQdS
— Sharon Yoo (@SharonKARE11) February 24, 2019
Semis parked along a side road in Owatonna because the highway is closed. #Sunrisers pic.twitter.com/hAkc4nHjYe
— Ellery McCardle (@ElleryTV) February 25, 2019
The National Guard armory in Owatonna is now sheltering 150 people. A second shelter is opening for stranded travelers at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. pic.twitter.com/iSHSnjINVK
— Minnesota HSEM (@MnDPS_HSEM) February 25, 2019
This plow on I-90 west of Albert Lea is battling heavy snow. Get ready to hunker down. Heavy snow will take over the region in only a few hours.#MnDOT #AlbertLea #I90 pic.twitter.com/GsWqb90kn1
— MnDOT District 6 (@mndotsoutheast) February 24, 2019
DO NOT TRAVEL AT THIS TIME! Drifts as high as 6 feet. Cars are getting stuck, State Patrol, even our snow plows. Many roads are down to 1 lane. Tow companies are not able to make it to stranded motorists. Stranded cars are hindering our clearing efforts. #MnDOT #Blizzard #mnwx pic.twitter.com/QgMksyjvAB
— MnDOT District 6 (@mndotsoutheast) February 24, 201
Boys trying to dig our bus out Hockey Style. Didn’t work. pic.twitter.com/X9GO8MK1eT
— Mike Gibbons (@gibhockey) February 25, 2019
Even for Minnesota, this February has been extreme. The Twin Cities metro area broke the all-time record for February snowfall last week, well before Sunday's blizzard.
Find the metro's all-time snowfall records for February, provided by the NWS, below:
(Numbers have not been updated to account for this weekend's snowfall.)
- 31.5 inches (2019)
- 26.5 inches (1962)
- 24.2 inches (1909)
- 23.7 inches (1967)
- 19.7 inches (2004, 1936)
- 18.4 inches (2014
- 17.8 inches (1893
- 17.3 inches (1989)
- 16.5 inches (2001)
And, yes, there is even more snow and cold on the way:
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