A wintry mix predicted to sweep through Freeborn County today calls for extra safe driving precautions while traveling this Thanksgiving holiday.

The National Weather Service reports an 80 percent chance of freezing rain and sleet today in Albert Lea, mainly this afternoon.

Cloudy skies with a high near 32 degrees are expected, but wind chills between zero and 10 degrees will make temps feel much colder.

The chance of precipitation will lower into the evening hours, but snow and freezing drizzle is expected before midnight, followed by occasional flurries.

The National Weather Service also reports that ice accumulation of less than a one-tenth of an inch is possible, and little or no snow accumulation is expected. The storm, however, is unpredictable, like any weather near the 32-degree mark, so the forecast keeps changing.

“The timing of it is the only thing that seems to not be changing,” said KIMT meteorologist Kay Schaefer. “We’re calling it a wintry mix because the possibility of freezing rain is out there.”

Schaefer said their staff of meteorologists continue to track this weather system, which continues to change. She said a wintry mix is typically a “changeover kind of event,” meaning the precipitation might come down as rain and then switches over to sleet or snow.

“If we get a warming, we’ll be hovering right at the freezing mark and surfaces can freeze when precipitation is falling,” she said. “Slick roads are our number one concern.”

Schaefer encourages everyone to check road conditions before traveling. Because of the unexpected weather conditions, and possibility of slick roads, Schaefer said KIMT will have a holiday hotline that people can call from 5 until 7 p.m. today.

Lt. Eric Roeske of the Minnesota State Patrol agreed that people should check driving conditions throughout the entire region that they’re traveling, as weather conditions will change with the regions.

“Although weather conditions can contribute to crashes, far more often we see that human error is far more of a factor than the weather,” he said. “Following too close on icy roads can hamper your ability to stop, and you find yourself in a crash.”

Roeske encourages travelers to pay attention to basic safe driving standards, such as driving the speed limit, not following too closely on icy roads, allowing extra time when needed, wearing seat belts and not drinking and driving.

Wearing seat belts likely could’ve been the saving grace in two recent fatalities that occurred during icy conditions, he noted.

Roeske said a well-charged cell phone may be the best tool in an emergency vehicle situation and encourages travelers to also keep warm blankets and clothing along with heavy boots in vehicles.

Thanksgiving Day calls for partly sunny skies with a high near 17 and occasional flurries. Schaefer said the area may receive a few leftover flurries on Thanksgiving Day.

“We’re hoping to warm back up into the 30s for Saturday and Sunday,” Schaefer added.

Travelers are encouraged to check road conditions by visiting the Minnesota DOT’s road conditions web site at www.511mn.org or calling 511. KIMT’s holiday hotline will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at 641-423-2540.

Twin Cities

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says it’s switching over to a 24-hour operation today and Thursday with snow in the forecast during a busy week of travel.

A storm is expected to drop 6 to 8 inches of snow in northern Minnesota by tonight with an inch or two expected in the Twin Cities.

MnDOT began preparing for the storm on Tuesday with nearly three dozen workers spreading anti-icing liquid on the roads to avoid frost.

MnDOT will have anywhere from 200 to 220 trucks on the road during the snowy weather and every employee will be on call to ensure the roads will be safe.

According to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average Thanksgiving long-distance trip length is 214 miles, compared with 275 miles over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday. The most traveled day of the entire year is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, when 13.7 million long-distance trips are made.