People are being advised to take extra caution if they must travel, as a winter storm grips the Albert Lea and surrounding areas.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has listed difficult travel conditions on Interstates 90 and 35, along with U.S. Highways 65 and 69, due to slippery surfaces from snow.

Snow began late Sunday night and by 11 a.m. Monday, Albert Lea had about 3 inches of new snow accumulation.

As of 9 a.m. Monday, the National Weather Service reported about 2 inches of new snowfall accumulations in the Twin Cities and Fairmont, while Blue Earth and Owatonna reportedly received one inch. Further northwest, Montevideo reportedly received 6.2 inches of snow and Hutchinson received 3.2 inches on Monday morning.

Several area schools announced early dismissals due to the winter storm causing difficult driving conditions, including Glenville-Emmons, Albert Lea Schools, St. Theodore Catholic School, Hollandale Christian School, Alden-Conger Schools, United South Central Schools in Wells and New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Schools.

The storm is expected to dump 6 to 9 inches of new snow across Freeborn County before it tapers off Tuesday morning.

Higher winds later in the afternoon could cause reduced visibility due to blowing and drifting snow, with gusts of 30 mph expected Monday night into Tuesday.

The storm is expected to pass by early Tuesday morning. Dangerously low temperatures are predicted to follow, as the National Weather Service predicted wind chills as low as 31 degrees below zero on Tuesday.

Temperatures will slowly rise the remainder of the week, with highs between 25 and 30 degrees by Friday.