Photo by Deb Gau Vehicles follow a snowplow on Main Street in Marshall on Thursday afternoon. Drifting snow and poor visibility made travel difficult throughout southwest Minnesota, and parts of several area highways were closed by Thursday afternoon.

MARSHALL — Blizzard conditions returned across southwest Minnesota on Thursday, with whiteouts and drifting snow leading the Minnesota Department of Transportation to close several state highways at different points throughout the day.

Taking shelter from the storm didn’t necessarily mean staying at home for some people in the area, however. Staff at LeRoy’s Bar & Grill in Cottonwood said they had customers on Thursday afternoon.

“We had one group that were caught between closing roads,” Katie Ewing said.

Besides the group of motorists waiting out the storm, there were also people who didn’t want to be cooped up at home, Ewing said.

“It’s like any other snow day,” she said.

And the travel hazards aren’t over yet, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service.

“The issue for the next couple of days is continuing strong winds,” said meteorologist Jeff Chapman with the NWS office in Sioux Falls. Those winds could continue into early Saturday, along with colder temperatures. Southwest Minnesota will continue to see some areas of drifting and blowing snow, Chapman said.

The NWS hadn’t received many snowfall reports from southwest Minnesota on Thursday, but it was likely more data would come in today, Chapman said. A report from Minneota on Thursday afternoon said 2.3 inches of snow had fallen. About 5 inches was reported from the Independent office.

Drifting snow and reduced visibility were widespread problems in the region Thursday. No-travel advisories were issued in Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville and Yellow Medicine counties. By Thursday afternoon, MnDOT had closed parts of several highways as well. Closed roads in the region included U.S. Highway 212 from Highway 75 to Montevideo; Minnesota Highway 67 from Highway 75 to Clarkfield; U.S. Highway 14 between Florence and Tracy; and Minnesota Highway 30 from Pipestone to Slayton.

Over the course of the day Thursday, MnDOT’s travel information site showed several places around Lyon County where stalled or spun out vehicles were reported.

Blustery conditions, with patches of blowing snow, are forecast to continue into Saturday in the Marshall area. Temperatures will be colder today and Saturday, with an overnight low around zero Saturday. Chapman said there are more chances for active weather early next week, although warmer temperatures mean the possibility of rain instead of blizzards.