Updated at: 01/25/2010 11:36 AM | KSAX.com

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Blizzard Warning, Schools Closing Througout West Central Minnesota

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. - Many people were surprised to wake to blowing snow and blizzard conditions throughout many counties in west central Minnesota Monday morning. 

At about 9:30 a.m. Monday morning, a blizzard warning had been issued in Douglas County and counties throughout the state. The blizzard warning covers much of west central and portions of south central Minnesota until midnight Monday.

Blowing snow, and white-out conditions are expected throughout the state, according to the National Weather Service.  Other counties experiencing blizzard warnings, winter weather advisories, or wind advisories include: Crow Wing, Becker, Otter Tail, Polk, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Lincoln, Lyon, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, Wadena, and Yellow Medicine.

According to the National Weather Service website:

"An intense low pressure system over southern Ontario Canada will continue to lift northeast over Canada throughout the next day,  Northwest winds if 30 to 40 miles per hour, with higher gusts near 50 mph.  Visibility will be reduced to less than one quarter mile, especially in rural and open country.  This will create whiteout conditions, which could be life-threatening of becoming stranded or disoriented."

For a complete list of Minnesota counties affected by the storm, click here.

The number of schools closing throughout the state continues to climb Monday morning.  For a complete list of school closures in the state, click here.

Written for the web by Cristi Jessee.

cjessee@ksax.com