MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesotans are digging out from a powerful storm that dropped a record amount of snow in the Twin Cities and created blizzard-like conditions to the south.

More than a foot of snow piled up around the metro and communities to the south. The storms brought cities like Mankato to a virtual standstill late Tuesday.

Schools and businesses closed, planes were grounded, transportation officials closed highways and an interstate, plows were called back and law enforcement dealt with nearly 400 crashes statewide.

Snow removal crews started anew on Wednesday morning, while the Department of Transportation urged drivers to allow extra time to reach their destinations.

The National Weather Service was promising some sunshine later Wednesday.

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