000 WWUS43 KMPX 261751 WSWMSP URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1150 AM CST TUE FEB 26 2002 ...GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS CAUSING NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA... .A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THE AFTERNOON. STRONG WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS NEARING 45 MPH CONTINUE OVER WESTERN MINNESOTA. VISIBILITIES AT TIMES WERE RESTRICTED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AND RURAL AREAS IN SWIFT...STEVENS...CHIPPEWA...WESTERN RENVILLE AND REDWOOD COUNTIES. CONDITIONS WERE SOMEWHAT BETTER FURTHER EAST OF MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY. WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING AS SURFACE WINDS DIMINISH UNDER 20 MPH. MOTORISTS MAY EXPERIENCE NEAR WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA UNTIL EARLY EVENING. MOTORISTS SHOULD STAY ALERT TO RAPID CHANGING ROAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. MNZ041-047-048-054>057-064-065-073-262100- CHIPPEWA-DOUGLAS-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-POPE-REDWOOD-RENVILLE- STEVENS-SWIFT-YELLOW MEDICINE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...MONTEVIDEO... REDWOOD FALLS AND WILLMAR ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR TODAY... GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS AROUND 40 MPH WILL CAUSE CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AND RURAL AREAS OVER WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. VISIBILITIES AT TIMES WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE. MOTORISTS ARE URGED TO DRIVE CAREFULLY AND ALLOW FOR SOME EXTRA TIME TO REACH THEIR DESTINATION. $$