FARGO -- The weekend storm that threatened the Red River Valley fizzled Saturday, with the National Weather Service canceling a winter storm warning.
But a winter weather advisory remains in effect for the valley through noon Monday, and travel could be hazardous as temperatures drop and the slush turns to ice.
Meteorologist Peter Rogers with the weather service in Grand Forks said temperatures in the Fargo area stayed high enough Friday night and Saturday to keep snowfall accumulations lower than predicted.
However, areas in western Minnesota saw significant ice accumulation, and the Devils Lake, N.D., area had about 6 inches of snow, Rogers said.
A barn in Clay County's Oakport Township collapsed, apparently from the heavy, wet snow on its roof. No animals were injured or killed by the collapse.
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Power outages continued to affect people in some areas of North Dakota on Saturday as frost fell off power lines, causing them to bounce and make contact with each other.
Crews with Cass County Electric Cooperative were working to restore power to about 335 customers Saturday afternoon. The affected area was primarily west of North Dakota Highway 32, from southwest of Lisbon and north to Pillsbury.
Dakota Valley Electric had about 150 customers in without power, mainly in the Ashley, Forbes and Kulm areas.
Saturday was calmer for the North Dakota Highway Patrol than troopers had anticipated, yet some motorists drove too quickly for the wet and slushy conditions, said Capt. Eldon Mehrer.
The southeast district of the Highway Patrol responded to about 30 to 40 vehicles that went into the ditch between Friday night and Saturday afternoon, Mehrer said.
Fargo police were called to minor traffic accidents Saturday, but none that resulted in significant injuries, Sgt. Chris Helmick said mid-afternoon.
"The roads are pretty slushy, but traffic is fairly light for a Saturday," Helmick said.
The weather service predicts occasional light snow today and into Monday with 1 to 2 inches of new snow accumulation.
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North winds will increase to 25 to 40 miles per hour this afternoon and continue into Monday, causing blowing and drifting snow and visibilities in some areas down to a half-mile.
Temperatures will quickly fall tonight and Monday, causing slush and water on the roads to freeze
