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Oct 26, 2008 6:31 pm US/Central
Winter Blast Sends Some Minn. Families Shopping
ROGERS, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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"I hate to ask people how they're doing today because I know: Not well, because it's snowing," lamented a greeter for Cabela's in Rogers.
CBS
The first blast of winter arrived Sunday morning with some very big gusts and even a bit of snow. Those who went outside at all were sure to feel it.
Minnesotans saw some familiar sights. Familiar for November or December, that is.
Fergus Falls had a dusting of snow, and a WCCO employee reported near white-out conditions on the interstate near Fargo, where wind gusts were higher than 60 miles-perhour at times.
Fergus Falls and Fargo may have gotten the worst of it, but it wasn't exactly comfortable in the Metro. Temperatures dropped from the 40s in the morning to the 30s by late afternoon with 25 degree wind chills.
The winter weather was motivation for a lot of people to go shopping.
Those who went outdoors were most likely wearing at least another layer than they were last week.
The state may see temperatures back into the 50s or 60s by next weekend, but Sunday reminded many people that they were in serious need of some winter gear.
"I hate to ask people how they're doing today because I know: Not well, because it's snowing," lamented a greeter for Cabela's in Rogers.
But that snow and wind were why so many people were there. The Nelsons from Big Lake were planning to help father, Troy, pick out some hunting gear. When mother, Shanon, saw the snow, all she could think of were her three daughters' closets.
"[We'll look at] different gloves, hats, mittens... mostly boots," she said.
Shanon said in one year, daughter 11-year-old Courtney's shoe size went up by four sizes. They were in the adult section looking for her boots.
"We need to find warm [clothing for] when you're out [in the] snow, tubing and sledding," explained Shanon. "And all three of the girls need to be warm at the bus stop."
Hunters like Troy were stocking up on their warm stuff. After all, deer hunting's only a few weeks away, so he might need the camo and flannel. Then again... who knows what the weather will be like in two weeks?
Shanon Nelson said she's buying the winter gear for the same reason her husband is getting his hunting gear two weeks early.
"Well, you always got to do a jump start because you might come when it's actually snowing a lot more and there's nothing to choose from," she said.
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