Flaky weather

• AAAA ceiling

Water poured down into the box office of the Alexandria Area Arts Association Theatre after a portion of the ceiling collapsed over the weekend. The AAAA is seeking donations to help with repairs. (Photo by Al Edenloff)
• Snowy trees

Although Saturday’s heavy snow buried thoughts of an early spring, it did paint pretty pictures throughout Douglas County, including in this grove of trees near an appropriately named street, White Spruce Lane, in northwest Alexandria. (Photo contributed by Celeste Edenloff)
• Branch tip

Temperatures were mild enough on Saturday afternoon to melt away some of the ice and snow that clung to evergreen trees. (Photo contributed by Celeste Edenloff)

Talk about it

It was another weird weather weekend in Douglas County.

A wintry mix of sleet and big pelting flakes of snow descended on central Minnesota on Saturday afternoon and continued off and on into the evening.

Because icy conditions made traveling hazardous, a winter storm warning was posted from Friday night into Saturday night.

Parts of Douglas County received about six inches of new snow.

Several crashes were reported, along with vehicles sliding into ditches, but none caused serious injuries.

The storm lacked the bitterly cold temperatures from earlier this winter but instead created slush and thick crusts of ice that made shoveling and blowing out driveways a big challenge.

It also caused some damage. All the snow and ice that accumulated on the roof of the Alexandria Area Arts Association Theatre caused a small portion of the ceiling to collapse above the box office. The water ruined a computer, dampened the upstairs costume area and soaked into the floors.

Coincidentally, the AAAA just kicked off its 2013 fundraising campaign and now, with the damage, members say money is needed more than ever. To donate, call (320 762-8300 or give contributions online at http://givemn.razoo.com/story/2013-Fundraising-Kickoff.

With the first day of spring exactly one week away, is more snow still headed our way?

There’s a very good chance, according to Alexandria meteorologist Mark Anthony. A couple of weak disturbances could bring more snow and rain tomorrow, Thursday, and again for the weekend.

It doesn’t appear at this stage, however, that the precipitation will amount to much, Anthony said. “But as we all well know in Minnesota, that could change between then and now,” Anthony noted. (See his weather column on page A2 for more details.)

Tags: local news, news, weather, snow, ice