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By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Shortly after shoveling out from Saturday's Arctic blast, Old Man Winter delivered the second storm to the area in three days Monday.

Most are schools opened at the usual time only to close a few hours later as winds picked up and tossed around several inches of new snow.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday noon for most of southern Minnesota.

Travel was discouraged as total snowfall was anticipated to be up to eight inches by Monday night in the southeast part of the state.

Strong winds caused blowing and drifting of snow and created 20-50 below-zero wind chills Monday night.

The Conestoga Wood factory employees Christmas Benefit originally set for Monday night was postponed to Thursday at Mountain Lake Public School.

The factory was recently destroyed by fire.

The Mountain Lake Lions Club will host a Pancake Supper from 5-7 p.m. Thursday. A community music concert will start at 7:30 p.m.

Two cedar chests, made at the factory prior to the fire, will be auctioned during the concert intermission.

For more information on the benefit, call Mike Bjerum at (507) 427-2755.

Tuesday's forecast called for mostly sunny skies with a high of about 5 above. A northwest wind of 10 mph, becoming southwest late.

Want more snow?

You may not be disappointed.

Chances of snow were forecast for Tuesday night, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Friday through Sunday forecast was for mostly cloudy skies.

The Old Farmer's Almanac was on track when it predicted below-normal temperatures this month for the Northern Great Plains.

The normal high temperature for this time of year is 24 degrees.

Normal low is 9 degrees.

The Old Farmers Almanac predicts below normal temperatures for each winter month in the Midwest. Coldest temperatures were forecast for mid December and mid January.

The heaviest snowfall of the winter will come toward the end of March, according to the almanac.