Easter Weekend Snow: March 21-23, 2008

A second heavy wet snowstorm affected Minnesota on March 21 with lighter snows through March 23. Friday March 21 was the main event. There was a sharp dividing line from the heavy snow to lighter accumulations. Chanhassen saw 9.7 inches on the 21st with the Twin Cities International Airport only seeing 3.9 inches. This was very heavy, moisture-laden snow. There was another burst of snow during the overnight hours of Friday night into Saturday morning with lingering flurries until March 23 (Easter). This was drier and fluffier snow. One of the higher multi day snowfall totals found was at Chanhassen with 12.6 inches.

Most of the snowstorms this past season have been tracking off to the south of Minnesota, just clipping the southern parts of the state. For this event, some of the drier spots in west central Minnesota finally saw some moisture. Places in Otter Tail County saw a half foot of snow with nearly a half inch of moisture.

The fresh blanket of snow cover insured that this would be the coldest Easter Sunday in recent memory. The high temperature in the Twin Cities was 32 degrees. The last time it was so cold on Easter Sunday in the Twin Cities was on March 30, 1975 when the high was 18 degrees. There was also an inch of snow that day and ten inches on the ground. In 2009, Easter will be on April 12.

below are some snowfall totals and cold Easter facts courtesy the National Weather Service

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
246 PM CDT MON MAR 24 2008

...COLDEST EASTER SINCE 1975 AT BOTH LA CROSSE WISCONSIN AND ROCHESTER MINNESOTA...
LA CROSSE WI...

ON EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 23RD...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AT 
THE LA CROSSE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT WAS 28.5 DEGREES /HIGH TEMPERATURE
OF 36 DEGREES AND A LOW TEMPERATURE OF 21 DEGREES/.  THIS WAS THE 
COLDEST EASTER SINCE 1975 /MARCH 30TH/ WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 
WAS ONLY 16.0 DEGREES.
THIS YEAR WAS THE TWELFTH COLDEST EASTER EVER RECORDED.  THE COLDEST 
EASTER OCCURRED BACK IN 1894 /MARCH 25TH/ AND 1940 /MARCH 24TH/ WHEN 
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 11.0 DEGREES. 
ROCHESTER MN...
ON EASTER SUNDAY MARCH 23RD...THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE AT THE ROCHESTER 
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS 26.5 DEGREES /HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 32 DEGREES 
AND A LOW TEMPERATURE OF 21 DEGREES/.  THIS WAS THE COLDEST EASTER SINCE 
1975 /MARCH 30TH/ WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 13.0 DEGREES.

THIS YEAR TIED 1907 FOR THE TENTH COLDEST EASTER EVER RECORDED.  THE
COLDEST EASTER OCCURRED BACK IN 1894 /MARCH 25TH/ WHEN THE AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE WAS ONLY 4.5 DEGREES.
  


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1145 AM CDT SAT MAR 22 2008

...24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ENDING AT 1100 AM TODAY...
THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 6.90   CHANHASSEN               MN  CARVER           0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 6.00   LITTLE FALLS             MN  MORRISON         0616 AM
                STORM TOTAL AMOUNT.
 5.50   RICHFIELD                MN  HENNEPIN         1030 AM
                2-DAY STORM TOTAL/1.5 INCHES OVERNIGHT ENDING
                AT 1030 TODAY.
 5.50   PLYMOUTH                 MN  HENNEPIN         0730 AM
                ESTIMATED 2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL/1.5 INCHES
                OVERNIGHT ENDING AT 0730 THIS MORNING.
 5.00   SAUK RAPIDS              MN  BENTON           0800 AM
                2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL
 5.00   WILLMAR                  MN  KANDIYOHI        0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 4.90   FOREST LAKE              MN  WASHINGTON       0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNT
 4.50   SAUK CENTRE              MN  STEARNS          1000 AM
                2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL
 4.50   ANNANDALE                MN  WRIGHT           0900 AM
                2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL
 4.50   CARLOS                   MN  DOUGLAS          0741 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL
 4.40   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL AT MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL
                AIRPORT
 4.00   BLOOMER                  WI  CHIPPEWA         0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 4.00   STILLWATER               MN  WASHINGTON       0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 4.00   1 N ALBANY               MN  STEARNS          0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNT
 3.60   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 3.50   STANLEY                  WI  CHIPPEWA         0830 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 3.50   ST JOSEPH                MN  STEARNS          0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 3.30   DASSEL                   MN  MEEKER           0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 3.10   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 3.10   BUFFALO                  MN  WRIGHT           0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.90   MONTICELLO               MN  WRIGHT           0800 AM
                SNOWFALL AMOUNT SINCE MIDNIGHT
 2.70   9 WNW MORA               MN  KANABEC          1052 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.60   JIM FALLS                WI  CHIPPEWA         0630 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.50   GILMAN                   MN  BENTON           0900 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.50   MORA                     MN  KANABEC          0900 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.50   CUSHING                  WI  POLK             0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.50   SPRING VALLEY            WI  PIERCE           0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.50   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.30   NEW ULM                  MN  BROWN            0800 AM
                2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.30   MILACA                   MN  MILLE LACS       0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.20   HAMMOND                  WI  ST. CROIX        0700 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.10   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0800 AM
                HIGHLAND PARK AREA - SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT.
                2-DAY SNOWFALL TOTAL IS 6.5 INCHES.
 2.00   LAKEVILLE                MN  DAKOTA           1100 AM
                NEW SNOWFALL AMOUNT SINCE MIDNIGHT. SNOW
                DEPTH IS 9 INCHES.
 2.00   ANDOVER                  MN  ANOKA            1000 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 2.00   FRIDLEY                  MN  ANOKA            0900 AM
                SNOWFALL SINCE MIDNIGHT
 1.60   ROBERTS                  WI  ST. CROIX        0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
 1.50   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0945 AM
                COMO LAKE AREA - SNOWFALL AMOUNT SINCE
                MIDNIGHT
 1.50   8 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0700 AM
 1.50   PRIOR LAKE               MN  SCOTT            0600 AM
 0.50   SPRINGFIELD              MN  BROWN            0800 AM
                24-HOUR SNOWFALL TOTAL
$


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
958 AM CDT SAT MAR 22 2008
  ...24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA...

LOCATION                     COUNTY              SNOWFALL

...MINNESOTA...
READS LANDING 1W             WABASHA                7.9
THEILMAN 1SSW                WABASHA                5.3
LAKE CITY-COOP               WABASHA                4.8
DODGE CENTER                 DODGE                  4.5
WINONA DAM 5A                WINONA                 4.0
MANTORVILLE                  DODGE                  3.9  
WABASHA                      WABASHA                3.7
ZUMBRO FALLS                 WABASHA                3.1
CALEDONIA                    HOUSTON                2.1
ROCHESTER INTL AP            OLMSTED                2.1  
ELGIN 2SSW                   OLMSTED                2.0
PRESTON                      FILLMORE               1.5
LANESBORO                    FILLMORE               1.3


...WISCONSIN...
MONROE CENTER                ADAMS                  7.5
WARRENS 5WSW                 MONROE                 7.4
RICHLAND CENTER              RICHLAND               6.9
FRIENDSHIP 10NE              ADAMS                  6.5
FRIENDSHIP                   ADAMS                  6.3
MATHER 3NW                   JACKSON                6.1
BLAIR                        TREMPEALEAU            6.0
WEST SALEM 1NW               LA CROSSE              6.0
NECEDAH 2SE                  JUNEAU                 5.7
NEILLSVILLE 3SW              CLARK                  5.0
HOLMEN 2S                    LA CROSSE              5.5
LA CROSSE AP                 LA CROSSE              5.0
RICHLAND CENTER              RICHLAND               5.0
WESTBY 3ENE                  VERNON                 4.5
LA CROSSE WFO                LA CROSSE              4.2
GALESVILLE 1S                TREMPEALEAU            4.1
FOUR CORNERS                 MONROE                 4.0
LA FARGE                     VERNON                 3.5
SPARTA                       MONROE                 3.5
BLACK RIVER FALLS            JACKSON                3.1
VIROQUA                      VERNON                 2.2
GAYS MILLS                   CRAWFORD               2.0
HILLSBORO                    VERNON                 2.0
OWEN 2N                      CLARK                  1.3
MEDFORD                      TAYLOR                 1.0
STEUBEN 4SE                  CRAWFORD               1.0
CUBA CITY 2NW                GRANT                  0.1

OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
300 PM CDT SAT MAR 22 2008
...2-DAY SNOW FALL TOTALS...

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW FALL TOTALS FOR THE PREVIOUS 2 DAYS
AS MEASURED IN THE MORNING BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE USUALLY TAKEN AT 7 AM.
SNOW FALL TOTALS...
 FROM 7 AM THURSDAY (03/20/08) TO 7 AM SATURDAY (03/22/08)

                                              SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL    
 BIG PINE LAKE (OTTER TAIL)....................8.8
 DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................6.6      
 EDMORE (RAMSEY)...............................1.0      
 FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)......................... 8.8      
 FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................6.5      
 GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)..................3.0      
 GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................2.4      
 HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................4.5      
 HANSBORO (TOWNER).............................1.5      
 HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................3.7      
 LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................7.5      
 LANKIN 9SW (WALSH)............................1.0      
 LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)...................3.0      
 LANGDON EXP FARM (CAVALIER)...................1.4      
 MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................2.5      
 NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)...................6.5      
 PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................5.3      
 PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................7.0      
 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................0.5        
 ROTHSAY (WILKIN)..............................4.5        
 SABIN (CLAY)..................................7.9        
 SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................5.5       
 STARKWEATHER (RAMSEY).........................0.5        
 WADENA (WADENA)...............................7.5      

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE PREVIOUS 24-HOURS
AS MEASURED IN THE MORNING BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE USUALLY TAKEN AT 7 AM.
    24-HOUR SNOWFALL REPORTS:

***************** SATURDAY (03/22/08) **************
NORTH DAKOTA                                   SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

 FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)..........................4.4
 GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)..................2.8
 GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................2.1
 COOPERSTOWN (GRIGGS)..........................1.8
 MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................1.6
 LANGDON EXP FARM (CAVALIER)...................1.2
 EDMORE (RAMSEY)...............................1.0
 LANKIN 9SW (WALSH)............................1.0
 CAVALIER (PEMBINA)............................0.5
 FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................0.5
 HANSBORO (TOWNER).............................0.5
 LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................0.5
 STARKWEATHER (RAMSEY).........................0.5
 HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................0.2
 PEMBINA (PEMBINA)...........................TRACE
MINNESOTA                                      SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

 WADENA (WADENA)...............................5.5
 NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)...................5.0
 SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................4.0
 PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................4.0
 SABIN (CLAY)..................................3.7
 PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................3.5
 BIG PINE LAKE (OTTER TAIL)....................3.5
 HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................3.0
 LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)...................3.0
 ROTHSAY (WILKIN)..............................2.5
 DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................2.3
 VIKING (MARSHALL).............................2.0
 ARGYLE (MARSHALL).............................1.5
 BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)............................0.5
 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................0.5

***************** FRIDAY (03/21/08) **************
NORTH DAKOTA                                   SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

 LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................7.0
 FARGO DOWNTOWN (CASS).........................6.0
 FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................6.0
 LISBON (RANSOM)...............................6.0
 MANTADOR W-W (RICHLAND).......................5.0
 FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)..........................4.4
 VALLEY CITY (BARNES)..........................4.0
 COLGATE (STEELE)..............................3.7
 HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................3.5
 HANSBORO (TOWNER).............................1.0
 MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................0.9
 GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................0.3
 GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)..................0.2
 LANGDON EXP FARM (CAVALIER)...................0.2
 EDMORE (RAMSEY).............................TRACE
 LANKIN 9SW (WALSH)..........................TRACE
 STARKWEATHER (RAMSEY).......................TRACE
MINNESOTA                                      SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

 BIG PINE LAKE (OTTER TAIL)....................5.0
 DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................4.3
 SABIN (CLAY)..................................4.2
 PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................3.0
 ROTHSAY (WILKIN)..............................2.0
 WADENA (WADENA)...............................2.0
 PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................1.8
 HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................1.5
 NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)...................1.5
 SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................1.5
 LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER).................TRACE
 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE)...................TRACE
&&

...ALSO REMOVED SOME DUPLICATED DATA...
$
EWENS

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 3.30   WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON          0900 AM
 3.00   2 N DULUTH               MN  ST. LOUIS        1000 AM
 2.50   5 N KNIFE RIVER          MN  LAKE             0900 AM
 2.00   MOOSE LAKE               MN  CARLTON          1000 AM
 2.00   WEST DULUTH              MN  ST. LOUIS        0830 AM
 1.50   PALISADE                 MN  AITKIN           1000 AM
 1.50   1 W LUTSEN               MN  COOK             0700 AM
 1.30   SILVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0800 AM
 1.00   BEAVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0930 AM
 0.80   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
 0.50   5 S HERBSTER             WI  BAYFIELD         0800 AM


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
119 PM CDT TUE MAR 18 2008
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
           ..REMARKS..

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 6.00   EXELAND                  WI  SAWYER           0700 AM
 4.80   8 SW CLAM LAKE           WI  SAWYER           0700 AM
 4.60   HAYWARD                  WI  SAWYER           0600 AM
 4.50   WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON          0100 PM
 4.50   PARK FALLS               WI  PRICE            0100 PM
 4.50   20 NE PARK FALLS         WI  IRON             0900 AM
 4.50   8 S HAYWARD              WI  SAWYER           0800 AM
 4.50   GURNEY                   WI  IRON             0600 AM
                SNOW DEPTH 4.5
 4.30   4 S BRUNO                MN  PINE             0700 AM
 4.30   SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN         0600 AM
                SNOW DEPTH 12 INCHES
 4.20   OULU                     WI  BAYFIELD         0900 AM
 4.00   2 N GRAND MARAIS         MN  COOK             0100 PM
 4.00   TRADE LAKE               WI  BURNETT          0100 PM
 4.00   MAPLE                    WI  DOUGLAS          0900 AM
 4.00   12 NNE DULUTH            MN  ST. LOUIS        0900 AM
 4.00   GLIDDEN                  WI  ASHLAND          0700 AM
 3.80   5 NW WASHBURN            WI  BAYFIELD         0900 AM
 3.70   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
 3.50   4 N GRANTSBURG           WI  BURNETT          0800 AM
 3.50   5 NW KNIFE RIVER         MN  ST. LOUIS        0800 AM
 3.50   3 N PINE CITY            MN  PINE             0700 AM
 3.50   3 W BUTTERNUT            WI  ASHLAND          0700 AM
 3.20   1 W LUTSEN               MN  COOK             0600 AM
 3.20   12 N ISLE                MN  AITKIN           0600 AM
 3.00   5 WSW SOLON SPRINGS      WI  DOUGLAS          0100 PM
 3.00   5 WSW SOLON SPRINGS      WI  DOUGLAS          0900 AM
 3.00   SAGINAW                  MN  ST. LOUIS        0900 AM
 3.00   BEAVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0900 AM
 3.00   10 S SUPERIOR            WI  DOUGLAS          0900 AM
 3.00   MOOSE LAKE               MN  CARLTON          0800 AM
 2.70   SILVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0600 AM
 2.70   KERRICK                  MN  PINE             0500 AM
 2.50   4 SE FINLAND             MN  LAKE             0700 AM
 2.50   3 W GRAND MARAIS         MN  COOK             0700 AM
 2.50   5 S HERBSTER             WI  BAYFIELD         0600 AM
 2.50   LITTLE MARAIS            MN  LAKE             0600 AM
 2.00   ISLAND LAKE              MN  ST. LOUIS        0100 PM
                .21 SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT. SNOW DEPTH 19 IN.
 1.90   7 NW TWO HARBORS         MN  LAKE             0700 AM
                SNOW DEPTH 20 INCHES
 1.50   4 W WENTWORTH            WI  DOUGLAS          0900 AM
 1.50   GILE                     WI  IRON             0600 AM
                AT 0500 AM MODERATE SNOW STILL FALLING
 1.30   15 N GRAND RAPIDS        MN  ITASCA           0700 AM
 1.10   INTERNATIONAL FALLS      MN  KOOCHICHING      0100 PM
 1.00   3 NE NISSWA              MN  CROW WING        0800 AM
 1.00   EMBARRASS                MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
Last modified: June 30, 2017
For more information contact: [email protected]

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