An early spring winter storm dumped very heavy snow over a large part of west central to northeast Minnesota. Snowfall totals of 10 inches to over a foot were common 50 miles either side of a line from Breckenridge in Wilkin County to Bemidji in Beltrami County, then eastward to Grand Portage in Cook County.
The snow began with a low pressure area centered in Nebraska on Monday, March 30. A band of heavy snow marched northward across Minnesota and was over central Minnesota by late morning. The snow that fell in the Twin Cities coated grassy surfaces, but then melted as temperatures remained above freezing. Roads were mostly just wet in the Twin Cities on March 31. It was a different story in the over central and northern Minnesota with blizzard warnings posted for a small part of west central Minnesota along the South Dakota border, and winter storm warnings covering much of the rest of the north half of the state. In North Dakota, I-29 was closed from Grand Forks to the South Dakota border on March 31 due to the blizzard. No travel was advised for a portion of I-94 in West central Minnesota on March 31.
By late morning on April 1, the center of the low was over Hibbing. Light snow continued to wrap around the system and coated the ground in the Twin Cities.
The highest two-day snowfall total was 27 inches at Campbell in Wilkin County, nearby Breckenridge saw 24 inches of snow. Grand Portage in Cook County had 18 inches. International Falls saw 9.1 inches of snow on March 31 and April 1, enough to push the seasonal total to 124.2 inches which breaks the old record of 116 inches from the winter of 1995-96.
Listed below are local storm reports from the National Weather Service regarding the winter storm and blizzard of March 31-April 1.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
452 PM CDT WED APR 1 2009
HEAVY SNOW REPORTS
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
MINNESOTA
...BECKER COUNTY...
DETROIT LAKES 11.0 E 638 PM 03/31 46.81N 95.84W
FRAZEE 18.0 E 432 PM 04/01 46.73N 95.70W
...CLAY COUNTY...
SABIN 10.3 M 600 AM 04/01 46.78N 96.65W
...OTTER TAIL COUNTY...
4 N NEW YORK MILLS 12.0 E 700 PM 03/31 46.58N 95.37W
NEW YORK MILLS 12.0 M 700 AM 04/01 46.52N 95.37W
PELICAN RAPIDS 15.0 E 938 PM 03/31 46.57N 96.09W
PELICAN RAPIDS 16.0 M 700 AM 04/01 46.57N 96.09W
PHELPS 16.0 M 1100 AM 04/01 46.38N 95.82W
...WADENA COUNTY...
WADENA 14.0 E 726 PM 03/31 46.44N 95.13W
...WILKIN COUNTY...
ROTHSAY 19.0 M 700 AM 04/01 46.47N 96.29W
CAMPBELL 27.0 M 700 AM 04/01 46.10N 96.41W
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
NORTH DAKOTA
...SARGENT COUNTY...
HAVANA 14.0 M 700 AM 04/01 45.95N 97.62W
SNOW REPORTS
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
MINNESOTA
...HUBBARD COUNTY...
12 N PARK RAPIDS 12.0 E 445 PM 03/31 47.09N 95.06W
...ROSEAU COUNTY...
WARROAD 2.7 M 1200 AM 04/01 48.91N 95.32W
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
NORTH DAKOTA
...CASS COUNTY...
FARGO 10.3 M 700 PM 03/31 46.88N 96.82W
...RAMSEY COUNTY...
STARKWEATHER 2.0 E 700 PM 03/31 48.45N 98.88W
...WALSH COUNTY...
LANKIN 5.0 M 700 AM 04/01 48.31N 97.92W
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
830 AM CDT THU APR 02 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0812 AM SNOW GRAND PORTAGE 47.96N 89.68W
04/02/2009 M18.0 INCH COOK MN CO-OP OBSERVER
ADDITIONAL 2.0 INCHES WEDNESDAY. STORM TOTAL 18 INCHES
0814 AM SNOW 8 N BAYFIELD 46.93N 90.82W
04/02/2009 M5.5 INCH BAYFIELD WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL FROM MARCH 31 TO APRIL 1
0816 AM SNOW EMBARRASS 47.66N 92.20W
04/02/2009 M7.0 INCH ST. LOUIS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
ADDITIONAL 1.5 ON APRIL 1ST. STORM TOTAL 7.0
0818 AM SNOW BIG SANDY LAKE 46.76N 93.29W
04/02/2009 M7.0 INCH AITKIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW 3 E ORR 48.06N 92.76W
04/02/2009 M7.5 INCH ST. LOUIS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW NORTHOME 47.87N 94.27W
04/02/2009 M7.1 INCH KOOCHICHING MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW 5 NW WASHBURN 46.72N 90.97W
04/02/2009 M3.9 INCH BAYFIELD WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW INTERNATIONAL FALLS 48.59N 93.41W
04/02/2009 M9.1 INCH KOOCHICHING MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW KABETOGAMA 48.44N 93.03W
04/02/2009 M7.3 INCH ST. LOUIS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
ADDITIONAL 1.0 INCH APRIL 1ST. STORM TOTAL 7.3
0818 AM SNOW BABBITT 47.65N 91.94W
04/02/2009 M10.5 INCH ST. LOUIS MN COAST GUARD
STORM TOTAL
0818 AM SNOW COOK 47.85N 92.69W
04/02/2009 M8.0 INCH ST. LOUIS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
ADDITIONAL 2.0 INCHES YESTERDAY. STORM TOTAL 8.0
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1040 AM CDT WED APR 01 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0935 AM SNOW CLAYTON 45.32N 92.17W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH POLK WI TRAINED SPOTTER
24-HOUR SNOWFALL
0930 AM SNOW STAPLES 46.36N 94.80W
04/01/2009 E9.0 INCH TODD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0920 AM SNOW ALBERT LEA 43.66N 93.37W
04/01/2009 M0.5 INCH FREEBORN MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0904 AM SNOW NORTH ST PAUL 45.01N 93.00W
04/01/2009 M2.3 INCH RAMSEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0837 AM SNOW WINSTED 44.97N 94.05W
04/01/2009 M2.8 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0701 AM SNOW PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.43W
04/01/2009 M1.2 INCH SCOTT MN NWS EMPLOYEE
0700 AM SNOW ST CLOUD 45.55N 94.17W
04/01/2009 M8.9 INCH STEARNS MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
0700 AM SNOW MINNEAPOLIS 44.96N 93.27W
04/01/2009 M0.8 INCH HENNEPIN MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AT THE MINNEAPOLS/ST PAUL AIRPORT
0700 AM SNOW ST JOSEPH 45.57N 94.32W
04/01/2009 M9.0 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0700 AM SNOW CHANHASSEN 44.86N 93.56W
04/01/2009 M2.3 INCH CARVER MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
0622 AM SNOW LITTLE FALLS 45.98N 94.36W
04/01/2009 M11.5 INCH MORRISON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
11.5 WAS STORM TOTAL. WATER EQUIVALENT .84
0622 AM SNOW 7 S HILLMAN 45.91N 93.89W
04/01/2009 M7.3 INCH MORRISON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL SNOW.
0622 AM SNOW KIMBALL 45.31N 94.30W
04/01/2009 M7.0 INCH STEARNS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
7 INCHES STORM TOTAL WITH 2 INCHES OVERNIGHT
0622 AM SNOW CARLOS 45.97N 95.29W
04/01/2009 M12.0 INCH DOUGLAS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
12 INCHES WAS STORM TOTAL WITH 2 INCHES OVERNIGHT. WATER
EQUIVALENT 1.15
0600 AM SNOW MELROSE 45.68N 94.81W
04/01/2009 M7.0 INCH STEARNS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW MILACA 45.76N 93.65W
04/01/2009 M4.5 INCH MILLE LACS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW MORA 45.88N 93.29W
04/01/2009 M3.0 INCH KANABEC MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW MORRIS 45.59N 95.91W
04/01/2009 M7.0 INCH STEVENS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW RICE 45.75N 94.23W
04/01/2009 M7.0 INCH BENTON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0600 AM SNOW ST CLOUD 45.55N 94.17W
04/01/2009 M6.0 INCH STEARNS MN BROADCAST MEDIA
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW SHERBURN 43.65N 94.73W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH MARTIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW WACONIA 44.85N 93.79W
04/01/2009 M1.8 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW WILLMAR 45.12N 95.05W
04/01/2009 M4.0 INCH KANDIYOHI MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW ZUMBROTA 44.29N 92.67W
04/01/2009 M0.5 INCH GOODHUE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW STANLEY 44.96N 90.94W
04/01/2009 M0.6 INCH CHIPPEWA WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW GOLDEN VALLEY 44.99N 93.36W
04/01/2009 M1.7 INCH HENNEPIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW BALDWIN 44.96N 92.37W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH ST. CROIX WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW HAMPTON 44.61N 93.00W
04/01/2009 M0.9 INCH DAKOTA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW BUFFALO 45.18N 93.87W
04/01/2009 M3.4 INCH WRIGHT MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW ONAMIA 46.07N 93.67W
04/01/2009 M4.6 INCH MILLE LACS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW ANDOVER 45.26N 93.33W
04/01/2009 M0.5 INCH ANOKA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW BOYD 44.85N 95.90W
04/01/2009 M1.3 INCH LAC QUI PARLE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW BROWNTON 44.73N 94.35W
04/01/2009 M2.0 INCH MCLEOD MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW CHANHASSEN 44.86N 93.56W
04/01/2009 M2.3 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW CHASKA 44.82N 93.61W
04/01/2009 M2.0 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW ELK RIVER 45.33N 93.57W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH SHERBURNE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW COLD SPRING 45.46N 94.43W
04/01/2009 M7.0 INCH STEARNS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW FARIBAULT 44.30N 93.27W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH RICE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW FOREST LAKE 45.28N 92.99W
04/01/2009 M1.5 INCH WASHINGTON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW HAMBURG 44.73N 93.96W
04/01/2009 M1.8 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW LAKE ELMO 45.00N 92.91W
04/01/2009 M1.0 INCH WASHINGTON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW LESTER PRAIRIE 44.88N 94.04W
04/01/2009 M2.0 INCH MCLEOD MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW LONG PRAIRIE 45.98N 94.86W
04/01/2009 M6.7 INCH TODD MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW LONSDALE 44.48N 93.43W
04/01/2009 M1.7 INCH RICE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0600 AM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
04/01/2009 M1.7 INCH BLUE EARTH MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
Last modified: January 6, 2017
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