Large winter storm brings a month's worth of February moisture in one day.
A large, lumbering winter storm brought badly needed precipitation to Minnesota on from February 9th to February 11th. Most places in Minnesota saw at least some precipitation from this storm, generally from a half to one inch of liquid. There were with accumulations of a foot or more of snow over sections of west central Minnesota.
This storm took form over Nebraska and Kansas on February 9 and moved to the northeast. By Sunday, February 10th the center of the storm was located over south central Minnesota. By midnight, February 11th the center was very near the Twin Cities and by the late morning hours was situated over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The first wave of precipitation moved northward across Minnesota in the late evening hours of the 9th with some freezing drizzle and sleet reported in the Twin Cites and central Minnesota. Snow began to increase in west central Minnesota overnight. Snow continued on Sunday, February 10th over western Minnesota, with rain, sleet and snow over the Twin Cities during the morning, and then changing to heavy, wet snow from around 11am to noon. Visibility in heavy snow was down to a 1/4 mile at the Twin Cities International Airport at 1pm on the 10th. The band of snow then lifted north of the Twin Cities during the afternoon hours and light snow moved back into the Twin Cities during the evening of the 10th. The snow proved to be excellent snowman-making material in the Twin Cities. The total snowfall at the Twin Cities International Airport was 2.3 inches.
Blizzard warnings were posted for western and parts of southern Minnesota during the day on Sunday and continued into Monday morning. I-94 was closed between Alexandria and Moorhead as well as Highway 10 and 210 in west central Minnesota as well. The highest snowfall total found so far is 21 inches at Rothsay in Wilkin County in west central Minnesota. 17 inches fell near Underwood in Otter Tail County. Long Lost Lake in Clearwater County saw 17 inches of snow and Itasca State Park saw 16 inches. Some impressive liquid totals were found as well with some areas receiving over an inch of liquid from this storm. Normal February precipitation ranges from about a half inch in the northwest part of the state, to an inch in the far southeast.
Listed below are Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1037 AM CST MON FEB 11 2013 ...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS... ...LOCATION... ...TIME... ...AMOUNT... MILLERVILLE (DOUGLAS) 829 AM FEB 11 14.0 IN CARLOS 3SW (DOUGLAS MN) 800 AM FEB 11 13.0 IN GLENWOOD (POPE MN) 845 PM FEB 10 12.0 IN DONNELLY 3W (STEVENS MN) 337 PM FEB 10 12.0 IN LITTLE FALLS 1 N (MORRISON MN) 731 AM FEB 11 11.8 IN MONTEVIDEO 1SW (LAC QUI PARLE MN) 700 AM FEB 11 11.0 IN MORRIS (STEVENS MN) 800 AM FEB 11 11.0 IN BENSON 1SSE (SWIFT MN) 700 AM FEB 11 10.5 IN 3 N ALEXANDRIA (DOUGLAS MN) 800 AM FEB 11 10.1 IN 1 WSW LITTLE FALLS (MORRISON MN) 700 AM FEB 11 10.0 IN MOTLEY (MORRISON MN) 730 PM FEB 10 10.0 IN GRANITE FALLS (CHIPPEWA MN) 446 PM FEB 10 10.0 IN 1 SW SWANVILLE (TODD MN) 630 AM FEB 11 9.5 IN 7 S HILLMAN (MORRISON MN) 915 PM FEB 10 9.5 IN 3 WSW PRINCETON (SHERBURNE MN) 600 AM FEB 11 8.5 IN ST AUGUSTA (STEARNS MN) 633 PM FEB 10 8.5 IN SAUK RAPIDS (BENTON MN) 715 PM FEB 10 8.5 IN 4 WSW SPICER (KANDIYOHI MN) 700 AM FEB 11 8.2 IN ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY 700 AM FEB 11 8.1 IN WILLMAR 2N (KANDIYOHI MN) 600 AM FEB 11 7.9 IN MELROSE (STEARNS MN) 700 AM FEB 11 7.5 IN LONG PRAIRIE (TODD MN) 600 AM FEB 11 7.4 IN COLD SPRING (STEARNS MN) 700 AM FEB 11 7.2 IN RICE (BENTON MN) 700 AM FEB 11 7.0 IN MILACA (MILLE LACS MN) 730 AM FEB 11 7.0 IN KIMBALL 3N (STEARNS MN) 600 AM FEB 11 6.8 IN ST. CLOUD (STEARNS MN) 600 AM FEB 11 6.7 IN SACRED HEART (RENVILLE MN) 930 PM FEB 10 6.3 IN WEYERHAEUSER 2 (RUSK WI) 700 AM FEB 11 6.0 IN VESTA (REDWOOD) 1003 AM FEB 11 6.0 IN 1 SSW SAINT MICHAEL (WRIGHT MN) 800 AM FEB 11 5.8 IN 3 SE ORROCK (SHERBURNE MN) 700 AM FEB 11 5.3 IN 5 SE LAKE LILLIAN (RENVILLE MN) 630 AM FEB 11 5.1 IN MONTEVIDEO (CHIPPEWA MN) 700 AM FEB 11 5.0 IN CAMBRIDGE 2SSW (ISANTI MN) 626 AM FEB 11 5.0 IN RUSH CITY (CHISAGO MN) 807 AM FEB 11 4.7 IN 3 N CAMBRIDGE (ISANTI MN) 700 AM FEB 11 4.6 IN WATERTOWN (CARVER MN) 700 AM FEB 11 4.6 IN REDWOOD FALLS (REDWOOD MN) 530 AM FEB 11 4.5 IN FOREST LAKE 5NE (CHISAGO MN) 700 AM FEB 11 4.5 IN CHASKA 2NW (CARVER MN) 600 AM FEB 11 4.3 IN FARIBAULT (RICE MN) 700 AM FEB 11 4.0 IN 1 ENE INVER GROVE HEIGHT (DAKOTA) 700 AM FEB 11 4.0 IN ANDOVER 1N (ANOKA MN) 700 AM FEB 11 4.0 IN CHANHASSEN 2SW (CARVER MN) 700 AM FEB 11 3.7 IN CHANHASSEN (CARVER MN) 600 AM FEB 11 3.5 IN MEASURED AT THE NWS OFFICE. 2 SE CHETEK (BARRON WI) 700 AM FEB 11 3.5 IN 1 WSW CARVER (CARVER MN) 700 AM FEB 11 3.5 IN GLENCOE (MCLEOD MN) 800 AM FEB 11 3.3 IN HAMBURG (CARVER MN) 800 AM FEB 11 3.2 IN 1 N MAPLE GROVE (HENNEPIN MN) 800 AM FEB 11 3.2 IN 5 SW LONG LAKE (HENNEPIN MN) 500 AM FEB 11 3.2 IN HAM LAKE 3SSE (ANOKA MN) 700 AM FEB 11 3.1 IN 1 WSW EDINA (HENNEPIN MN) 716 AM FEB 11 3.1 IN 1 WSW LITTLE CANADA (RAMSEY MN) 700 AM FEB 11 3.1 IN 5 SE BALSAM LAKE (POLK WI) 700 AM FEB 11 3.0 IN 3 ESE EDEN PRAIRIE (HENNEPIN MN) 849 AM FEB 11 3.0 IN HASTINGS LOCK AND DAM 2 (DAKOTA MN) 600 AM FEB 11 3.0 IN 2 NNW RICHFIELD (HENNEPIN MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.8 IN 2 WSW PRIOR LAKE (SCOTT MN) 600 AM FEB 11 2.8 IN 1 WSW GOLDEN VALLEY (HENNEPIN MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.8 IN WACONIA (CARVER MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.8 IN NEW PRAGUE (SCOTT MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.7 IN CRYSTAL 2 NNW (HENNEPIN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.7 IN 2 ESE CAMERON (BARRON WI) 700 AM FEB 11 2.6 IN 1 NE WOODBURY (WASHINGTON MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.6 IN JORDAN 1SW (SCOTT MN) 530 AM FEB 11 2.5 IN 3 ENE MONTGOMERY (RICE MN) 515 AM FEB 11 2.5 IN 1 SW RIVER FALLS (PIERCE WI) 730 AM FEB 11 2.5 IN 1 WNW PRESCOTT (PIERCE WI) 800 AM FEB 11 2.5 IN 3 ESE SAINT LOUIS PARK 700 AM FEB 11 2.5 IN MINNEAPOLIS (HENNEPIN MN) 600 AM FEB 11 2.3 IN MEASURED AT THE MSP AIRPORT. 2 NNW SPRINGFIELD (BROWN MN) 700 AM FEB 11 2.2 IN 1 ENE OWATONNA (STEELE MN) 630 AM FEB 11 2.1 IN RED WING DAM 3 (GOODHUE MN) 533 AM FEB 11 2.0 IN 1 W VESELI (RICE MN) 500 AM FEB 11 2.0 IN 1 ENE ELK MOUND (DUNN WI) 700 AM FEB 11 2.0 IN STANLEY (CHIPPEWA WI) 700 AM FEB 11 2.0 IN ROBERTS WWTP (ST. CROIX WI) 800 AM FEB 11 1.7 IN NEW ULM 3SE (NICOLLET MN) 630 AM FEB 11 1.6 IN BLOOMER (CHIPPEWA WI) 800 AM FEB 11 1.5 IN 4 W CORNELL (CHIPPEWA WI) 800 AM FEB 11 1.5 IN 1 NE FAIRMONT (MARTIN MN) 700 AM FEB 11 1.5 IN JIM FALLS 3NW (CHIPPEWA WI) 530 AM FEB 11 1.5 IN RED WING (GOODHUE MN) 800 AM FEB 11 1.4 IN EAU CLAIRE (EAU CLAIRE) 600 AM FEB 11 1.4 IN 4 E NERSTRAND (GOODHUE MN) 800 AM FEB 11 1.1 IN WELLS (FARIBAULT MN) 800 AM FEB 11 1.0 IN ALBERT LEA 3 SE (FREEBORN MN) 800 AM FEB 11 1.0 IN CHIPPEWA FALLS (CHIPPEWA WI) 800 AM FEB 11 1.0 IN BLUE EARTH 1S (FARIBAULT MN) 800 AM FEB 11 0.7 IN ELLENDALE (STEELE MN) 700 AM FEB 11 0.7 IN OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. NOT ALL DATA LISTED IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE THANKS ITS PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PARTNERS FOR PROVIDING US WITH THIS DATA. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN 910 AM CST MON FEB 11 2013 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 ------ ----------------------- -- -------------- ------- 12.00 KETTLE FALLS MN ST. LOUIS 0910 AM 10.50 SILVER BAY MN LAKE 0718 AM 9.60 2 SSW KABETOGAMA MN ST. LOUIS 0718 AM 9.50 CHISHOLM MN ST. LOUIS 1130 PM 7 INCHES AT 627 PM. 9.10 3 WNW GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0903 AM 8.60 4 S SAWYER MN CARLTON 0756 AM 8.60 NASHWAUK MN ITASCA 0646 AM 8.60 3 E ORR MN ST. LOUIS 0635 AM 8.60 CHISHOLM MN ST. LOUIS 0628 AM 8.60 3 E ORR MN ST. LOUIS 0553 AM 8.50 FORT RIPLEY MN CROW WING 0833 AM 8.50 3 SE FINLAND MN LAKE 0742 AM WOLF RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER 8.50 HIBBING MN ST. LOUIS 0551 AM 8.50 25 NW GRAND MARAIS MN COOK 0950 PM 8.50 25 NW GRAND MARAIS MN COOK 0950 PM 8.30 6 ESE BOULDER LAKE MN ST. LOUIS 0842 AM 8.10 KEEWATIN MN ITASCA 1026 PM 8.00 BEAVER BAY MN LAKE 0903 AM 8.00 TOGO MN ITASCA 0759 AM 7.70 WEST DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0943 PM 7.50 LUTSEN MN COOK 0738 AM 7.50 MOOSE LAKE MN CARLTON 0703 AM 7.00 1 SW TOFTE MN COOK 0836 AM 7.00 3 E WRIGHT MN CARLTON 0635 AM 7.00 BUTTERNUT WI ASHLAND 0628 AM 7.00 HOLYOKE MN CARLTON 0618 AM STORM TOTAL 6.90 2 S BRIMSON MN ST. LOUIS 0759 AM 6.80 4 NE ASKOV MN PINE 1030 PM 6.70 4 W WASHBURN WI BAYFIELD 0718 AM 6.70 HOLYOKE MN CARLTON 0930 PM 6.50 4 E CORNUCOPIA WI BAYFIELD 0835 AM 6.50 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0725 AM 6.50 2 W HIBBING MN ST. LOUIS 0706 AM 6.50 CORNUCOPIA WI BAYFIELD 0557 AM 6.40 INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN KOOCHICHING 0600 AM 6.20 5 NW DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0600 AM 6.00 5 S HERBSTER WI BAYFIELD 0833 AM 6.00 BAYFIELD WI BAYFIELD 0759 AM 6.00 CULVER MN ST. LOUIS 0628 AM 6.00 PARK FALLS WI PRICE 0557 AM 5.50 3 SE KERRICK MN PINE 0836 AM 5.50 ELY MN ST. LOUIS 0742 AM 5.50 EMBARRASS MN ST. LOUIS 0628 AM 5.30 ASHLAND WI ASHLAND 0742 AM 5.30 3 SW ASHLAND WI ASHLAND 0718 AM 5.30 3 W PHILLIPS WI PRICE 0646 AM 5.20 1 E LA POINTE WI ASHLAND 0646 AM 5.00 11 SSW SUPERIOR WI DOUGLAS 0903 AM PATTISON STATE PARK 5.00 4 W CLAM LAKE WI BURNETT 0759 AM 5.00 1 WSW SAXON WI IRON 0718 AM 5.00 SAXON WI IRON 0701 AM 5.00 POPLAR WI DOUGLAS 0628 AM 4.90 9 NW BAYFIELD WI BAYFIELD 0706 AM 4.00 GORDON WI DOUGLAS 0903 AM 4.00 HAWTHORNE WI DOUGLAS 0738 AM 4.00 5 NW HAYWARD WI WASHBURN 0628 AM 3.80 PORT WING WI BAYFIELD 0833 AM 3.50 8 S HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0833 AM 3.30 SARONA WI WASHBURN 0742 AM 2.00 3 E PAYNE MN ST. LOUIS 0549 AM STORM TOTAL OF 7.5 1.50 4 N EDGEWATER WI SAWYER 0742 AM Snow Totals From February 10, 2013 Storm THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE PREVIOUS 2 DAYS AS MEASURED BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...LOCAL EMERAGENCY MANAGERS AND MEDIA MEMBERS. A SWATH OF VERY HEAVY SNOW FELL FROM SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE HIGHEST TOTALS OF 21 INCHES WAS REPORTED IN ROTHSAY...WITH MANY TOTALS OF A FOOT OR MORE. 2-DAY SNOW TOTALS FOR MONDAY (02/11/13) AS OF 11:55 AM CST NORTH DAKOTA 2-DAY SNOW FALL LOCATION (COUNTY): AMT(IN) REPORTS FAIRMOUNT (RICHLAND).........................20.0 (2) LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND)........................15.5 (2) MCLEOD (RICHLAND)............................15.0 (2) CAYUGA (SARGENT).............................14.0 (2) FORMAN (SARGENT).............................13.0 (2) DURBIN (CASS)................................12.5 (2) ABERCROMBIE (RICHLAND).......................12.1 (2) LISBON 8SW (RANSOM)..........................11.0 (2) FARGO 1ESE (CASS).............................8.6 (2) HARWOOD (CASS)................................8.0 (1) WEST FARGO 4SSE (CASS)........................7.0 (2) VALLEY CITY 1E (BARNES).......................5.0 (1) BALDHILL DAM @ LK ASHTABULA (BARNES)..........5.0 (1) GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................4.9 (1) GRAND FORKS 1SW (GRAND FORKS).................4.0 (1) MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................3.5 (2) GILBY 2E (GRAND FORKS)........................3.0 (1) FARGO 3NE (CASS)..............................2.4 (1) LANKIN 9SW (WALSH)............................0.5 (1) LANKIN 6E (WALSH).............................0.2 (1) PEMBINA (PEMBINA).............................TRACE (1) EDMORE (RAMSEY)...............................TRACE (1) CAVALIER (PEMBINA)............................TRACE (1) MINNESOTA 2-DAY SNOW FALL LOCATION (COUNTY): AMT(IN) REPORTS ROTHSAY (WILKIN).............................21.0 (2) PELICAN RAPIDS 6E (OTTER TAIL)...............17.5 (2) ELBOW LAKE VILLAGE 8ENE (CLEARWATER).........17.0 (2) UNDERWOOD 8NNE (OTTER TAIL)..................17.0 (2) LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)..................17.0 (2) BECIDA (HUBBARD).............................17.0 (2) BEMIDJI 6SE (BELTRAMI).......................16.0 (2) ITASCA U OF M (CLEARWATER)...................16.0 (2) BRECKENRIDGE 3SE (WILKIN)....................15.7 (2) FERGUS FALLS 4E (OTTER TAIL).................14.5 (1) OTTERTAIL (OTTER TAIL).......................14.2 (1) PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)..................14.0 (2) BLACKDUCK (BELTRAMI).........................13.0 (1) BAGLEY (CLEARWATER)..........................12.0 (1) DEER CREEK 2WSW (OTTER TAIL).................11.7 (1) WADENA (WADENA)..............................11.5 (2) SABIN (CLAY).................................11.2 (2) NEW YORK MILLS (OTTER TAIL)..................11.0 (2) TWIN VALLEY (NORMAN)..........................9.8 (2) MOORHEAD (CLAY)...............................9.7 (2) WASKISK (BELTRAMI)............................8.0 (1) CLIMAX 3WNW (POLK)............................6.0 (1) GREENBUSH (ROSEAU)............................2.0 (1) ARGYLE (MARSHALL).............................2.0 (1) WARREN 7NW (MARSHALL).........................1.4 (1) RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................TRACE (1) LANCASTER (KITTSON)...........................TRACE (1)