A long duration snowstorm came in waves from December 23rd to December 26th. The first wave of moisture moved across the state late on December 23rd and into the morning of the 24th and dropped anywhere from 3 to 9 inches of heavy snow. The most snow reported from the first wave was 9.4 inches at Chaska. By the afternoon of December 24th, the main storm was forming over southeast Oklahoma, with a large precipitation shield extending northward from the low pressure area. Christmas Eve featured windswept snow across much of Minnesota. On Christmas Day, the heavy snow shifted to the west over western Minnesota and the Dakotas, leaving the Twin Cities with a slushy mess as temperatures rose above freezing. By December 26, the storm had weakened, but left a wide band of snow that continued over western Minnesota and over the Arrowhead.
The Twin Cities International Airport received 9.4 inches from this storm from the evening of December 23rd to December 26. The 5.2 inches reported on December 24th, is the largest Christmas Eve Day snowfall on record for the Twin Cities.
The heaviest snow from this storm in Minnesota wound up in two places, along the North Shore and in the Red River Valley. Duluth saw its 5th greatest 3-day snowfall on record with 24.5 inches. Duluth also saw the most snow on record for Christmas Eve (11 inches) and Christmas Day (12.4 inches). Totals in the Red River Valley ranges from 17 inches at Fargo, to 25.1 inches at Grand Forks.
This storm was a full-fledged blizzard in Duluth and the Red River Valley. The persistent strong easterly wind caused waves up to 10 feet along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
Below are Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1234 PM CST SAT DEC 26 2009
THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SNOW AMOUNTS FROM DECEMBER 24TH THROUGH 26TH.
THESE AMOUNTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH
LOCATION. THE REPORTS ARE FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SNOW
SPOTTERS AND COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORTS.
SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
26.00 25 NNE DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 1022 AM
PEQUAYWAN LAKE
24.40 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 1150 AM
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE...MAX WIND
GUST 53 MPH ON 12/25
24.00 5 NW TWO HARBORS MN LAKE 0847 AM
19.50 CLOQUET MN CARLTON 1100 AM
14.50 4 S BRUNO MN PINE 0800 AM
14.50 ASHLAND WI ASHLAND 0710 AM
14.00 SILVER BAY MN LAKE 0830 AM
14.00 INTERNATIONAL FALLS MN KOOCHICHING 0600 AM
13.00 5 N PILLAGER MN CASS 0905 AM
12.60 ENE FINLAND MN LAKE 0945 AM
WOLF RIDGE ELC
12.40 KABETOGAMA MN ST. LOUIS 0650 AM
12.30 MAPLE WI DOUGLAS 0825 AM
12.00 5 NW GRAND MARAIS MN COOK 1151 AM
6 INCHES FELL OVERNIGHT THROUGH CURRENT
TIME...SNOWING MODERATELY NOW
10.80 SARONA WI WASHBURN 0612 AM
10.50 BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0800 AM
10.30 HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0745 AM
10.00 3 SW LITTLEFORK MN KOOCHICHING 1000 AM
9.30 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0850 AM
9.30 GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0640 AM
9.30 3 E ORR MN ST. LOUIS 1220 PM
9.00 14 W ISABELLA MN LAKE 0907 AM
9.00 GRAND PORTAGE MN COOK 0700 AM
9.00 NORTHOME MN KOOCHICHING 0700 AM
8.50 3 NE NISSWA MN CROW WING 0815 AM
7.50 FORT RIPLEY MN CROW WING 1000 AM
7.20 7 S BIGFORK MN ITASCA 0830 AM
7.00 GILE WI IRON 1000 AM
6.30 WINTER WI SAWYER 0900 AM
5.50 20 NNW GRAND MARAIS MN COOK 0850 AM
ROCKWOOD LODGE...MID GUNFLINT TRAIL
4.00 5 N VIRGINIA MN ST. LOUIS 1020 AM
2.00 ELY MN ST. LOUIS 0845 AM
2.00 EMBARRASS MN ST. LOUIS 0608 AM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
319 PM CST SUN DEC 27 2009
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1129 PM SNOW FARIBAULT 44.30N 93.27W
12/25/2009 M12.3 INCH RICE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
1230 AM SNOW CHANHASSEN 44.86N 93.56W
12/26/2009 M11.3 INCH CARVER MN NWS EMPLOYEE
MEASURED AT THE NWS OFFICE.
1230 AM SNOW MINNEAPOLIS 44.96N 93.27W
12/26/2009 M9.2 INCH HENNEPIN MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT THE MINNEAPOLIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
1230 AM SNOW ST CLOUD 45.55N 94.17W
12/26/2009 M10.0 INCH STEARNS MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
MEASURED AT THE MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON.
0700 AM SNOW 2 NW CHASKA 44.84N 93.63W
12/26/2009 M17.0 INCH CARVER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0716 AM SNOW WACONIA 44.85N 93.79W
12/26/2009 M13.7 INCH CARVER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0716 AM SNOW LITTLE FALLS 45.98N 94.36W
12/26/2009 M11.0 INCH MORRISON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0716 AM SNOW CHANHASSEN 44.86N 93.56W
12/26/2009 M11.5 INCH CARVER MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0725 AM SNOW ST CLOUD 45.55N 94.17W
12/26/2009 M10.4 INCH STEARNS MN OFFICIAL NWS OBS
READING TAKEN AT MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON.
0802 AM SNOW OLIVIA 44.78N 95.00W
12/26/2009 M15.0 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
THREE INCHES OCCURRED DURING THE PAST TWENTY FOUR HOURS.
0802 AM SNOW ANDOVER 45.26N 93.33W
12/26/2009 M12.5 INCH ANOKA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ONE AND ONE HALF INCHES IS 24 HOUR TOTAL.
0825 AM SNOW 2 W PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.47W
12/26/2009 M14.7 INCH SCOTT MN NWS EMPLOYEE
0827 AM SNOW ST JOSEPH 45.57N 94.32W
12/26/2009 M11.0 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW 7 S HILLMAN 45.91N 93.89W
12/26/2009 M10.6 INCH MORRISON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW CONNORSVILLE 45.14N 92.09W
12/26/2009 M7.5 INCH DUNN WI TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW CARLOS 45.97N 95.29W
12/26/2009 M10.0 INCH DOUGLAS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW BROWNTON 44.73N 94.35W
12/26/2009 M15.0 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW ROCKFORD 45.09N 93.74W
12/26/2009 M12.0 INCH HENNEPIN MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0827 AM SNOW ROCKFORD 45.09N 93.74W
12/26/2009 M12.0 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0827 AM SNOW CONNORSVILLE 45.14N 92.09W
12/26/2009 M7.5 INCH DUNN WI CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL
0834 AM SNOW MORGAN 44.42N 94.92W
12/26/2009 M16.0 INCH REDWOOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0836 AM SNOW PRIOR LAKE 44.73N 93.43W
12/26/2009 M14.0 INCH SCOTT MN NWS EMPLOYEE
1 INCH OF SNOW OVERNIGHT. STORM TOTAL 14.0
0905 AM SNOW NORTH BRANCH 45.51N 92.98W
12/26/2009 M8.5 INCH CHISAGO MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0905 AM SNOW WATERTOWN 44.96N 93.85W
12/26/2009 M14.2 INCH CARVER MN NWS EMPLOYEE
STORM TOTAL
1030 AM SNOW RICHFIELD 44.88N 93.28W
12/26/2009 M11.1 INCH HENNEPIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
1040 AM SNOW WATERVILLE 44.22N 93.57W
12/26/2009 M21.0 INCH LE SUEUR MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
1055 AM SNOW LAKEVILLE 44.68N 93.24W
12/26/2009 M12.2 INCH DAKOTA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
1055 AM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/26/2009 M12.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
1056 AM SNOW DONNELLY 45.69N 96.01W
12/26/2009 M11.9 INCH STEVENS MN CO-OP OBSERVER
STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
1135 AM SNOW SACRED HEART 44.78N 95.35W
12/26/2009 M14.5 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
1135 AM SNOW WINTHROP 44.54N 94.36W
12/26/2009 M14.0 INCH SIBLEY MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0625 PM SNOW WATERTOWN 44.96N 93.85W
12/26/2009 M14.7 INCH CARVER MN NWS EMPLOYEE
0625 PM SNOW 7 NNW OGILVIE 45.92N 93.48W
12/26/2009 M8.2 INCH KANABEC MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0650 PM SNOW SSW WELCOME 43.66N 94.62W
12/26/2009 M17.0 INCH MARTIN MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL THUS FAR
0700 PM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/26/2009 M13.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL THUS FAR
1044 PM SNOW MANKATO 44.17N 93.99W
12/26/2009 M14.0 INCH BLUE EARTH MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL NOW 14
0748 AM SNOW OLIVIA 44.78N 95.00W
12/27/2009 M18.0 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
3 INCHES OVERNIGHT...BRINGING SNOWFALL TOTAL SINCE
WEDNESDAY TO 18 INCHES.
0816 AM SNOW MURDOCK 45.22N 95.39W
12/27/2009 M10.8 INCH SWIFT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0833 AM SNOW RUSH CITY 45.68N 92.97W
12/27/2009 M11.4 INCH CHISAGO MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0833 AM SNOW LESTER PRAIRIE 44.88N 94.04W
12/27/2009 M16.0 INCH MCLEOD MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0918 AM SNOW ST JOSEPH 45.57N 94.32W
12/27/2009 M12.5 INCH STEARNS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0954 AM SNOW ANNANDALE 45.26N 94.12W
12/27/2009 M15.0 INCH WRIGHT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
STORM TOTAL
0958 AM SNOW BRUCE 45.46N 91.27W
12/27/2009 M12.0 INCH RUSK WI TRAINED SPOTTER
SNOW TOTAL
1035 AM SNOW SACRED HEART 44.78N 95.35W
12/27/2009 M17.0 INCH RENVILLE MN TRAINED SPOTTER