First Measurable Snow: October 28, 2015

Snow coats ground in North Branch
Courtesy: Patrice Ramaley

 

A sharp cold front marched across the state on October 28th, bringing the first measurable snowfall of the season to some locations. The high temperature of 47 degrees in Minneapolis, was recorded in the very early morning. By noon, temperatures were in the upper 30s and falling. Rain changed to a rain/snow mix around 6 p.m. across the metro, and continued to fall into the evening. The rain/snow mix changed to all snow after 8 p.m. at MSP airport and fell lightly for the next several hours. Officially, a trace of snow was recorded at the airport.

Warm surface temperatures prevented many areas from receiving any accumulating snow, although a coating on surfaces was observed just north of the immediate Twin Cities. The hot spot for snowfall totals was in central Minnesota, not far from Brainerd, where 2.2 inches fell, with neighboring communities reporting close to the same. Both the St. Cloud Regional Airport and the Rochester International Airport reported 0.2 inches of the white stuff.

Below is a list of snowfall reports gathered by the National Weather Service in Duluth.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1244 AM CDT SAT OCT 31 2015

...OCTOBER 28-29 SNOWFALL TOTALS...

LOCATION                 AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 SE PHILLIPS            2.3 IN    0700 AM 10/29   AMATEUR RADIO
7 NW BRAINERD            2.2 IN    0700 AM 10/29   UCOOP
CASS LAKE                0.5 IN    0800 AM 10/29   COOP
SARONA                   0.3 IN    0800 AM 10/29   UCOOP
1 N MOTLEY               0.3 IN    0753 PM 10/28   TRAINED SPOTTER
9 SE WEBSTER             0.2 IN    0800 AM 10/29   COOP
3 NE BRAINERD             T  IN    0548 AM 10/29   UCOOP
12 E BRAINERD             T  IN    0730 AM 10/29   COCORAHS
DULUTH NWS                T  IN    0700 AM 10/29   OFFICIAL NWS OBS
EMBARRASS                 T  IN    0600 AM 10/29   COOP
10 NW GUNFLINT LAKE       T  IN    0700 AM 10/29   COOP
12 N ISLE                 T  IN    0800 AM 10/29   COOP
3 NE NISSWA               T  IN    0700 AM 10/29   UCOOP
3 E ORR                   T  IN    0600 AM 10/29   COOP
PARK FALLS                T  IN    0800 AM 10/29   COOP
3 WSW SWAN RIVER          T  IN    0800 AM 10/29   UCOOP
WINTER                    T  IN    0900 AM 10/29   COOP
3 E WRIGHT                T  IN    0600 AM 10/29   COOP

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