Courtesy: La Crosse National Weather Service
The February 2-3, 2016 snowstorm was the fifth-largest February snowfall on record in the Twin Cities. The Minneapolis- Saint Paul International Airport reported 9.4 inches of snow.
A long-forecasted snowstorm arrived and dumped up to a foot of snow across southern and east central Minnesota on February 2-3, 2016. The storm began over southern California at the end of January, moved to Arizona by February 1, and was situated over Kansas by Groundhog Day. A large area of moderate to heavy snow marched northward through southern Minnesota during the morning hours of February 2, reaching the Twin Cities by lunchtime. By the evening rush hour, four to six inches were on the ground in the Twin Cities, and the snow was falling at a rate of about an inch per hour. The highest two-day storm total reported was 13.5 inches in Bloomington in Hennepin County. Many places in the Twin Cities metro area saw eight to twelve inches of snow, with amounts lighter north of the Twin Cities. St. Cloud only saw 2.2 inches.
Courtesy: Lucas Graunke
Winter storm warnings were in effect on February 2 to the early hours of February 3, with Blizzard warnings across south central and southwest Minnesota. Roads were closed for a time in southwest Minnesota, including I-90 west of Albert Lea. Afternoon and evening activities were canceled for many schools on February 2, but most schools were in session across the Twin Cities on February 3.
Traffic was impacted for the evening rush hour on February 2, with many minor crashes and spin-outs reported across central and southern Minnesota. Flights were delayed at the Minneapolis- Saint Paul International Airport. The snow was light and fluffy, and for the most part was easy to move. Bright sunshine followed the snow by mid-morning February 3, displaying a winter wonderland.
The 9.4 inches measured at the Minneapolis- Saint Paul International Airport was the fifth-largest February snowstorm total on record for the Twin Cities. The largest snowstorm total on record for the Twin Cities during February was 13.8 inches on February 20-21, 2011.
National Weather Service Storm Summaries
Below is a list of snowfall reports gathered by the National Weather Service
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1235 PM CST WED FEB 3 2016 ...SNOWFALL REPORTS PAST 24 HOURS... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE 2 W BLOOMINGTON 13.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 NEW HOPE 1.9 S 13.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 2 NNW GOLDEN VALLEY 13.2 IN 0800 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS 2.8 SSE 13.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 4 S CLEAR LAKE 13.0 IN 0842 AM 02/03 OAK PARK HEIGHTS 2.4 W 12.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS 3.0 NNW 12.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BURNSVILLE 3.0 NE 12.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS 3.8 SSW 12.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 3 NE BURNSVILLE 12.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LAKEVILLE 2 NNE 12.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 3 S COLUMBIA HEIGHTS 11.5 IN 0800 AM 02/03 KOHLMAN PARK 11.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MAPLEWOOD 11.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ROSEMOUNT 3.3 WNW 11.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 5 N VICTORIA 11.4 IN 0800 AM 02/03 2 NW NORTH SAINT PAUL 10.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LONG LAKE 10.6 IN 0700 AM 02/03 2 SSE EDINA 10.6 IN 0813 AM 02/03 EDINA 2 ENE 10.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 INVER GROVE HEIGHTS 1.3 ENE 10.5 IN 0730 AM 02/03 ELKO NEW MARKET 4.8 WNW 10.5 IN 0730 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS 3 SE 10.4 IN 0800 AM 02/03 CHANHASSEN WFO 10.4 IN 1200 PM 02/03 UNIV OF MINN ST PAUL 10.3 IN 0800 AM 02/03 1 W NEW BRIGHTON 10.3 IN 0753 AM 02/03 2 E MINNEAPOLIS 10.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 7 S FAIRMONT 10.2 IN 0800 AM 02/03 FAIRMONT 6.7 S 10.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MINNETRISTA 1.5 SSE 10.1 IN 0700 AM 02/03 FARMINGTON 10.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 PLYMOUTH 2.4 ENE 10.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 VICTORIA 2 ENE 10.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 LE CENTER 5 NNW 10.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 ELLSWORTH 3.6 E 10.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ROSEMOUNT 4.5 WSW 10.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WOODBURY 1.7 N 10.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 GAYLORD 9.9 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ROBBINSDALE 9.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ST PAUL 1 ENE 9.8 IN 0800 AM 02/03 1 NW RIVER FALLS 9.6 IN 0700 AM 02/03 RICE LAKE 9.6 IN 0800 AM 02/03 1 NNE STILLWATER 9.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MAPLE LAKE 9.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS 3.3 SW 9.5 IN 1100 AM 02/03 STILLWATER 1.4 NE 9.5 IN 0709 AM 02/03 OSSEO 1 W 9.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL AIRPORT 9.4 IN 1200 PM 02/03 EDINA 1.3 SW 9.3 IN 0858 AM 02/03 2 WNW LAKELAND 9.2 IN 0830 AM 02/03 ROBERTS 9.2 IN 0800 AM 02/03 MENDOTA HEIGHTS 2 WNW 9.0 IN 0830 AM 02/03 5 SSE OSCEOLA 9.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BROOKLYN CENTER 1 E 8.9 IN 0700 AM 02/03 EDEN PRAIRIE 3.1 ESE 8.8 IN 0822 AM 02/03 CUMBERLAND 8.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 WNW EAGLE LAKE 8.5 IN 0733 AM 02/03 LAKEVILLE 3.8 ENE 8.5 IN 0650 AM 02/03 MANKATO 4 E 8.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 WNW VESELI 8.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 S BARRON 8.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 OSCEOLA 2.4 ENE 8.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 NE BLAINE 8.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 BOYCEVILLE 3.3 N 7.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BALDWIN 7.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WATERTOWN 7.3 IN 0800 AM 02/03 STACY 7.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ELLENDALE 0.3 SW 7.1 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ELLENDALE 7.1 IN 0813 AM 02/03 WINNEBAGO 7.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 5 SSE BALSAM LAKE 7.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 SSW EAU CLAIRE 7.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 LADYSMITH 2.8 WNW 7.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 RIVER FALLS 1.2 SSW 7.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 CORNELL 4.1 W 7.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 AMERY 6.5 NNW 7.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 AMBOY 7.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 GLENCOE 3.2 NNW 7.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WINNEBAGO 7.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 FOREST LAKE 5 NE 6.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 S CENTER CITY 6.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 2 SSW CHISAGO CITY 6.8 IN 0650 AM 02/03 3 NE NORTHFIELD 6.6 IN 0700 AM 02/03 SILVER LAKE 1 NNW 6.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WASECA (U OF M EXP FARM) 6.5 IN 0800 AM 02/03 CEDAR FALLS HYDRO PLANT 6.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 SSW LONSDALE 6.5 IN 0738 AM 02/03 REDWOOD FALLS 6.3 IN 0727 AM 02/03 NERSTRAND 4.2 E 6.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MAPLE GROVE 1.0 NNE 6.2 IN 1030 AM 02/03 EDEN PRAIRIE 3.3 WSW 6.1 IN 0800 AM 02/03 HOLCOMBE 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WELLS 6.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 LADYSMITH WTP 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ANOKA 1 SE 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WELLS 6.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 CHETEK 2.0 SE 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BLOOMER 6.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 XCEL ENERGY HYDRO ELECTRICE 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ALBERT LEA 3 SE 6.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 ROSEMOUNT (AGR EXP STA) 6.0 IN 0930 AM 02/03 2 SE CHETEK 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BLOOMER 6.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 ELK RIVER 6.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 ESE MILROY 5.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LESTER PRAIRIE 2S 5.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ELK MOUND 5.5 IN 0730 AM 02/03 CHIPPEWA FALLS 5.1 IN 0800 AM 02/03 STOCKHOLM 3.0 NE 5.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 DURAND 5.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 BIG FALLS HYDRO 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 OWATONNA 5.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 2 W BLAINE 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 GLENCOE 0.3 WSW 5.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 COMFREY 6.5 ENE 5.0 IN 0710 AM 02/03 1 NE OWATONNA 5.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BLUE EARTH 1 S 4.9 IN 0800 AM 02/03 AUGUSTA RS 4.8 IN 0800 AM 02/03 CAMERON 2.4 SE 4.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LAKE CITY 1.2 NNW 4.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 STANLEY 0.4 NNE 4.5 IN 0900 AM 02/03 BIRD ISLAND 7.2 SSE 4.4 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BRAHAM 0.7 ENE 4.1 IN 0730 AM 02/03 3 SE ORROCK 4.1 IN 0736 AM 02/03 ZUMBROTA 4.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LUCAN 4.0 IN 0718 AM 02/03 ZUMBROTA 4.0 IN 0651 AM 02/03 LUCAN 4.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 VESTA 4.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 RUSH CITY 3.9 IN 0700 AM 02/03 DRESSER 6.1 ESE 3.8 IN 0800 AM 02/03 ORROCK 4 SE 3.6 IN 0700 AM 02/03 COSMOS 3.2 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ST FRANCIS 4 E 3.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 DASSEL 3.4 SE 3.0 IN 0710 AM 02/03 RED WING NNW 2 3.0 IN 0650 AM 02/03 3 SE DASSEL 3.0 IN 0812 AM 02/03 MONTEVIDEO 0.4 SSW 2.7 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MORA 2.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MORA 2.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 BECKER 2 NNW 2.2 IN 0800 AM 02/03 LITCHFIELD 2.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 ZIMMERMAN 0.6 S 2.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 MADISON 1.8 IN 0800 AM 02/03 RICE 1.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 RICE 1.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 WILLMAR 5.9 NNE 1.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ONAMIA (RANGER STATION) 1.5 IN 0800 AM 02/03 5 SE LAKE LILLIAN 1.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MELROSE 1.5 IN 0700 AM 02/03 MONTEVIDEO 1SW 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 DAWSON 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 ONAMIA 4.3 NW 1.0 IN 0800 AM 02/03 MONTEVIDEO 1SW 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 1 WNW MORRIS 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 3 WNW RICE 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 CARLOS 3SW 1.0 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LITTLE FALLS 1.2 SW 0.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 LONG PRAIRIE 1.6 WSW 0.8 IN 0700 AM 02/03 KENSINGTON 5.9 NE 0.8 IN 0800 AM 02/03 HEWITT 1.1 N 0.5 IN 0800 AM 02/03 MORRIS (U OF M EXP FARM) 0.4 IN 0800 AM 02/03 OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.