Snow falling, as seen at Minnehaha Creek in Minneapolis on April 12, 2020.
Image courtesy of Minnesota State Climatology Office
On Easter Sunday, 2020, southern Minnesota bore the brunt of a heavy snowfall, making it the third year in a row with a mid-April winter storm in many areas.
A strong and complicated low pressure system moved into the Central Great Plains and towards the middle Mississippi River valley on Saturday April 11th and into Sunday April 12th.
Temperatures in the 50s and 60s across Minnesota on Saturday gave way to easterly, and eventually northerly winds on Sunday, as the storm system moved to the south of the state. Light rain overspread southern Minnesota on Saturday night, turning to snow as temperatures fell through the 30s on Sunday morning. Bands of moderate and heavy snow developed over the southeastern 1/3 of the state, with some areas reporting visibility under a quarter-mile at times.
Snowfall totals of 4-8 inches were common roughly south and east of a line from Marshall to the northern Twin Cities. Olmsted and Wabasha Counties saw the highest totals, with many reports of 7-9 inches, and a 10 inches reported by the National Weather Service cooperative observer at Elgin. Other official snowfall totals included 7.8 inches at Wabasha, 7.5 inches at Rochester, 6.6 inches at the Twin Cities International Airport, 6.4 inches in New Ulm, and 4 inches at Marshall.
This snow marked the third straight year with a mid-April winter storm in southern Minnesota. By nearly any metric, the events in 2018 and 2019 were more significant than this one, but those storms were exceptional. This storm, while not historic, was a bit unusual for this time of the year and this part of the state. Historically, a typical southern Minnesota location only sees a daily snowfall accumulation of at least four inches between the 10th and 20th of April about 5-10% of the time. This is the only time on record (back to the 1870s) that the Twin Cities area has observed such an event three years in a row.
The following reports from southeastern Minnesota were gathered and shared by the National Weather Service Forecast Offices in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Chanhassen, Minnesota.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
946 AM CDT MON APR 13 2020
..APRIL 12-13 SNOWFALL REPORTS
LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE LAT/LON
..MINNESOTA
..DODGE COUNTY
MANTORVILLE 9.0 IN 0640 PM 04/12 44.07N/92.76W
BERNE 9.0 IN 0508 PM 04/12 44.16N/92.78W
1 NE KASSON 8.6 IN 0600 PM 04/12 44.04N/92.75W
1 W MANTORVILLE 8.0 IN 0656 AM 04/13 44.07N/92.78W
MANTORVILLE 1.9 ESE 7.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 44.05N/92.72W
..FILLMORE COUNTY
CHATFIELD 9.0 ESE 2.8 IN 0800 AM 04/13 43.79N/92.03W
WYKOFF 3.1 NW 2.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 43.74N/92.31W
2 WSW FILLMORE 2.0 IN 0831 PM 04/12 43.74N/92.31W
MABEL 0.4 IN 0600 AM 04/13 43.52N/91.76W
..HOUSTON COUNTY
CALEDONIA 5.4 S 2.0 IN 0900 AM 04/13 43.56N/91.51W
LA CRESCENT 0.7 N 1.3 IN 0830 AM 04/13 43.84N/91.30W
1 NE MOUND PRAIRIE 1.3 IN 0950 PM 04/12 43.79N/91.43W
CALEDONIA 1.1 IN 0700 AM 04/13 43.63N/91.50W
..MOWER COUNTY
2 NE LANSING 6.0 IN 0815 AM 04/13 43.76N/92.95W
4 WSW AUSTIN 5.5 IN 0857 PM 04/12 43.64N/93.05W
AUSTIN 2.4 W 5.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 43.67N/93.02W
AUSTIN 5.0 IN 0513 PM 04/12 43.67N/92.97W
..OLMSTED COUNTY
ELGIN 2SSW 10.0 IN 0700 AM 04/13 44.10N/92.27W
1 SSW ORONOCO 9.7 IN 0554 PM 04/12 44.15N/92.54W
6 E DOUGLAS 9.3 IN 0622 PM 04/12 44.10N/92.46W
2 NW MARION 9.1 IN 0721 PM 04/12 43.97N/92.38W
EYOTA 9.0 IN 0730 PM 04/12 43.99N/92.23W
ROCHESTER 9.0 IN 0727 PM 04/12 44.02N/92.47W
4 SE DOUGLAS 9.0 IN 0320 PM 04/12 44.07N/92.52W
2 NE ROCHESTER 8.5 IN 0700 AM 04/13 44.04N/92.44W
ROCHESTER 4.7 N 8.3 IN 0800 AM 04/13 44.08N/92.48W
2 NNW ROCHESTER 8.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 44.05N/92.49W
4 ESE DOUGLAS 8.0 IN 0530 AM 04/13 44.08N/92.51W
3 NE ROCHESTER 8.0 IN 0830 PM 04/12 44.04N/92.44W
1 SSW ROCHESTER 8.0 IN 0746 PM 04/12 44.00N/92.48W
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRP 7.7 IN 0654 AM 04/13 43.90N/92.50W
3 NNW ROCHESTER 7.5 IN 0637 PM 04/12 44.06N/92.49W
BYRON 7.5 IN 0530 PM 04/12 44.03N/92.65W
3 WNW ROCHESTER 7.4 IN 0530 PM 04/12 44.03N/92.53W
DOUGLAS 7.0 IN 0546 PM 04/12 44.11N/92.58W
5 SW ELBA 6.5 IN 0730 PM 04/12 44.05N/92.09W
4 NNW ROCHESTER 6.5 IN 0526 PM 04/12 44.06N/92.51W
1 ESE ROCHESTER 6.3 IN 0530 PM 04/12 44.00N/92.45W
2 S PREDMORE 6.0 IN 0637 AM 04/13 43.90N/92.34W
2 SE ROCHESTER 6.0 IN 0508 PM 04/12 44.00N/92.44W
ELBA 4.7 SW 4.1 IN 0630 PM 04/12 44.04N/92.09W
1 S ROCHESTER 4.0 IN 0603 PM 04/12 44.00N/92.48W
..WABASHA COUNTY
ELGIN 10.8 IN 0746 PM 04/12 44.13N/92.25W
3 NW WABASHA 10.0 IN 1010 PM 04/12 44.40N/92.08W
WABASHA 10.0 IN 0615 PM 04/12 44.37N/92.05W
THEILMAN 1 SSW 9.6 IN 0730 AM 04/13 44.28N/92.19W
PLAINVIEW 8.9 IN 0730 PM 04/12 44.17N/92.17W
1 N WABASHA 8.5 IN 0934 PM 04/12 44.38N/92.04W
THEILMAN 8.0 IN 0656 PM 04/12 44.29N/92.19W
ZUMBRO FALLS 7.5 IN 0639 PM 04/12 44.28N/92.42W
1 NE WABASHA 6.5 IN 0746 PM 04/12 44.38N/92.03W
ZUMBRO FALLS 3.5 SSW 5.0 IN 0811 AM 04/13 44.24N/92.46W
..WINONA COUNTY
4.2 N ROLLINGSTONE 7.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 44.16N/91.81W
MINNESOTA CITY 6.7 IN 0841 PM 04/12 44.09N/91.75W
ELBA 6.5 IN 0457 PM 04/12 44.09N/92.02W
ALTURA 5W 5.0 IN 0700 AM 04/13 44.06N/92.04W
WINONA DAM 5A 4.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 44.09N/91.67W
MINNESOTA CITY 4.0 IN 0642 PM 04/12 44.09N/91.75W
UTICA 4.0 IN 0624 PM 04/12 43.98N/91.96W
3 S WINONA 2.0 IN 0645 PM 04/12 44.00N/91.66W
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1157 AM CDT MON APR 13 2020
..SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM SUNDAY SNOWSTORM
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEER COOP AND COCORAHS OBSERVERS AND PARTNERS FOR
THE SNOWFALL MEASUREMENTS.
LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE PROVIDER
..MINNESOTA
..ANOKA COUNTY
3 N BLAINE 4.1 IN 0417 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
LINO LAKES 2.5 W 4.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
ANDOVER 3.8 IN 0425 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
ANOKA 1SE 3.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
ANDOVER 1.9 W 3.1 IN 0700 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..BLUE EARTH COUNTY
MANKATO 7.0 IN 0700 PM 04/12 BROADCAST MEDIA
PEMBERTON 5.5 IN 0644 AM 04/13 PUBLIC
LAKE CRYSTAL 4.9 N 5.0 IN 0700 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..BROWN COUNTY
NEW ULM 6.4 IN 0300 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
..CARVER COUNTY
2 WSW VICTORIA 6.5 IN 0415 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
CHANHASSEN NWS 6.4 IN 0700 PM 04/12 OFFICIAL NWS OBS
VICTORIA 1WSW 6.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
EXCELSIOR 0.8 S 6.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
CARVER 1W 5.8 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
CHASKA 1.1 WSW 5.6 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
WACONIA 4.7 IN 0700 AM 04/13 UCOOP
WATERTOWN 0.5 NNW 4.0 IN 0600 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..DAKOTA COUNTY
2 NE LAKEVILLE 7.5 IN 0615 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
HASTINGS 1.6 NW 7.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
APPLE VALLEY 3ESE 7.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
FARMINGTON 7.0 IN 0700 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
LAKEVILLE 7.0 IN 0700 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
3 NNW LAKEVILLE 7.0 IN 0621 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
BURNSVILLE 7.0 IN 0500 PM 04/12 BROADCAST MEDIA
2 SSW APPLE VALLEY 7.0 IN 0445 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
EAGAN 7.0 IN 0415 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
1 N APPLE VALLEY 7.0 IN 0415 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
4 N APPLE VALLEY 6.5 IN 0400 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
LAKEVILLE 2.7 NNW 6.2 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
NORTHFIELD 1NNW 6.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS 6.0 IN 0600 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
2 N BURNSVILLE 6.0 IN 0445 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
RANDOLPH 6.0 IN 0400 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
EAGAN 6.0 IN 0350 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
BURNSVILLE 6.0 IN 0345 PM 04/12 BROADCAST MEDIA
APPLE VALLEY 3SSE 5.9 IN 0830 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
5 NNE MIESVILLE 5.8 IN 0600 PM 04/12 COCORAHS
HASTINGS 5.8 W 5.2 IN 0805 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
NORTHFIELD 2NE 5.1 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
6 SE HASTINGS 5.1 IN 0400 PM 04/12 COCORAHS
..FARIBAULT COUNTY
2 NNE BRICELYN 7.5 IN 0355 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
BLUE EARTH 0.6 ESE 7.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..FREEBORN COUNTY
ALBERT LEA 1WSW 7.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
ALBERT LEA 7.0 IN 0230 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
ALBERT LEA 3SE 5.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COOP
8 NE MYRTLE 5.0 IN 0300 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
..GOODHUE COUNTY
GOODHUE 0.2 S 7.3 IN 1057 PM 04/12 COCORAHS
PINE ISLAND 7.0 IN 0530 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
NERSTRAND 4E 6.9 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
DENNISON 2.0 NNE 6.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
ZUMBROTA 6.0 IN 0545 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
RED WING 6.0 IN 0515 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
CANNON FALLS 6.0 IN 0300 PM 04/12 COCORAHS
..HENNEPIN COUNTY
2 ESE EDEN PRAIRIE 7.0 IN 0800 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL AIRPORT 6.6 IN 0100 AM 04/13 OFFICIAL NWS OBS
2 NE RICHFIELD 6.5 IN 0830 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
EDINA 1SE 6.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
RICHFIELD 6.0 IN 0453 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
BLOOMINGTON 6.0 IN 0300 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
2 NE MINNEAPOLIS 5.8 IN 0900 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
3 ESE LONG LAKE 5.0 IN 0415 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
MINNEAPOLIS 4.7 SSW 4.7 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
1 N PLYMOUTH 4.2 IN 0715 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
LONG LAKE 4SW 4.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
LONG LAKE 0.2 WSW 4.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
1 SE MAPLE GROVE 3.8 IN 0300 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
MAPLE GROVE 1.2 NE 3.2 IN 0830 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
BROOKLYN CENTER 1E 3.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..LE SUEUR COUNTY
MONTGOMERY 3E 6.7 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
LE SUEUR 6.0 IN 0715 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
NEW PRAGUE 1.0 S 5.0 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..MARTIN COUNTY
FAIRMONT 7.2 IN 0825 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
FAIRMONT 0.7 E 6.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..NICOLLET COUNTY
ST. PETER 6.0 IN 0330 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
NEW ULM 3SE 5.9 IN 0529 AM 04/13 COOP
..RAMSEY COUNTY
NORTH ST. PAUL 1NNW 6.1 IN 0730 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
NORTH ST. PAUL 1WNW 5.9 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
1 NNW NORTH ST. PAUL 5.6 IN 0410 PM 04/12 COCORAHS
FALCON HEIGHTS 0.4 NNW 5.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
MENDOTA HGTS 2WNW 5.2 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
1 NNW ST. PAUL 5.0 IN 0600 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
ROSEVILLE 0.7 SSE 4.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..REDWOOD COUNTY
WALNUT GROVE 5.0 IN 0500 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
..RICE COUNTY
FARIBAULT 1.6 S 6.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
MONTGOMERY 3ENE 6.0 IN 0620 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
NORTHFIELD 6.0 IN 0425 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
NORTHFIELD 1.2 ESE 5.3 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..SCOTT COUNTY
PRIOR LAKE 1WSW 7.3 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
1 NE PRIOR LAKE 7.3 IN 0700 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
BELLE PLAINE 7.0 IN 0300 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
3 WNW SAVAGE 6.8 IN 0600 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
1 NE PRIOR LAKE 6.8 IN 0345 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
SAVAGE 6.5 IN 0545 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
JORDAN 1SSW 6.3 IN 0530 AM 04/13 COOP
SHAKOPEE 6.0 IN 0345 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
..SIBLEY COUNTY
6 N HENDERSON 7.0 IN 0530 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
..STEELE COUNTY
OWATONNA 0.8 E 8.7 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
OWATONNA 1.8 SSE 8.3 IN 0700 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
ELLENDALE 0.3 SW 5.6 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
..WASHINGTON COUNTY
WOODBURY 6.0 IN 0500 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
2 ENE WOODBURY 5.7 IN 0645 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
1 NE WOODBURY 5.5 IN 0530 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
HUGO 4.7 IN 0715 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
STILLWATER 4.2 NNE 4.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
WOODBURY 1.7 N 4.5 IN 0800 AM 04/13 COCORAHS
OAKDALE 4.5 IN 0330 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
FOREST LAKE 3.5 IN 0400 PM 04/12 PUBLIC
..WRIGHT COUNTY
ROCKFORD 3.3 IN 0700 AM 04/13 COOP
2 NE MONTROSE 3.3 IN 0400 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
1 SW DELANO 3.0 IN 0130 PM 04/12 TRAINED SPOTTER
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Modified April 14, 2020