Image credit: MN State Climatology Office
February 2019 got off to a fast start, and the snow accumulated quickly, and frequently across Minnesota. By the 12th of the month, five separate major snowfall events had visited the state, and totals were already between 15 and 25 inches in most areas. After a lull of sorts, the active pattern resumed with major snowstorms on the 20th, and 22nd through 24th.
Most of the snowstorms were moderate to heavy, producing wide swaths of 4-8, or perhaps 6-10 inches. A couple storms, however, outperformed the rest. The snowstorm of February 11th and 12th had totals over a foot in far southeastern Minnesota. Similarly the storm on the 22nd through 24th maxed out with over a foot from south-central through southeast Minnesota, as one of the fiercest blizzards in recent memory raged across much of the state.
The month ended up demolishing February snowfall records across the state, with monthly totals often exceeding the previous records by 50-100%. In some cases, the margins separating the new #1 from the former record-holders are the largest for any winter month. February 2019 also featured an unusual number of significant snowfall events. Many locations had four or five different calendar days with at least 4 inches of snow. A typical winter in the Twin Cities usually sees only 2-3 such events!
Below is a summary of snowfall records set at Minnesota's "first-order" weather stations. These stations are maintained professionally and use the highest-quality automated measuring equipment, in combination with human observation.
| Station Name | Snowfall Feb 2019 | Old Feb. Snowfall Record | Year | Feb 2019 Departure from Snowfall Record | Calendar days with at least 4" of snow (Feb 2019) | Largest 2-day Snowfall Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | 36.4" | 33.9" | 1939 | +2.5" | 4 | 10.7" |
| International Falls | 25.4" | 32.3" | 1992 | -6.9" | 2 | 7.4" |
| Rochester | 40.0" | 20.1" | 2007 | +19.9" | 5 | 12.1" |
| St. Cloud | 27.6" | 21.6" | 1971 | +6.0" | 3 | 7.4" |
| Twin Cities | 39.0" | 26.5" | 1962 | +12.5" | 5 | 9.1" |
This was also the snowiest February on record at 47 of Minnesota's older National Weather Service cooperative observing stations, from all corners of the state. Below is a list of all new records for all stations with at least 30 years of observing activity.
Station | Snowfall (inches) |
LAKE CITY | 49 |
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5 | 45.7 |
THEILMAN 1SSW | 45.5 |
WINONA DAM 5 A | 43.4 |
WABASHA | 41.6 |
OWATONNA | 40.6 |
RED WING | 40.5 |
Rochester Area | 40 |
ELGIN 2SSW | 39.7 |
VADNAIS LAKE | 39.5 |
HASTINGS DAM 2 | 39.2 |
Minneapolis-St Paul Area | 39 |
ZUMBROTA | 39 |
FARIBAULT | 38.4 |
MARSHALL | 37.9 |
NEW HOPE | 36.8 |
Duluth Area | 36.4 |
RED LAKE FALLS | 36.4 |
REDWOOD FALLS | 35.8 |
GRAND MEADOW | 35.2 |
TRACY | 35 |
WILD RIVER STATE PARK | 34.6 |
ROCKFORD | 34.1 |
BRICELYN | 33.3 |
LAKE WILSON | 32.7 |
SANTIAGO 3 E | 32.7 |
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY | 32.5 |
RED WING DAM 3 | 32.5 |
WINNEBAGO | 32.4 |
LAMBERTON SOUTHWEST RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER | 31.9 |
LA CRESCENT DAM 7 | 31 |
WASECA SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER | 30.8 |
MINNEOTA | 30.5 |
BEMIDJI | 29.1 |
ST. PETER | 28.3 |
LEECH LAKE | 28 |
Saint Cloud Area | 27.6 |
ARGYLE | 27.4 |
BRIMSON 2S | 27.4 |
CASS LAKE | 27.1 |
COLLEGEVILLE ST. JOHN'S | 27 |
ROSEMOUNT RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER | 27 |
WINDOM | 26.1 |
ADA | 25.9 |
MELROSE | 25.7 |
THORHULT | 22.7 |
CROOKSTON NW EXP STA | 21.8 |
DELANO | 21.4 |
GEORGETOWN 1 E | 21.3 |
BRAINERD | 20.3 |
Following are links to many of February 2019's accumulating snowfall events.
- Winter "Bomb" Cyclone, February 22-24, 2019
- Another heavy snow, February 20, 2019
- More snow (again), February 11-12, 2019
- More snow, February 10, 2019
- Blizzard, February 6-7, 2019
- Heavy snow southern MN, February 5, 2019
- Snow and Ice, February 3-4, 2019