Blizzard: March 31-April 1, 2009

An early spring winter storm dumped very heavy snow over a large part of west central to northeast Minnesota. Snowfall totals of 10 inches to over a foot were common 50 miles either side of a line from Breckenridge in Wilkin County to Bemidji in Beltrami County, then eastward to Grand Portage in Cook County.

The snow began with a low pressure area centered in Nebraska on Monday, March 30. A band of heavy snow marched northward across Minnesota and was over central Minnesota by late morning. The snow that fell in the Twin Cities coated grassy surfaces, but then melted as temperatures remained above freezing. Roads were mostly just wet in the Twin Cities on March 31. It was a different story in the over central and northern Minnesota with blizzard warnings posted for a small part of west central Minnesota along the South Dakota border, and winter storm warnings covering much of the rest of the north half of the state. In North Dakota, I-29 was closed from Grand Forks to the South Dakota border on March 31 due to the blizzard. No travel was advised for a portion of I-94 in West central Minnesota on March 31.

By late morning on April 1, the center of the low was over Hibbing. Light snow continued to wrap around the system and coated the ground in the Twin Cities.

The highest two-day snowfall total was 27 inches at Campbell in Wilkin County, nearby Breckenridge saw 24 inches of snow. Grand Portage in Cook County had 18 inches. International Falls saw 9.1 inches of snow on March 31 and April 1, enough to push the seasonal total to 124.2 inches which breaks the old record of 116 inches from the winter of 1995-96.

Listed below are local storm reports from the National Weather Service regarding the winter storm and blizzard of March 31-April 1.



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
452 PM CDT WED APR 1 2009


HEAVY SNOW REPORTS

LOCATION                  SNOW FALL     TIME/DATE
                           (INCHES)   OF OBSERVATION    LAT    LON
MINNESOTA

...BECKER COUNTY...
  DETROIT LAKES               11.0 E   638 PM 03/31   46.81N  95.84W
  FRAZEE                      18.0 E   432 PM 04/01   46.73N  95.70W

...CLAY COUNTY...
  SABIN                       10.3 M   600 AM 04/01   46.78N  96.65W

...OTTER TAIL COUNTY...
  4 N NEW YORK MILLS          12.0 E   700 PM 03/31   46.58N  95.37W
  NEW YORK MILLS              12.0 M   700 AM 04/01   46.52N  95.37W
  PELICAN RAPIDS              15.0 E   938 PM 03/31   46.57N  96.09W
  PELICAN RAPIDS              16.0 M   700 AM 04/01   46.57N  96.09W
  PHELPS                      16.0 M  1100 AM 04/01   46.38N  95.82W

...WADENA COUNTY...
  WADENA                      14.0 E   726 PM 03/31   46.44N  95.13W

...WILKIN COUNTY...
  ROTHSAY                     19.0 M   700 AM 04/01   46.47N  96.29W
  CAMPBELL                    27.0 M   700 AM 04/01   46.10N  96.41W

LOCATION                  SNOW FALL     TIME/DATE
                           (INCHES)   OF OBSERVATION    LAT    LON
NORTH DAKOTA

...SARGENT COUNTY...
  HAVANA                      14.0 M   700 AM 04/01   45.95N  97.62W

SNOW REPORTS

LOCATION                  SNOW FALL     TIME/DATE
                           (INCHES)   OF OBSERVATION    LAT    LON
MINNESOTA

...HUBBARD COUNTY...
  12 N PARK RAPIDS            12.0 E   445 PM 03/31   47.09N  95.06W

...ROSEAU COUNTY...
  WARROAD                      2.7 M  1200 AM 04/01   48.91N  95.32W

LOCATION                  SNOW FALL     TIME/DATE
                           (INCHES)   OF OBSERVATION    LAT    LON
NORTH DAKOTA

...CASS COUNTY...
  FARGO                       10.3 M   700 PM 03/31   46.88N  96.82W

...RAMSEY COUNTY...
  STARKWEATHER                 2.0 E   700 PM 03/31   48.45N  98.88W

...WALSH COUNTY...
  LANKIN                       5.0 M   700 AM 04/01   48.31N  97.92W


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
830 AM CDT THU APR 02 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0812 AM     SNOW             GRAND PORTAGE           47.96N 89.68W
04/02/2009  M18.0 INCH       COOK               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            ADDITIONAL 2.0 INCHES WEDNESDAY. STORM TOTAL 18 INCHES

0814 AM     SNOW             8 N BAYFIELD            46.93N 90.82W
04/02/2009  M5.5 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL FROM MARCH 31 TO APRIL 1

0816 AM     SNOW             EMBARRASS               47.66N 92.20W
04/02/2009  M7.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            ADDITIONAL 1.5 ON APRIL 1ST. STORM TOTAL 7.0

0818 AM     SNOW             BIG SANDY LAKE          46.76N 93.29W
04/02/2009  M7.0 INCH        AITKIN             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             3 E ORR                 48.06N 92.76W
04/02/2009  M7.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             NORTHOME                47.87N 94.27W
04/02/2009  M7.1 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             5 NW WASHBURN           46.72N 90.97W
04/02/2009  M3.9 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             INTERNATIONAL FALLS     48.59N 93.41W
04/02/2009  M9.1 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             KABETOGAMA              48.44N 93.03W
04/02/2009  M7.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            ADDITIONAL 1.0 INCH APRIL 1ST. STORM TOTAL 7.3

0818 AM     SNOW             BABBITT                 47.65N 91.94W
04/02/2009  M10.5 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   COAST GUARD

            STORM TOTAL

0818 AM     SNOW             COOK                    47.85N 92.69W
04/02/2009  M8.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            ADDITIONAL 2.0 INCHES YESTERDAY. STORM TOTAL 8.0




PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1040 AM CDT WED APR 01 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 AM     SNOW             CLAYTON                 45.32N 92.17W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            24-HOUR SNOWFALL

0930 AM     SNOW             STAPLES                 46.36N 94.80W
04/01/2009  E9.0 INCH        TODD               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0920 AM     SNOW             ALBERT LEA              43.66N 93.37W
04/01/2009  M0.5 INCH        FREEBORN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0904 AM     SNOW             NORTH ST PAUL           45.01N 93.00W
04/01/2009  M2.3 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0837 AM     SNOW             WINSTED                 44.97N 94.05W
04/01/2009  M2.8 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0701 AM     SNOW             PRIOR LAKE              44.73N 93.43W
04/01/2009  M1.2 INCH        SCOTT              MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0700 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
04/01/2009  M8.9 INCH        STEARNS            MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL

0700 AM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
04/01/2009  M0.8 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AT THE MINNEAPOLS/ST PAUL AIRPORT

0700 AM     SNOW             ST JOSEPH               45.57N 94.32W
04/01/2009  M9.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0700 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
04/01/2009  M2.3 INCH        CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL

0622 AM     SNOW             LITTLE FALLS            45.98N 94.36W
04/01/2009  M11.5 INCH       MORRISON           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            11.5 WAS STORM TOTAL. WATER EQUIVALENT .84

0622 AM     SNOW             7 S HILLMAN             45.91N 93.89W
04/01/2009  M7.3 INCH        MORRISON           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOW.

0622 AM     SNOW             KIMBALL                 45.31N 94.30W
04/01/2009  M7.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            7 INCHES STORM TOTAL WITH 2 INCHES OVERNIGHT

0622 AM     SNOW             CARLOS                  45.97N 95.29W
04/01/2009  M12.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            12 INCHES WAS STORM TOTAL WITH 2 INCHES OVERNIGHT. WATER
            EQUIVALENT 1.15

0600 AM     SNOW             MELROSE                 45.68N 94.81W
04/01/2009  M7.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             MILACA                  45.76N 93.65W
04/01/2009  M4.5 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             MORA                    45.88N 93.29W
04/01/2009  M3.0 INCH        KANABEC            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             MORRIS                  45.59N 95.91W
04/01/2009  M7.0 INCH        STEVENS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             RICE                    45.75N 94.23W
04/01/2009  M7.0 INCH        BENTON             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0600 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
04/01/2009  M6.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             SHERBURN                43.65N 94.73W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        MARTIN             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
04/01/2009  M1.8 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W
04/01/2009  M4.0 INCH        KANDIYOHI          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             ZUMBROTA                44.29N 92.67W
04/01/2009  M0.5 INCH        GOODHUE            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             STANLEY                 44.96N 90.94W
04/01/2009  M0.6 INCH        CHIPPEWA           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             GOLDEN VALLEY           44.99N 93.36W
04/01/2009  M1.7 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             BALDWIN                 44.96N 92.37W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        ST. CROIX          WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             HAMPTON                 44.61N 93.00W
04/01/2009  M0.9 INCH        DAKOTA             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
04/01/2009  M3.4 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             ONAMIA                  46.07N 93.67W
04/01/2009  M4.6 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             ANDOVER                 45.26N 93.33W
04/01/2009  M0.5 INCH        ANOKA              MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             BOYD                    44.85N 95.90W
04/01/2009  M1.3 INCH        LAC QUI PARLE      MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             BROWNTON                44.73N 94.35W
04/01/2009  M2.0 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
04/01/2009  M2.3 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
04/01/2009  M2.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             ELK RIVER               45.33N 93.57W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        SHERBURNE          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             COLD SPRING             45.46N 94.43W
04/01/2009  M7.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             FARIBAULT               44.30N 93.27W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        RICE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             FOREST LAKE             45.28N 92.99W
04/01/2009  M1.5 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W
04/01/2009  M1.8 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             LAKE ELMO               45.00N 92.91W
04/01/2009  M1.0 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             LESTER PRAIRIE          44.88N 94.04W
04/01/2009  M2.0 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             LONG PRAIRIE            45.98N 94.86W
04/01/2009  M6.7 INCH        TODD               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             LONSDALE                44.48N 93.43W
04/01/2009  M1.7 INCH        RICE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

0600 AM     SNOW             MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
04/01/2009  M1.7 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            STORM TOTAL

Last modified: January 6, 2017
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