One aspect the winter of 2009-2010 will be remembered by is the long and consistent snow pack. So far in the Twin Cities this winter there have been 61 days of 6 inches of snow on the ground. While this is quite a few days, there is a long way to go to make it into the record books. The last time there was this deep of a snow pack for so long in the Twin Cities was during the winter of 2000-2001 with 106 days of 6 inches or more on the ground. (For that winter the official snow measurement site for the Twin Cities was located at the Chanhassen National Weather Service.) Checking winters back to 1891, The longest number of days with 6 inches or more is the winter of 1978-79 with 121 days. If this record were to be broken this season, the Twin Cities would have to keep 6 inches or more of snow on the ground through April 14.
The top 5 winters for the most days of 6 inches or more snow depth in the Twin Cities are: Rank Season Days ------------------- 1. 1978-1979 121 2. 1985-1986 110 3. 1950-1951 108 4. 2000-2001 106 5. 1969-1970 101
So far through February 12th, there's been 5 days with a foot or more of snow on the ground in the Twin Cities. During the winter of 2000-2001 there were 53 days, when the official snow measurement site for the Twin Cities was located at Chanhassen.
The top 5 winters for the most days of 12 inches or more snow depth in the Twin Cities are: Rank Season Days ------------------- 1. 1968-1969 84 2. 1985-1986 75 3. 1969-1970 70 4. 1978-1979 69 5. 1983-1984 68
As of February 12th, the Twin Cities has 38.1 inches of snow for the season so far, .7 (seven-tenths of an inch) above normal. The snow depth measured at the airport on February 10, 2010 was 16 inches. This was deepest snow depth seen at the Twin Cities Official measuring site since 16 inches was measured on March 17, 2001. The deepest snow depth recorded in the Twin Cities is 38 inches on January 23, 1982.
While the snow depth around the Twin Cities is fairly deep, there is much more snow cover over southwestern and south central Minnesota. For instance at Mankato through February 12th there has been 51 days with 12 inches or more snow on the ground and 4 days with 20 or more inches of snow on the ground. Some places in southwest Minnesota are near their all-time snow depth records for the date.