Blizzard and Snowstorm - December 10-11, 2010

The December 10-11 Blizzard is the 5th largest snowstorm on record for the Twin Cities since 1891.

The largest snowfall for the Twin Cities since the 1991 Halloween Blizzard began late Friday night and continued through the day on Saturday. 17.1 inches of snow fell at the Twin Cities International Airport. Not only is this the largest snowstorm on record for December for the Twin Cities, but this storm is the fifth largest snowfall in a single storm to hit the Twin Cities since 1891. The highest snowfall total found in the state was 23 inches measured at Winona Dam. Three additional inches fell with a lighter snow storm on December 9th at Winona and is not included with the total.

This storm began with a low pressure center that developed along a stationary front over South Dakota and southern Minnesota. By Saturday morning December 11, the low deepened rapidly and moved to northwest Iowa. The low then moved to near Mason City by the evening of the 11th. Heavy snow with visibilities of a quarter mile or less was reported at the Twin Cities Airport for eight hours straight from 9am to 4pm December 11. The International Airport was closed for four hours.

This storm packed quite a punch with wind as well as snowfall. Blizzard warnings were posted on December 11 for all of southern Minnesota, including Carver, Scott and Dakota Counties of the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities International Airport was closed for a time during the storm and numerous holiday events were canceled, including the Holidazzle Parade. The Metrodome collapsed under the weight of the snow.

For days afterward, cities struggled to remove the snow from streets and sidewalks. School was canceled for two days for St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Listed below are Public Information Statements and Storm Summaries from the National Weather Service.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
933 AM CST SUN DEC 12 2010

...WINTER STORM SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM DECEMBER 10TH THRU DECEMBER
   12TH 2010...

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.


SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 23.00   5 SE OSCEOLA             WI  POLK             0900 AM
 21.00   OAKDALE                  MN  WASHINGTON       0335 AM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 20.00   RED WING                 MN  GOODHUE          0802 AM
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
 20.00   MAPLEWOOD                MN  RAMSEY           0337 AM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 18.50   4 NNE MENOMONIE          WI  DUNN             0945 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 18.00   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             0802 AM
 18.00   EAST FARMINGTON          WI  POLK             0630 PM
 17.40   LAKEVILLE                MN  DAKOTA           0906 PM
 17.20   WOODBURY                 MN  WASHINGTON       0855 AM
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
 17.20   1 W CARVER               MN  CARVER           1000 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 17.10   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0124 AM
                 MEASURED AT THE MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL
                 INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. STORM TOTAL SNOW.
 16.50   SAVAGE                   MN  SCOTT            1133 PM
 16.30   HASTINGS                 MN  DAKOTA           0826 PM
 16.00   DURAND                   WI  PEPIN            1031 PM
 15.50   CHANHASSEN               MN  CARVER           0124 AM
                 MEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
                 OFFICE. STORM TOTAL SNOW.
 15.20   ST LOUIS PARK            MN  HENNEPIN         1036 PM
 14.70   WACONIA                  MN  CARVER           0748 AM
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
 14.50   3 SSW WHITE BEAR LAKE    MN  RAMSEY           1030 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 14.20   STANLEY                  WI  CHIPPEWA         0920 AM
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
 13.50   1 ESE CHASKA             MN  CARVER           0700 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 13.50   ELK MOUND                WI  DUNN             0655 PM
 12.50   1 ENE CAMBRIDGE          MN  ISANTI           0630 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 12.00   FARIBAULT                MN  RICE             0909 PM
 11.50   ANDOVER                  MN  ANOKA            0145 AM
                 STORM TOTAL.
 10.00   CUMBERLAND               WI  BARRON           0730 AM
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL
  8.00   MANKATO                  MN  BLUE EARTH       0715 PM
                 STORM TOTAL.
  7.00   4 S ST CLOUD             MN  STEARNS          0635 PM
  6.00   WINTHROP                 MN  SIBLEY           0820 PM

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
950 AM CST SUN DEC 12 2010

...PRELIMINARY 3 DAY SNOWFALL ...

LOCATION                  SNOWFALL    TIME          LAT/LON


IOWA

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
WAUKON                    13.00       0700 AM  43.27N 91.48W
LANSING 4SE               11.3        0700 AM  43.32N 91.16W
WATERVILLE                10.0        0700 AM

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
VOLGA                     5.8         0700 AM  42.81N 91.52W
GUTTENBERG                2.6         0700 AM  42.79N 91.10W

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
FAYETTE                   6.2         0700 AM  42.83N 91.80W
CLERMONT                  6.2         0700 AM

...HOWARD COUNTY...
CRESCO 1 NE               9.50        0700 AM  43.38N 92.10W

MINNESOTA

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
SPRING VALLEY 3E          12.6        0700 AM  43.68N 92.33W
PETERSON 1S               12.0        0700 AM
LANESBORO                 11.4        0700 AM  43.72N 91.97W

...HOUSTON...
RENO 3SW                  13.7        0834 PM 43.53N 91.33W
CALEDONIA 6S              13.0


...MOWER COUNTY...
GRAND MEADOW              13.1        0700 AM  43.70N 92.57W

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
ROCHESTER AIRPORT         16.0        0700 PM  43.91N 92.5W
BYRON                     14.8        0700 AM  44.04N 92.64W


...WABASHA COUNTY...
WABASHA                   15.9        0700 AM  44.38N 92.03W

...WINONA COUNTY...
WINONA DAM 5A             26.0        0700 AM  44.09N 91.67W
MINNESOTA CITY LD5        13.5        0700 AM  44.16N 91.81W

WISCONSIN

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
MONDOVI 6S                18.0        0700 AM
ALMA DAM 4                14.0        0700 AM  44.33N 91.93W

...CLARK COUNTY...
OWEN 2N                   15.8        0700 AM  44.95N 90.53W
NEILLSVILLE 3SW           13.0        0700 AM  44.53N 90.64W

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
STEUBEN 4SE               9.0         0700 AM  43.13N 90.84W
SOLDIERS GROVE            7.3         0700 AM  43.40N 90.78W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9           5.1         0700 AM  43.22N 91.10W

...JACKSON COUNTY...
TAYLOR                    13.0        0700 AM  44.32N 91.12W

...JUNEAU COUNTY...
NECEDAH 2SE               13.9        0700 AM  44.00N 90.04W

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
FOUR CORNERS              18.5        0700 AM  44.07N 90.92W
LA CROSSE WEATHER OFFICE  16.9        0700 AM  43.82N 91.19W
LA CROSSE AIRPORT         16.6        0600 AM  43.88N 91.26W
HOLMEN 2NW/HOLLAND        15.4        0700 AM
LA CROSSE-SOUTH SIDE      14.2        0700 AM

...MONROE COUNTY...
WARRENS 5WSW              20.8        0700 AM  44.10N 90.59W

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
RICHLAND CENTER 1NW       12.3        0700 AM  43.36N 90.42W

...TAYLOR COUNTY...
MEDFORD                   20.50       0800 AM  45.12N 90.37W

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
OSSEO                     18.8        0700 AM  44.58N 91.22W

...VERNON COUNTY...
VIROQUA                   9.5         0700 AM  43.54N 90.87W
GENOA DAM 8               9.0         0700 AM  43.57N 91.23W


OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

FOR THIS...AND A WEALTH OF OTHER RIVER AND WEATHER INFORMATION...
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT  WEATHER.GOV/LACROSSE




PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
842 PM CST SAT DEC 11 2010

...SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR THE DECEMBER 11 2010 SNOWSTORM...

A FEW NOTES ABOUT THESE SNOW AMOUNTS:

 *  CHECK THE TIME OF THE REPORT TO SEE HOW CURRENT IT IS.

 *  TO REPORT A SNOW TOTAL...CALL 1-218-729-6697. ANY REPORTS ARE
    APPRECIATED.

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW AMOUNTS...AND ARE NOT
NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
REPORTS.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 15.90   SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN         0600 PM
                 CORRECTED TOTAL. 6.5 INCHES IN LAST 5 HOURS.
 11.00   PRENTICE                 WI  PRICE            0813 PM
                 11 TO 12 INCHES ESTIMATED OFF A WEB CAM WITH
                 VERTICAL SNOW BOARD FOR SCALE.
  9.00   5 SW PHILLIPS            WI  PRICE            0807 PM
                 SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CONTINUE. WIND SPEED
                 18MPH GUSTING TO 26MPH.
  9.00   PHILLIPS                 WI  PRICE            0715 PM
                 BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. WIND HAS PICKED
                 UP. ROADS SNOW COVERED.
  9.00   ASHLAND                  WI  ASHLAND          0708 PM
                 8 TO 10 INCHES. SIGNIFICANT BLOWING AND
                 DRIFTING. STRONG WIND GUSTS. SNOW CONTINUES.
                 PARTS OF HIGHWAY 2 WEST OF ASHLAND CLOSED AND
                 IMPASSIBLE.
  9.00   GLIDDEN                  WI  ASHLAND          0530 PM
  9.00   8 SE GRANTSBURG          WI  BURNETT          0209 PM
  8.00   2 SE WINTER              WI  SAWYER           0209 PM
  7.50   WEBB LAKE                WI  BURNETT          0405 PM
  7.20   PARK FALLS               WI  PRICE            0454 PM
                 REPORT INDEPENDENT OF OTHER 7 INCH REPORT
                 FROM PARK FALLS.
  7.00   8 S HAYWARD              WI  SAWYER           0309 PM
  6.00   4 N GRANTSBURG           WI  BURNETT          0234 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
  5.70   HAYWARD                  WI  SAWYER           0815 PM
  5.50   2 N WEBSTER              WI  BURNETT          0600 PM
                 OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.
  5.50   EXELAND                  WI  SAWYER           0430 PM


 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  5.00   3 NE PINE CITY           MN  PINE             0437 PM
                 VERY LITTLE ADDITIONAL SNOW HAS FALLEN SINCE
                 PREVIOUS MEASUREMENT AROUND 1 PM. DRIFTING
                 AND BLOWING.
  4.50   12 W DRUMMOND            WI  BAYFIELD         0500 PM
                 MEASURED NEAR EAU CLAIRE LAKES AIRPORT NORTH
                 OF UPPER EAU CLAIRE LAKE.
  4.50   3 N PINE CITY            MN  PINE             0311 PM
  4.00   2 SW HINCKLEY            MN  PINE             0732 PM
  4.00   7 NE HAYWARD             WI  SAWYER           0634 PM
                 MEASURED IN SEELEY.
  4.00   MELLEN                   WI  ASHLAND          0430 PM
  3.50   GILE                     WI  IRON             0445 PM
                 STILL SNOWING.
  3.00   ASKOV                    MN  PINE             0500 PM
  3.00   2 SSW POPLAR             WI  DOUGLAS          0418 PM
  3.00   10 SE DULUTH             WI  DOUGLAS          0305 PM
                 SNOWFALL STORM TOTAL SO FAR.
  2.50   2 WNW SAXON              WI  IRON             0421 PM
  2.00   SOUTH RANGE              WI  DOUGLAS          0755 PM
  2.00   MONTREAL                 WI  IRON             0500 PM
  2.00   7 ESE SUPERIOR           WI  DOUGLAS          0415 PM
                 WIND IS CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING. NEAR
                 MOUTH OF AMNICON RIVER.
  2.00   HOLYOKE                  MN  CARLTON          0328 PM
  1.00   MOOSE LAKE               MN  CARLTON          0600 PM
  0.10   5 NW DULUTH              MN  ST. LOUIS        0209 PM
                 MEASURED AT THE NWS OFFICE NEAR THE DULUTH
                 AIRPORT.
             SD   EMERGENCY MNGR

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
924 PM CST SAT DEC 11 2010

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

0524 PM     SNOW             IVANHOE                 44.46N 96.25W
12/11/2010  E6.0 INCH        LINCOLN            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT


0545 PM     SNOW             COTTONWOOD              44.61N 95.67W
12/11/2010  E5.0 INCH        LYON               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0545 PM     SNOW             4 N CURRIE              44.13N 95.67W
12/11/2010  E8.0 INCH        MURRAY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0553 PM     SNOW             1 WNW PIPESTONE         44.00N 96.33W
12/11/2010  E6.0 INCH        PIPESTONE          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0558 PM     SNOW             1 SSW LUVERNE           43.65N 96.22W
12/11/2010  E6.5 INCH        ROCK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 PM     SNOW             4 W WORTHINGTON         43.63N 95.68W
12/11/2010  E10.0 INCH       NOBLES             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 PM     SNOW             LAKEFIELD               43.68N 95.17W
12/11/2010  E7.0 INCH        JACKSON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER


0840 PM     SNOW             JEFFERS                 44.06N 95.20W
12/11/2010  E8.0 INCH        COTTONWOOD         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER


Last modified: October 13, 2014

 

For more information contact: [email protected]

 

Back to top