The February 20-21, 2011 snowstorm is the largest February snowstorm on record for the Twin Cities since 1891.
February is typically not known for large snowstorms. However, this February is the exception to the rule with the February 20-21 storm setting the largest snowfall record for February for the Twin Cities International Airport. The storm total was 13.8 inches, easily breaking the old record of 11.2 inches that was set with the storm of February 1-2, 2004
This storm began with a low pressure area that moved eastward from Nebraska across Iowa. Light to moderate snow spread northward across southern Minnesota on Sunday morning the 20th, with the snow beginning in the late morning hours across the Twin Cities. Light snow began to fall at the Twin Cities International Airport at around 10am. The snow became heavy by late afternoon, with visibilities a 1/4 mile or less at the Twin Cities International airport from 3 to 6pm on the 20th. Flashes of lightning were observed with the heavier snow bands across the Twin Cities. Some drier air worked its way northward and tapered off the snow over the Twin Cities after midnight. Freezing drizzle then coated the top of the snow pack, forming a thin veneer of ice. Light snow began again over the Twin Cities during the morning of Monday, February 21 and visibilities dropped below a mile with snow in the afternoon as part of the departing storm system lingered over central and southern Minnesota.
Many places in central and southern Minnesota north of Interstate 90 saw from 8 to 12 inches, with the highest totals in an east to west line from west central Minnesota through the Twin Cities and then into west central Wisconsin. Madison in west central Minnesota in Lac Qui Parle County saw the most snow with 20 inches. Portions of the southwest Twin City Metro area also saw up to 19 inches.
This is the second snowstorm to be the record largest snowstorm for the month for the Twin Cities during the 2011 winter season. The December 10-11, 2010 storm was the largest snowfall on record for December and now the February 20-21 is the largest snowfall on record for February.
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1159 AM CST TUE FEB 22 2011
...SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM THE FEBRUARY 20TH-21ST STORM SYSTEM...
SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
20.00 MADISON MN LAC QUI PARLE 0830 PM
19.60 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0825 PM
19.00 3 NW EDEN PRAIRIE MN HENNEPIN 0515 PM
18.00 CREDIT RIVER MN SCOTT 0937 PM
18.00 BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0519 PM
17.50 SPRINGFIELD MN BROWN 0840 AM
16.30 1 SSW MONTEVIDEO MN CHIPPEWA 0700 AM
15.50 2 W PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0900 AM
15.10 LAKEVILLE MN DAKOTA 0814 PM
15.10 RICHFIELD MN HENNEPIN 0820 PM
15.00 OSCEOLA WI POLK 0500 PM
15.00 MENOMONIE WI DUNN 0552 PM
15.00 3 SSW BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0845 AM
14.20 1 N PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0930 PM
14.00 INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN DAKOTA 1002 PM
14.00 WOODBURY MN WASHINGTON 0800 AM
14.00 EDEN PRAIRIE MN HENNEPIN 0809 PM
14.00 RED WING MN GOODHUE 0730 PM
13.60 ANDOVER MN ANOKA 1024 PM
13.50 MAPLEWOOD MN RAMSEY 1210 PM
13.80 MINNEAPOLIS(MSP AIRPORT) MN HENNEPIN 1240 AM
13.70 CHANHASSEN (NWS OFFICE) MN CARVER 1240 AM
13.30 ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0610 AM
13.00 GRANITE FALLS MN CHIPPEWA 1013 AM
12.90 3 WNW RICE MN STEARNS 0700 AM
12.70 EDINA MN HENNEPIN 0203 PM
12.70 1 NW BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0700 PM
12.60 COON RAPIDS MN ANOKA 0638 PM
12.50 CARVER MN CARVER 0700 AM
12.40 HASTINGS MN DAKOTA 0907 PM
12.40 ROBERTS WI ST. CROIX 0800 AM
12.30 5 SW ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0845 AM
12.00 1 N CAMERON WI BARRON 0500 PM
12.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0333 PM
12.00 LAKE ELMO MN WASHINGTON 0800 AM
12.00 3 N BLOOMER WI CHIPPEWA 0730 AM
12.00 BALDWIN WI ST. CROIX 0700 AM
12.00 3 SW MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0900 PM
12.00 SHAKOPEE MN SCOTT 0854 PM
11.60 JORDAN MN SCOTT 0710 AM
11.50 MILROY MN REDWOOD 0700 AM
11.10 BLAINE MN ANOKA 0917 PM
11.00 DURAND WI PEPIN 1000 PM
11.00 SAUK RAPIDS MN BENTON 0800 PM
11.00 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0702 AM
11.00 4 NNE MAPLEWOOD MN RAMSEY 0830 PM
11.00 1 ESE CHASKA MN CARVER 0800 PM
10.60 3 NNW MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0346 PM
10.60 MINNETONKA MN HENNEPIN 0803 AM
10.50 CLAYTON WI POLK 0616 PM
10.50 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0420 PM
10.50 ELK MOUND WI DUNN 0600 AM
10.50 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0500 AM
10.30 7 S HILLMAN MN MORRISON 0335 PM
10.20 OAKDALE MN WASHINGTON 0747 PM
10.00 GLENWOOD MN POPE 0600 PM
10.00 ST JAMES MN WATONWAN 0700 PM
10.00 MADELIA MN WATONWAN 1245 PM
10.00 COMFREY MN BROWN 1210 PM
10.00 BROWNTON MN MCLEOD 1210 PM
10.00 NW GILMAN MN BENTON 0828 AM
10.00 ISANTI MN ISANTI 0626 AM
10.00 EAU CLAIRE WQOW WI EAU CLAIRE 0500 AM
10.00 2 N MENOMONIE WI DUNN 1100 PM
10.00 1 W CARVER MN CARVER 0900 PM
10.00 4 SSW MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0700 PM
10.00 ST PETER MN NICOLLET 0530 PM
9.70 WACONIA MN CARVER 0803 AM
9.70 NORTH MANKATO MN NICOLLET 0700 AM
9.50 STILLWATER MN WASHINGTON 0936 PM
9.00 ELLENDALE MN STEELE 0615 PM
9.00 CAMBRIDGE MN ISANTI 0540 PM
9.00 HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 1145 AM
9.00 BARRON WI BARRON 0728 AM
9.00 3 ENE MONTGOMERY MN RICE 0700 AM
9.00 LONSDALE MN RICE 0600 AM
9.00 GLENCOE MN MCLEOD 0151 AM
9.00 3 SW BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0500 PM
8.90 MONTICELLO MN WRIGHT 0915 PM
8.60 NEW HOPE MN HENNEPIN 0658 AM
8.60 9 NNE BIRD ISLAND MN RENVILLE 0630 AM
8.50 RUSH CITY MN CHISAGO 0815 AM
8.60 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 1240 AM
8.30 NEW ULM MN BROWN 1038 AM
8.10 BOWLUS MN MORRISON 0829 AM
8.00 VESTA MN REDWOOD 0200 PM
8.00 3 SE NEW ULM MN BROWN 0800 AM
8.00 OWATONNA MN STEELE 0800 AM
8.00 2 S ST FRANCIS MN ANOKA 0731 AM
8.00 MILACA MN MILLE LACS 0730 AM
8.00 RICE LAKE WI BARRON 0725 AM
8.00 FARIBAULT MN RICE 0700 AM
8.00 ALBANY MN STEARNS 0700 AM
8.00 CARLOS MN DOUGLAS 0552 AM
8.00 LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0338 PM
7.60 RICE MN BENTON 0700 AM
7.50 1 NNW COLD SPRING MN STEARNS 0600 AM
7.50 FOREST LAKE MN WASHINGTON 0554 AM
7.20 JIM FALLS WI CHIPPEWA 0610 AM
7.10 STANLEY WI CHIPPEWA 0936 AM
7.00 ROCKFORD MN HENNEPIN 0203 PM
7.00 5 NE FOREST LAKE MN CHISAGO 0441 AM
7.00 2 W EAU CLAIRE WI EAU CLAIRE 0615 PM
6.80 CHAMPLIN MN HENNEPIN 1015 PM
6.50 LITTLE FALLS MN MORRISON 0600 AM
6.30 NEW HOPE MN HENNEPIN 0700 PM
6.00 ONAMIA MN MILLE LACS 1117 AM
6.00 NORTH BRANCH MN CHISAGO 0936 AM
6.00 13 N ALEXANDRIA MN DOUGLAS 0936 AM
6.00 3 WSW PRINCETON MN SHERBURNE 0630 AM
6.00 2 NNW WAITE PARK MN STEARNS 1057 PM
5.50 COLFAX WI DUNN 0540 PM
5.50 WELCOME MN MARTIN 0600 PM
5.00 MAPLETON MN BLUE EARTH 1117 AM
4.80 WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0400 PM
4.50 ONAMIA MN MILLE LACS 0233 PM
4.00 KIMBALL MN STEARNS 0600 AM
4.00 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0420 PM
4.00 1 S TRIMONT MN MARTIN 1023 AM
3.50 LONG PRAIRIE MN TODD 0600 AM
3.50 ALBERT LEA MN FREEBORN 1023 AM
3.00 WINNEBAGO MN FARIBAULT 0700 PM
3.00 BLUE EARTH MN FARIBAULT 1229 PM
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
856 AM CST TUE FEB 22 2011
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM SNOW LANESBORO 43.72N 91.97W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH FILLMORE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW SPRING VALLEY 3E 43.68N 92.33W
02/22/2011 M0.7 INCH FILLMORE MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0729 AM SNOW LA CRESCENT 43.83N 91.30W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH HOUSTON MN PUBLIC
0815 AM SNOW CALEDONIA 6S 43.54N 91.50W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH HOUSTON MN PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW LA CRESCENT 1NNW 43.83N 91.31W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH HOUSTON MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW AUSTIN 43.67N 92.95W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH MOWER MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0729 AM SNOW BYRON 4N 44.08N 92.67W
02/22/2011 M1.9 INCH OLMSTED MN PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW ELGIN 2SSW 44.10N 92.27W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH OLMSTED MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0729 AM SNOW ROCHESTER AIRPORT 43.91N 92.50W
02/22/2011 M0.6 INCH OLMSTED MN PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW THEILMAN 1SSW 44.28N 92.19W
02/22/2011 M4.3 INCH WABASHA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW LAKE CITY-COOP 44.43N 92.28W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH WABASHA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WABASHA 44.39N 92.05W
02/22/2011 M1.2 INCH WABASHA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0729 AM SNOW WINONA 2NNW 44.07N 91.67W
02/22/2011 M3.0 INCH WINONA MN PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW WINONA DAM 5A 44.09N 91.67W
02/22/2011 M3.0 INCH WINONA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0729 AM SNOW GOODVIEW 44.07N 91.71W
02/22/2011 M2.4 INCH WINONA MN PUBLIC
0729 AM SNOW WINONA 2SSE 44.03N 91.65W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH WINONA MN PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW LA CRESCENT DAM 7 43.87N 91.31W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH WINONA MN CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW MONROE CENTER 44.11N 89.92W
02/22/2011 M1.8 INCH ADAMS WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW FRIENDSHIP 43.98N 89.83W
02/22/2011 M1.4 INCH ADAMS WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW ALMA DAM 4 44.33N 91.92W
02/22/2011 M1.7 INCH BUFFALO WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW OWEN 2N 44.98N 90.55W
02/22/2011 M2.5 INCH CLARK WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW NEILLSVILLE 3SW 44.53N 90.64W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH CLARK WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW SOLDIERS GROVE 43.39N 90.78W
02/22/2011 M1.3 INCH CRAWFORD WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW LYNXVILLE DAM 9 43.21N 91.10W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH CRAWFORD WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW STEUBEN 4SE 43.13N 90.84W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH CRAWFORD WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0816 AM SNOW PRAIRIE DU CHIEN 43.03N 91.14W
02/22/2011 M0.5 INCH CRAWFORD WI PUBLIC
0816 AM SNOW CUBA CITY 42.60N 90.43W
02/22/2011 M0.6 INCH GRANT WI PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW TAYLOR 44.32N 91.12W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH JACKSON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW LA CROSSE ASOS 43.88N 91.26W
02/22/2011 M2.2 INCH LA CROSSE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0816 AM SNOW LA CROSSE 4NNW 43.86N 91.25W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH LA CROSSE WI PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW LA CROSSE WFO 43.82N 91.19W
02/22/2011 M1.9 INCH LA CROSSE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0816 AM SNOW LA CROSSE NWS 43.82N 91.19W
02/22/2011 M1.9 INCH LA CROSSE WI PUBLIC
0816 AM SNOW HOLMEN 2NW 43.98N 91.29W
02/22/2011 M1.8 INCH LA CROSSE WI PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW HOLMEN 2S 43.93N 91.25W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH LA CROSSE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WARRENS 5WSW 44.10N 90.59W
02/22/2011 M2.9 INCH MONROE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW SPARTA 43.94N 90.82W
02/22/2011 M1.2 INCH MONROE WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW RICHLAND CENTER 1NW 43.36N 90.42W
02/22/2011 M2.5 INCH RICHLAND WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW MEDFORD 45.13N 90.34W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH TAYLOR WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW TREMPEALEAU DAM 6 44.00N 91.44W
02/22/2011 M2.3 INCH TREMPEALEAU WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0816 AM SNOW ETTRICK 44.17N 91.27W
02/22/2011 M2.2 INCH TREMPEALEAU WI PUBLIC
0816 AM SNOW OSSEO 44.58N 91.22W
02/22/2011 M1.8 INCH TREMPEALEAU WI PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW GALESVILLE 2ESE 44.08N 91.34W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH TREMPEALEAU WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW BLAIR 2NW 44.31N 91.27W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH TREMPEALEAU WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW WESTBY 3ENE 43.68N 90.81W
02/22/2011 M2.9 INCH VERNON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW DESOTO 1SE 43.41N 91.19W
02/22/2011 M2.0 INCH VERNON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW GENOA DAM 8 43.57N 91.23W
02/22/2011 M1.6 INCH VERNON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0700 AM SNOW LA FARGE 43.57N 90.64W
02/22/2011 M1.5 INCH VERNON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
0816 AM SNOW VALLEY 1NW 43.65N 90.55W
02/22/2011 M1.3 INCH VERNON WI PUBLIC
0700 AM SNOW READSTOWN 43.45N 90.76W
02/22/2011 M1.0 INCH VERNON WI CO-OP OBSERVER
Last modified: February 1, 2016
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