Blizzard of February 7-8, 2016

Semi-trailer truck stuck in snow on I-90 near Lakefield in Jackson County
Courtesy: MNDOT

A low pressure system brought high winds and snow to Minnesota on February 7-8, 2016 creating blizzard conditions over western Minnesota.

A strong Alberta Clipper skirted across northern Minnesota and Lake Superior on February 7, and on February 8 was centered over Lake Huron. Balmy conditions prevailed out ahead of this storm system. Temperatures on the morning of February 7 were above freezing over nearly the entire state, ranging from the low 30s across northern Minnesota to around 40 in the south. St. Cloud registered 38 degrees in the morning and 40 degrees was the morning maximum in the Twin Cities. Then the arctic front associated with the clipper came through and temperatures tumbled in its wake. International Falls had a temperature of 34 degrees at 9am February 7 and 24 hours later dropped 31 degrees to a low of three.

There was some falling snow with the system, but accumulations were around an inch or less. The Twin Cities saw only.4 (four tenths of an inch) of snow. St. Cloud had 1.2 inches and Grand Forks had 1.5 inches. The heaviest snow fell over the Arrowhead with seven inches of new snow just east of Ely.

The main story with this storm were the strong winds that whipped up the existing snow pack and caused blizzard conditions across southwestern Minnesota and the red River Valley. One of the stronger gusts found was 58 MPH at the Jackson Airport in southwest Minnesota.

MNDOT posted "No Travel Advised" for roads in southwest Minnesota during the blizzard and there were a number of crashes and spin outs on I90 especially in the Jackson area.

Below is a list of storm reports gathered by the National Weather Service.


PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
532 AM CST MON FEB 08 2016

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

0300 AM     BLIZZARD         OLIVIA                  44.78N 95.00W
02/08/2016                   RENVILLE           MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POLICE DISPATCH REPORTED WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER THE
            SOUTHERN HALF OF THE COUNTY...MAINLY SOUTH OF HWY 4.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
527 AM CST MON FEB 08 2016

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

0300 AM     BLIZZARD         REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W
02/08/2016                   REDWOOD            MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POLICE DISPATCH REPORTED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT
            THE COUNTY...INCLUDING SEVERAL VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
526 AM CST MON FEB 08 2016

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

0300 AM     BLIZZARD         NEW ULM                 44.31N 94.46W
02/08/2016                   BROWN              MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            POLICE DISPATCH REPORTED BLIZZARD CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT
            THE COUNTY.


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1102 AM CST MON FEB 8 2016

...SNOWFALL REPORTS PAST 24 HOURS...

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON
SAXON 1WSW                   6.6 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.49N/90.44W
ELY USFS                     3.7 IN    0800 AM 02/08   47.91N/91.83W
IRON RIVER 7.2 SE            3.1 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.49N/91.30W
HURLEY                       3.0 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.46N/90.20W
WOLF RIDGE                   2.8 IN    0700 AM 02/08   47.45N/91.22W
CASS LAKE                    2.8 IN    0800 AM 02/08   47.38N/94.61W
WINTON 0.1 WSW               2.7 IN    0800 AM 02/08   47.93N/91.80W
SPOONER 10.6 WNW             2.7 IN    0900 AM 02/08   45.88N/92.10W
STONE LAKE 2.0 NW            2.6 IN    0700 AM 02/08   45.86N/91.58W
4 S EARL                     2.4 IN    0745 AM 02/08   45.84N/91.76W
WRENSHALL                    2.2 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.62N/92.38W
BUTTERNUT 5.9 SW             2.1 IN    0630 AM 02/08   45.97N/90.60W
COOK                         2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/08   47.85N/92.69W
3 SE COTTON                  2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/08   47.17N/92.42W
CHISHOLM 0.4 WSW             2.0 IN    0615 AM 02/08   47.49N/92.89W
BAYFIELD 8.8 N               2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.94N/90.83W
BAYFIELD 9N                  2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.94N/90.83W
HERMANTOWN 9.3 NNE           2.0 IN    0900 AM 02/08   46.93N/92.14W
14 W ISABELLA                2.0 IN    0900 AM 02/08   47.59N/91.65W
MADELINE ISLAND              1.9 IN    0602 AM 02/08   46.78N/90.77W
ASHLAND 0.5 WNW              1.9 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.58N/90.88W
ORR 3E                       1.8 IN    0600 AM 02/08   48.06N/92.75W
3 S ASHLAND                  1.8 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.55N/90.92W
25 E ELY                     1.8 IN    0800 AM 02/08   47.93N/91.50W
3 NE HERMANTOWN(NWS OFFICE)  1.7 IN    0600 AM 02/08   46.84N/92.21W
4 W CLAM LAKE                1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.17N/90.98W
MELLEN 18.6 SW               1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.17N/90.98W
FEDERAL DAM 3 WNW            1.5 IN    0800 AM 02/08   47.25N/94.22W
BARNES 2.2 S                 1.4 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.30N/91.50W
BAYFIELD 1 SW WWTP           1.4 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.80N/90.84W
BRAINERD 7NW                 1.3 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.42N/94.30W
5 SE SUPERIOR                1.3 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.67N/92.01W
3 E WRIGHT                   1.2 IN    0600 AM 02/08   46.68N/92.95W
12 N ISLE                    1.2 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.32N/93.50W
PILLAGER 5.1 N               1.1 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.40N/94.46W
3 N BUTTERNUT                1.0 IN    0600 AM 02/08   46.05N/90.53W
EMBARRASS                    1.0 IN    0600 AM 02/08   47.66N/92.20W
EVELETH                      1.0 IN    0630 AM 02/08   47.47N/92.57W
12 N GRAND RAPIDS            1.0 IN    0630 AM 02/08   47.40N/93.51W
BRAINERD                     1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/08   46.34N/94.21W
4 N FLOODWOOD                1.0 IN    0730 AM 02/08   47.00N/92.92W
1 WNW KABETOGAMA             1.0 IN    0800 AM 02/08   48.45N/93.05W
TOGO                         1.0 IN    0910 AM 02/08   47.87N/93.03W
TWO HARBORS 9.7 NNE          0.9 IN    0700 AM 02/08   47.17N/91.62W
KABETOGAMA GENERAL STORE     0.8 IN    0700 AM 02/08   48.41N/93.05W
GRANTSBURG 0.6 SSW           0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/08   45.77N/92.69W
GUNFLINT LAKE                0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/08   48.17N/90.89W
TWO HARBORS 3.6 WNW          0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/08   47.04N/91.75W
DULUTH 3.2 NE                0.4 IN    0800 AM 02/08   46.81N/92.06W
INTERNATIONAL FALLS          0.2 IN    0555 AM 02/08   48.57N/93.40W

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


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1132 AM CST MON FEB 8 2016

...SNOWFALL REPORTS PAST 24 HOURS...

SNOWFALL TOTALS OF 1 INCH OR GREATER ARE LISTED BELOW.
THANK YOU TO COOP AND COCORAHS OBSERVERS FOR PROVIDING
THESE MEASUREMENTS.

LOCATION                     AMOUNT
CHETEK 2.0 SE                1.7 IN
CAMERON 2.4 SE               1.7 IN
MILACA                       1.5 IN
REDWOOD FALLS                1.5 IN
LADYSMITH 2.8 WNW            1.5 IN
BIRD ISLAND 7.2 SSE          1.4 IN
CUMBERLAND                   1.3 IN
ST CLOUD AIRPORT             1.2 IN
LONG PRAIRIE                 1.1 IN
BALDWIN                      1.0 IN
BLOOMER                      1.0 IN
CARLOS 3SW                   1.0 IN
HOLCOMBE                     1.0 IN
JIM FALLS 3 NW               1.0 IN
MELROSE                      1.0 IN
FAIRMONT 6.7 S               1.0 IN
RICE LAKE                    1.0 IN
WELLS                        1.0 IN
ELLSWORTH 3.6 E              1.0 IN


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


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1014 AM CST MON FEB 8 2016

...HIGHEST WIND GUSTS PAST 24 HOURS...

LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE
ST JAMES AP                  52 MPH    1235 AM 02/08
MORRIS AP                    52 MPH    1033 PM 02/07
APPLETON AP                  51 MPH    1235 AM 02/08
BENSON AP                    51 MPH    1114 PM 02/07
MONTEVIDEO AP                49 MPH    0134 AM 02/08
REDWOOD FALLS AP             49 MPH    1234 AM 02/08
ALEXANDRIA AP                48 MPH    0648 PM 02/07
OLIVIA AP                    48 MPH    1034 PM 02/07
SEARLES 5 SE                 47 MPH    1112 PM 02/07
MADISON                      47 MPH    0734 AM 02/08
SPRINGFIELD 1 NW             47 MPH    0440 AM 02/08
FAIRMONT AP                  47 MPH    0135 AM 02/08
NEW ULM AP                   47 MPH    1054 PM 02/07
WILLMAR AP                   46 MPH    0835 PM 02/07
GRANITE FALLS AP             46 MPH    1234 AM 02/08
LONG PRAIRIE AP              45 MPH    0524 PM 02/07
SAUK CENTRE AP               45 MPH    0834 PM 02/07
ST CLOUD AP                  45 MPH    0338 PM 02/07
CRYSTAL AP                   44 MPH    0710 PM 02/07
MINNEAPOLIS-ST PAUL AP       44 MPH    0641 PM 02/07
CANBY AP                     43 MPH    0255 PM 02/07
ROBBINSDALE 1 WSW            43 MPH    0722 PM 02/07
GLENWOOD AP                  43 MPH    0934 PM 02/07
MANKATO AP                   43 MPH    0915 PM 02/07
PRIOR LAKE 2 WSW             42 MPH    0742 PM 02/07
JORDAN 6 E                   42 MPH    0652 PM 02/07
COON RAPIDS 2 ESE            41 MPH    0820 PM 02/07
LITCHFIELD AP                41 MPH    1213 AM 02/08
WASECA AP                    40 MPH    0815 PM 02/07
HUTCHINSON AP                40 MPH    1134 PM 02/07
PAYNESVILLE AP               40 MPH    0813 PM 02/07
PRINCETON AP                 40 MPH    0354 PM 02/07
CEDAR MILLS 5 N              39 MPH    0927 PM 02/07
OWATONNA AP                  39 MPH    0955 PM 02/07
ST PAUL DWTN AP              39 MPH    0527 PM 02/07
GRANITE LEDGE 7 N            38 MPH    0448 PM 02/07
BUFFALO AP                   38 MPH    0614 PM 02/07
LAKE MINNETONKA 1 SW         37 MPH    0642 PM 02/07
WILLMAR 2 ENE                37 MPH    0853 PM 02/07
MAPLE LAKE AP                37 MPH    0638 PM 02/07
OSCEOLA AP                   37 MPH    0635 PM 02/07
ALBERT LEA AP                36 MPH    1013 PM 02/07
FARIBAULT AP                 36 MPH    0634 PM 02/07
EDEN PRAIRIE AP              36 MPH    0754 PM 02/07
GLENCOE AP                   36 MPH    1114 PM 02/07
LAKEVILLE AP                 36 MPH    0716 PM 02/07

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

Last modified: February 8, 2016

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