A series of snowfalls during the second week of January changed the character of the landscape in central and southern Minnesota.
The lingering memory of the icy snow pack from 2016 was covered up by a fresh blanket of snow that fell in a series of snow events. While they beautified the landscape, the timing was poor for rush hour. The first light event began during the afternoon of January 9 with about 1-2 inches of snow in the Twin Cities as the evening rush hour began. The second wave of snow was during the morning rush hour of January 10, with rain changing to wet heavy snow in far southeast Minnesota. The light snow tapered off in the early afternoon with some blowing and drifting snow and plummeting temperatures. Another quick inch or two of snow fell in the wee hours of the morning on January 11, and another round of shoveling commenced. Light snow tapered off by the late morning of the 11th. In the end, the Twin Cites saw five inches of snow over the course of the three days, with 3.4 inches at Rochester and seven inches of snowfall at St. Cloud. The median snow depth across the state increased to above the median for the date across central Minnesota.
The La Crosse National Weather Service has recap of the Snowfall from January 10, 2017.
Below is a list of snowfall reports gathered by the National Weather Service.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN 1054 AM CST Wed Jan 11 2017 ...Snowfall Reports From Past 24 Hours... Location Amount Time/Date Provider Chippewa Falls 8.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Willmar 5N 7.9 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Elk Mound 1ENE 7.3 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Eau Claire 7.2 in 0600 AM 01/11 OFFICIAL NWS OB Holcombe 7.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Rush City 3 NE 6.2 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Jim Falls 3 NW 6.0 in 0630 AM 01/11 COOP Zumbrota 5.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Lake City 1.2 NNW 5.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Orrock 2SE 5.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS St. Michael 1E 5.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Augusta (RS) 5.4 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Montevideo 1SW 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Big Falls Hydro 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Cedar Falls (Hydro Plant) 5.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Elk River 4.8 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Stockholm 2NE 4.7 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS St. Cloud (SCSU) 4.7 in 0700 AM 01/11 UCOOP Dresser 2 SSW 4.6 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Ladysmith WTP 4.6 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Dawson 4.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Red Wing (L/D 3) 4.5 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Goodhue 4.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Hewitt 1NNW 4.5 in 0730 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Milaca 4.5 in 0730 AM 01/11 COOP New Prague 4.3 in 0721 AM 01/11 Balsam Lake 4 SE 4.2 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Long Prairie 4.2 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Dassel 4.1 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Roseville 1NW 4.0 in 0850 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Rice Lake 4.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Sauk Rapids 4.0 in 0810 AM 01/11 Rosemount (AG Exp Frm) 4.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Princeton 2WSW 4.0 in 1200 AM 01/11 COCORAHS St. Paul U of MN 3.9 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Chaska 3.7 in 0615 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Robbinsdale 3.6 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Donnelly 2WNW 3.6 in 0730 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Minneapolis Dwtn (Miss R) 3.6 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Albertville 3.6 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Chaska 2NW 3.6 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Roberts 3.5 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Edina 1SE 3.5 in 0630 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Lakeville 2NNE 3.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Apple Valley 3ESE 3.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS North Branch 1 NNW 3.5 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Rice 3.4 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Woodbury 3.4 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Rockford 3.4 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Montevideo 3.4 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Eagan 1NW 3.3 in 0650 AM 01/11 COCORAHS St. Michael 2ENE 3.3 in 0630 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Little Falls 3.3 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Minneapolis St Paul Apt 3.2 in 0600 AM 01/11 OFFICIAL NWS OB Mendota Heights 2WNW 3.1 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Victoria 1WSW 3.1 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Golden Valley 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Farwell 5N 3.0 in 0815 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Mora 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Baldwin 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Stillwater 2 SW 3.0 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Roseville 2 WNW 3.0 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Watertown 3.0 in 0415 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Bloomer 3.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Long Lake 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Afton 1E 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Inver Grove Heights 1ENE 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Melrose 3.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP St. Cloud Airport 2.9 in 0600 AM 01/11 OFFICIAL NWS OB Bird Island 7SSE 2.8 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Chanhassen NWS 2.8 in 0600 AM 01/11 OFFICIAL NWS OB Onamia (RS) 2.8 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP St. Peter 6WSW 2.8 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Saint Louis Park 2ESE 2.7 in 0720 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Victoria 2ENE 2.7 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Blaine 2NNW 2.6 in 0615 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Osseo 1 W 2.6 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Owatonna 2.6 in 0630 AM 01/11 COCORAHS 4 WNW Monticello 2.5 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Stillwater 1NE 2.5 in 0651 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Boyceville 3NNE 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Anoka 1SE 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Brooklyn Center 1E 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS New Prague 2.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Golden Valley 2.5 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Edina 2 ENE 2.4 in 0830 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Waconia 2.4 in 0900 AM 01/11 UCOOP Nerstrand 4E 2.4 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Springfield 1NW 2.3 in 0600 AM 01/11 COCORAHS St. Bonifacius 2ENE 2.3 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Prior Lake 1WSW 2.3 in 0530 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Silver Lake 1NNW 2.2 in 0730 AM 01/11 COCORAHS 2 E Brooklyn Park 2.2 in 0730 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Mankato 4E 2.1 in 0700 AM 01/11 UCOOP Ellendale 2.1 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Richfield 1 WNW 2.0 in 0500 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Le Center 5NNW 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS South St. Paul 2.0 in 0655 AM 01/11 Owatonna 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Morris (AG Exp Frm) 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP 2 WNW Dayton 2.0 in 0900 AM 01/11 Montgomery 3ENE 2.0 in 0530 AM 01/11 COCORAHS 1 WNW Dayton 2.0 in 0900 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Nye 2E 2.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Kimball 3N 2.0 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Carlos 3WSW 2.0 in 0630 AM 01/11 COOP Hastings (L/D 2) 2.0 in 0600 AM 01/11 COOP Waseca 1NNE 2.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Onamia 4WNW 1.8 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS North Branch 1WSW 1.8 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Redwood Falls 1.8 in 0630 AM 01/11 COOP Veseli 1W 1.8 in 0500 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Maple Grove 1N 1.7 in 0830 AM 01/11 COCORAHS North St. Paul 1WNW 1.6 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Dassel 1.6 in 0700 AM 01/11 Lester Prairie 2s 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Carver 1W 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Gaylord 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Jordan 1SW 1.5 in 0530 AM 01/11 COOP Faribault 1.5 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Sveadahl 5NNW 1.4 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Canby 1.4 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Waseca (AG Exp Frm) 1.3 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Bricelyn 1.3 in 0700 AM 01/11 COOP Blue Earth 1S 1.1 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP 5 SW Foley 1.0 in 0600 AM 01/11 Winnebago 1.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COOP Swanville 6NW 1.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Glencoe 1.0 in 0800 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Green Isle 1WNW 1.0 in 0700 AM 01/11 COCORAHS Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official Public Information Statement National Weather Service Duluth MN 817 AM CST Wed Jan 11 2017 ...Snowfall Reports... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon 3 NNW Butternut 10.5 in 0600 PM 01/10 46.05N/90.53W 1 WSW Phillips 6.5 in 0800 PM 01/10 45.69N/90.41W Cornucopia 6.0 in 0334 PM 01/10 46.86N/91.10W 4 S Herbster 6.0 in 0738 AM 01/11 46.77N/91.24W 7 E Phillips 6.0 in 0745 PM 01/10 45.70N/90.25W 2 E Butternut 6.0 in 0515 PM 01/10 46.01N/90.46W 4 ENE Cornucopia 5.7 in 0600 PM 01/10 46.88N/91.02W 2 E Sarona 5.0 in 0711 AM 01/11 45.72N/91.77W Canyon 5.0 in 0730 PM 01/10 47.04N/92.47W 3 W Bayfield 5.0 in 0445 PM 01/10 46.81N/90.88W Beaver Bay 4.8 in 0240 PM 01/10 47.26N/91.30W 3 N Mahtowa 4.6 in 0743 AM 01/11 46.62N/92.63W 2 E Butternut 4.5 in 0230 PM 01/10 46.01N/90.46W 3 W Phillips 4.5 in 0300 PM 01/10 45.70N/90.46W 1 NW Mellen 4.5 in 0730 PM 01/10 46.33N/90.68W Park Falls 4.5 in 0315 PM 01/10 45.93N/90.45W 1 NW Two Harbors 4.5 in 0300 PM 01/10 47.04N/91.69W Oulu 4.5 in 0545 PM 01/10 46.62N/91.53W Gile 4.4 in 0135 AM 01/11 46.43N/90.22W 1 SE Malmo 4.1 in 0759 AM 01/11 46.32N/93.50W 1 E Duluth 4.0 in 0130 PM 01/10 46.78N/92.10W Bennett 4.0 in 0330 PM 01/10 46.45N/91.85W 4.5 NW Canyon 4.0 in 0138 PM 01/10 47.10N/92.53W 2 ENE Baxter 4.0 in 1115 AM 01/10 46.35N/94.24W 8 NNW Brantwood 4.0 in 0225 PM 01/10 45.67N/90.18W 3 SSW Bruno 4.0 in 0154 PM 01/10 46.24N/92.68W 6 ESE Phillips 4.0 in 0110 PM 01/10 45.66N/90.28W Spooner 4.0 in 0300 PM 01/10 45.82N/91.89W 5 NW Duluth 3.9 in 0600 AM 01/11 46.84N/92.21W 1 NNE Cloquet 3.9 in 0300 PM 01/10 46.74N/92.45W 3 NE Hermantown 3.7 in 0300 PM 01/10 46.84N/92.21W 21 N Grand Marais 3.6 in 0500 PM 01/10 48.06N/90.41W Proctor 3.5 in 0315 PM 01/10 46.74N/92.23W 4 ENE Lutsen 3.5 in 0515 PM 01/10 47.67N/90.64W 2 SSW Kabetogama 3.4 in 0630 PM 01/10 48.41N/93.05W 1 W Silver Bay 3.2 in 0753 AM 01/11 47.29N/91.30W 3 N Mahtowa 3.2 in 0343 PM 01/10 46.62N/92.63W 3 WSW Lakeside 3.1 in 0240 PM 01/10 46.65N/91.90W 6 SSW Gunn 3.0 in 1053 AM 01/10 47.14N/93.52W 2 NNW Island Lake 2.8 in 0200 PM 01/10 47.04N/92.21W 7 SE Grand Rapids 2.8 in 0115 PM 01/10 47.14N/93.46W 2 NNE Cloquet 2.6 in 1148 AM 01/10 46.74N/92.45W 5 S Libby 2.5 in 0345 PM 01/10 46.71N/93.31W 3 N Brainerd 2.5 in 0730 PM 01/10 46.40N/94.19W 3 W Phillips 2.5 in 1145 AM 01/10 45.70N/90.46W 1 SSE International Falls 2.4 in 1200 PM 01/10 48.58N/93.40W 5 NW Two Harbors 2.3 in 0215 PM 01/10 47.08N/91.75W 7 NW Two Harbors 2.3 in 0215 PM 01/10 47.11N/91.78W Moose Lake 2.0 in 0445 PM 01/10 46.45N/92.77W Bennett 2.0 in 1210 PM 01/10 46.45N/91.85W 1 N Cloquet 2.0 in 1100 AM 01/10 46.73N/92.45W 25 E Ely 2.0 in 0900 AM 01/10 47.93N/91.50W Aurora 2.0 in 0400 PM 01/10 47.53N/92.24W 3 W Iron Junction 1.5 in 0400 PM 01/10 47.42N/92.66W 2 WNW Island Lake 1.3 in 1019 AM 01/10 47.03N/92.24W Island Lake 1.2 in 0900 AM 01/10 47.02N/92.07W 1 NW Hurley 1.0 in 1123 AM 01/10 46.46N/90.20W 14 W Isabella 1.0 in 0900 AM 01/10 47.59N/91.65W 2 NW Gary New Duluth 0.6 in 0900 AM 01/10 46.71N/92.23W 2 SSE Merrifield 0.5 in 0601 AM 01/11 46.43N/94.15W 4 ENE Deer River 0.5 in 0755 AM 01/11 47.36N/93.72W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.