Record Snows of February 2019

Typical snowy residential scene, all too common during February 2019
Image credit: MN State Climatology Office

February 2019 got off to a fast start, and the snow accumulated quickly, and frequently across Minnesota. By the 12th of the month, five separate major snowfall events had visited the state, and totals were already between 15 and 25 inches in most areas. After a lull of sorts, the active pattern resumed with major snowstorms on the 20th, and 22nd through 24th.

Most of the snowstorms were moderate to heavy, producing wide swaths of 4-8, or perhaps 6-10 inches. A couple storms, however, outperformed the rest. The snowstorm of February 11th and 12th had totals over a foot in far southeastern Minnesota. Similarly the storm on the 22nd through 24th maxed out with over a foot from south-central through southeast Minnesota, as one of the fiercest blizzards in recent memory raged across much of the state.

The month ended up demolishing February snowfall records across the state, with monthly totals often exceeding the previous records by 50-100%. In some cases, the margins separating the new #1 from the former record-holders are the largest for any winter month. February 2019 also featured an unusual number of significant snowfall events. Many locations had four or five different calendar days with at least 4 inches of snow. A typical winter in the Twin Cities usually sees only 2-3 such events!

Below is a summary of snowfall records set at Minnesota's "first-order" weather stations. These stations are maintained professionally and use the highest-quality automated measuring equipment, in combination with human observation.

February 2019 snowfall statistics at five Minnesota stations. Bold/italics represent record values
Station Name	Snowfall Feb 2019	Old Feb. Snowfall Record	Year	Feb 2019 Departure from Snowfall Record	Calendar days with at least 4" of snow (Feb 2019)	Largest 2-day Snowfall Total
Duluth	36.4"	33.9"	1939	+2.5"	4	10.7"
International Falls	25.4"	32.3"	1992	-6.9"	2	7.4"
Rochester	40.0"	20.1"	2007	+19.9"	5	12.1"
St. Cloud	27.6"	21.6"	1971	+6.0"	3	7.4"
Twin Cities	39.0"	26.5"	1962	+12.5"	5	9.1"

This was also the snowiest February on record at 47 of Minnesota's older National Weather Service cooperative observing stations, from all corners of the state. Below is a list of all new records for all stations with at least 30 years of observing activity.

Station	Snowfall (inches)
LAKE CITY	49
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5	45.7
THEILMAN 1SSW	45.5
WINONA DAM 5 A	43.4
WABASHA	41.6
OWATONNA	40.6
RED WING	40.5
Rochester Area	40
ELGIN 2SSW	39.7
VADNAIS LAKE	39.5
HASTINGS DAM 2	39.2
Minneapolis-St Paul Area	39
ZUMBROTA	39
FARIBAULT	38.4
MARSHALL	37.9
NEW HOPE	36.8
Duluth Area	36.4
RED LAKE FALLS	36.4
REDWOOD FALLS	35.8
GRAND MEADOW	35.2
TRACY	35
WILD RIVER STATE PARK	34.6
ROCKFORD	34.1
BRICELYN	33.3
LAKE WILSON	32.7
SANTIAGO 3 E	32.7
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY	32.5
RED WING DAM 3	32.5
WINNEBAGO	32.4
LAMBERTON SOUTHWEST RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER	31.9
LA CRESCENT DAM 7	31
WASECA SOUTHERN RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER	30.8
MINNEOTA	30.5
BEMIDJI	29.1
ST. PETER	28.3
LEECH LAKE	28
Saint Cloud Area	27.6
ARGYLE	27.4
BRIMSON 2S	27.4
CASS LAKE	27.1
COLLEGEVILLE ST. JOHN'S	27
ROSEMOUNT RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER	27
WINDOM	26.1
ADA	25.9
MELROSE	25.7
THORHULT	22.7
CROOKSTON NW EXP STA	21.8
DELANO	21.4
GEORGETOWN 1 E	21.3
BRAINERD	20.3

Following are links to many of February 2019's accumulating snowfall events.

Last modified: October 19, 2023