Winter Storm, October 22, 2020

snow map
Storm-total snowfall accumulation as of 7 AM CDT on October 23, 2020.
Courtesy of National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOAA)

Heavy snow blanketed central and northern Minnesota, while thunderstorms, sleet, and mixed precipitation affected southern parts of the state.

Following on the heels of a historic early-season snowstorm just two days earlier, a low-pressure system moved from northeastern Kansas into southeastern Wisconsin on Thursday October 22, 2020. With temperatures in the 20s and 30s throughout Minnesota and deep moisture streaming into the region, the atmosphere was primed once again for significant accumulating snowfall.

During the early morning, a band of snow developed from northern South Dakota into west-central and central Minnesota, remaining nearly stationary through much of the day. Scattered sleet, snow, and rain squalls with occasional lightning and thunder lifted out of southern Minnesota, eventually expanding and reinforcing the swath of steady snows falling across central Minnesota, just north of St. Cloud.

The snow fell hardest and most persistently from near Beardsley to Detroit Lakes, and then eastward through the Brainerd Lakes area and towards Duluth. Accumulations were predominantly 3-7 inches within this swath, but the National Weather Service cooperative observer at Long Prairie reported a storm total of 9.4 inches, and a CoCoRaHS observer at Beardsley reported 10.7 inches, with 9.5 inches reported at Alexandria.

The southern extent of this heavy snow area overlapped with the northern extent of Tuesday's heavy snow area, and between the two systems, a narrow corridor of central Minnesota received in excess of 12 inches of snow.

Following are are courtesy of the National Weather Service forecast offices in Duluth and Grand Forks.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN  
905 AM CDT FRI OCT 23 2020  
..SNOWFALL REPORTS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON                
..MINNESOTA  
..AITKIN COUNTY  
TAMARACK 1.4 SW              1.3 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.64N/93.15W          
..CARLTON COUNTY  
BARNUM 4.3 W                 4.8 IN    0600 AM 10/23   46.50N/92.78W          
CLOQUET 3.4 ENE              3.5 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.74N/92.43W          
2 ENE KETTLE RIVER           3.3 IN    0830 AM 10/23   46.50N/92.84W          
3 E WRIGHT                   3.1 IN    0600 AM 10/23   46.68N/92.95W          
1 SW CLOQUET                 3.0 IN    1000 PM 10/22   46.71N/92.47W          
WRENSHALL 9.7 SSE            2.7 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.49N/92.34W          
1 NNE CLOQUET                2.7 IN    0950 PM 10/22   46.73N/92.45W          
CLOQUET                      2.3 IN    0825 PM 10/22   46.72N/92.46W          
..CASS COUNTY  
MOTLEY 9.6 NNE               7.2 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.47N/94.59W          
PILLAGER 5.1 N               5.5 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.40N/94.46W          
2 N PILLAGER                 5.0 IN    0807 AM 10/23   46.35N/94.47W          
FEDERAL DAM 3 WNW            3.0 IN    0800 AM 10/23   47.25N/94.22W          
EAST GULL LAKE               1.0 IN    0800 AM 10/23   46.41N/94.35W          
..COOK COUNTY  
GRAND MARAIS 4.4 W           0.9 IN    0600 AM 10/23   47.75N/90.44W          
GRAND MARAIS 4.4 WSW         0.5 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.74N/90.44W          
..CROW WING COUNTY  
CROSS LAKE DAM               5.5 IN    0800 AM 10/23   46.67N/94.11W          
5 SE SAINT MATHIAS           5.5 IN    0805 PM 10/22   46.17N/94.19W          
CROSBY 1.1 SW                4.1 IN    0600 AM 10/23   46.48N/93.97W          
1 SW CROSBY                  4.1 IN    1100 PM 10/22   46.48N/93.97W          
TROMMALD 6.1 NW              3.4 IN    0800 AM 10/23   46.56N/94.12W          
3 NE NISSWA                  1.5 IN    0840 AM 10/23   46.54N/94.25W          
..ITASCA COUNTY  
GRAND RAPIDS 6.2 SSW         3.5 IN    0600 AM 10/23   47.14N/93.57W          
6 SE LA PRAIRIE              3.0 IN    1050 PM 10/22   47.18N/93.39W          
5 SE LA PRAIRIE              3.0 IN    1049 PM 10/22   47.17N/93.42W          
DEER RIVER 3.7 W             2.5 IN    0800 AM 10/23   47.34N/93.88W          
KEEWATIN 0.2 SSE             2.0 IN    0800 AM 10/23   47.40N/93.08W          
BOVEY 13.4 N                 1.8 IN    0654 AM 10/23   47.49N/93.44W          
..LAKE COUNTY  
TWO HARBORS 3.6 WNW          2.2 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.04N/91.75W          
ELY 25 E                     0.7 IN    0655 AM 10/23   47.97N/91.45W          
TWO HARBORS                  0.3 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.02N/91.66W          
..ST. LOUIS COUNTY  
NWS DULUTH                   4.2 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.84N/92.21W          
DULUTH 4.1 NNE               4.0 IN    0600 AM 10/23   46.84N/92.07W          
TWO HARBORS 11.7 WSW         3.5 IN    0600 AM 10/23   46.96N/91.90W          
DULUTH 11.8 NNE              3.0 IN    0730 AM 10/23   46.95N/92.04W          
WRIGHT 9.2 NNE               2.5 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.79N/92.93W          
CHISHOLM 0.4 WSW             2.4 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.49N/92.89W          
DULUTH 4.6 NE                2.1 IN    0730 AM 10/23   46.84N/92.05W          
DULUTH 17.6 NNW              2.0 IN    0615 AM 10/23   46.99N/92.31W          
EMBARRASS                    2.0 IN    0600 AM 10/23   47.66N/92.20W          
3 E PAYNE                    1.8 IN    0726 PM 10/22   47.10N/92.53W          
CANYON 4.6 NNE               1.5 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.10N/92.42W          
DULUTH 15.4 NNW              1.3 IN    0700 AM 10/23   46.99N/92.24W          
3 W IRON JUNCTION            1.3 IN    1022 PM 10/22   47.42N/92.66W          
BABBITT                      1.2 IN    0700 AM 10/23   47.71N/91.95W          
WINTON 0.1 WSW               0.9 IN    0730 AM 10/23   47.93N/91.80W          
COOK 8NE                     0.5 IN    0600 AM 10/23   47.85N/92.69W          
ORR 3 E                      0.2 IN    0600 AM 10/23   48.06N/92.75W          
---
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND  
1010 AM CDT WED OCT 21 2020  
..SNOWFALL REPORTS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER               
VERNDALE                     7.0 IN    0750 AM 10/21   PUBLIC                 
SEBEKA MN                    6.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
DEER CREEK MN 2.0 WSW        5.8 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LAKE PARK MN 6.0 S           5.2 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LAKE PARK MN 9.9 S           5.2 IN    0800 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
CAVALIER                     5.0 IN    0905 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
RICHVILLE MN 5.8 SSW         4.9 IN    0800 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
BATTLE LAKE MN 3.3 SSE       4.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
DETROIT LAKES MN 5.7 N       4.5 IN    0430 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
HAWLEY MN 5.2 WNW            4.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
OTTERTAIL MN                 4.5 IN    0446 AM 10/21   COOP                   
WEST FARGO ND 3.8 SSE        4.4 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
FERGUS FALLS                 4.3 IN    0144 AM 10/21   PUBLIC                 
NEW YORK MILLS               4.3 IN    0821 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
3 S FARGO                    4.2 IN    0700 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
SABIN MN                     4.1 IN    0720 AM 10/21   COOP                   
ABERCROMBIE ND 0.2 NW        4.0 IN    0600 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
BATTLE LAKE MN 2.0 S         4.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
FERGUS FALLS MN 6.3 SE       4.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LIDGERWOOD ND                4.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
MCLEOD                       4.0 IN    0821 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
1 SE WEST FARGO              4.0 IN    0755 AM 10/21   PUBLIC                 
MOORHEAD MN 2.0 N            3.9 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LISBON ND                    3.6 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
FARGO                        3.5 IN    0711 PM 10/20   CO-OP OBSERVER         
MENTOR MN 2.5 SSW            3.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
PELICAN RAPIDS               3.5 IN    0813 AM 10/21   PUBLIC                 
PENN                         3.5 IN    0910 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
PENN ND 6 SE                 3.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
THIEF RIVER FALLS MN 0.6 NW  3.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
TWIN VALLEY MN 0.1 NE        3.4 IN    0800 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
5 NNE LUVERNE                3.3 IN    0956 PM 10/20   PUBLIC                 
WALHALLA ND 3.6 SSE          3.2 IN    0600 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
BEMIDJI MN 4.8 NNE           3.1 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
BEMIDJI MN 7.8 ENE           3.1 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
FARGO ND 3.6 NNE             3.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
KARLSTAD MN 0.2 SSW          3.0 IN    0720 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
4 SW OBERON                  3.0 IN    1244 PM 10/20   PUBLIC                 
THIEF RIVER FALLS            3.0 IN    0847 AM 10/21   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS       
WOLVERTON MN 1.1 ENE         3.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LANGDON ND 1.4 ESE           2.8 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
5 NE BECIDA                  2.5 IN    0526 PM 10/20   PUBLIC                 
BRECKENRIDGE                 2.5 IN    0841 AM 10/21   PUBLIC                 
LISBON ND 0.5 ENE            2.5 IN    0419 PM 10/20   COCORAHS               
MAYVILLE                     2.5 IN    0821 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
PEMBINA ND                   2.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
WARROAD MN 4 W               2.5 IN    1000 PM 10/20   COOP                   
LARIMORE ND 0.4 SE           2.2 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
GOODRIDGE MN 7.4 SW          2.1 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
LANKIN ND 6 E                2.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COOP                   
TURTLE RIVER MN 3.6 E        2.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
MOORHEAD                     1.8 IN    0347 PM 10/20   BROADCAST MEDIA        
5 NNE LUVERNE                1.6 IN    0205 PM 10/20   PUBLIC                 
GRAND FORKS                  1.5 IN    0700 AM 10/21   CO-OP OBSERVER         
MICHIGAN ND                  1.5 IN    0500 AM 10/21   COOP                   
GRAND FORKS ND 3.4 SSE       1.4 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
FORT RANSOM                  1.0 IN    1128 AM 10/20   NWS EMPLOYEE           
GRAND FORKS ND 3.7 SSE       1.0 IN    0700 AM 10/21   COCORAHS               
MOORHEAD                     0.6 IN    1205 PM 10/20   PUBLIC                 
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING  
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS   
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.   

 

Modified October 23, 2020

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