Tri-County News

Late winter storm came in waves


The talk everywhere I go continues to be about this “crazy weather” that we have been dealing with this spring. This is the year where, so far, we have had very little actual spring weather. Instead we have been dealing with cold and snow.

Over the weekend, of course, we dealt with heavy snow across parts of southern Minnesota. Even into central and west central Minnesota, snow was common and caused travel concerns Saturday into Sunday.

This potent late winter storm came in several waves. The snowfall from Saturday’s blizzard in the Twins Cities has been called historic by the National Weather Service. The blizzard “designation” for the Twin Cities metro area was the first one actually called a blizzard since 1983.

The storm caused hundreds of crashes across the state. According to the Minnesota State Patrol there were 558 crashes statewide from Friday night into Sunday afternoon. Two of those crashes had serious injuries.

As far as actual snowfall totals, Canby picked up 24 inches of snow, Montevideo 20.5 inches, Redwood Falls 13.5 inches, Sleepy Eye 13.1 inches, Kimball 7 inches, St. Cloud 5 inches, Brainerd 2.5 inches, and Alexandria 2.5 inches.

However, our winter weather isn’t over across Minnesota. Another system will bring snow Tuesday night into Wednesday. The heaviest snowfall is anticipated across southern Minnesota where four or more inches of snow is expected to fall.

The good news is that we are seeing a warming trend moving in by this weekend and into next week. Do I dare say that we could see some 60s by next week? Let’s hope this all holds together and we can finally have some spring weather.

Hang in there everyone, some relief is on the way!

Weather history: On this date in 2004 records show that a strong cold front helped produce winds of up to “55 miles an hour over southern Minnesota!” There were reports of “black clouds” from the soil being lifted up into the clouds from the strong winds. Some veteran farmers said that it “reminded them of the dust storms from the 1930s Dust Bowl era.”

Almanac:

Sunrise: 6:30 a.m.

Sunset: 8:12 p.m.

Normal High: 56

Normal Low: 36

Regional Temperatures:

Moorhead Low 26 High 38

Duluth Low 25 High 39

Central Minn. Low 27 High 38

Minneapolis Low 32 High 39

Marshall Low 29 High 37

Rochester Low 30 High 37

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy to cloudy, 50-percent chance of light snow. High 38 Low 31 Wind: NNE 10-15 mph Prec. Trace-.20”

Another weather disturbance will push across Minnesota Tuesday night into Wednesday. This system could bring four or more inches of snow across southern Minnesota. Parts of central and west central Minnesota could also see some accumulation of snow as well. Finally, some warmer weather and drier weather will slowly work its way into the region by Friday and into the weekend. We could see some 60s by early next week if all holds with the current computer models.

Thursday: More clouds than sun. High 48 Low 32 Wind: NW 5-10 mph Prec. None

Friday: A mix of clouds and sun. High 51 Low 33 Wind: NW 5-10 mph Prec. None

Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 54 Low 32 Wind: SW/SE 10-15 mph Prec. None

Sunday: Partly sunny. High 54 Low 36 Wind: SE 10-15 mph Prec. None

Weather facts: Dust storms arise when a “gust front or other strong wind blows loose sand and dirt from a dry surface.”

 

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