Frigid temperatures this weekend prompt cold weather advisories

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Our finicky storm saved the best for last. 

Thursday morning’s intense snow burst brought snowfall totals around the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota into the 12 to 20-inch range.

The 13.1 inches of snow at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport ties for the 23rd largest snowfall on record in the Twin Cities. 

While the airport saw just over 13 inches, 20 inches fell in Apple Valley, about 10 miles south. A microscale heavy snow band late Wednesday hovered over the Apple Valley area, likely producing the big snowfall difference over a fairly short distance. 

 as of late Thursday afternoon. (Make sure to check the time of the snowfall report on the link above for the latest info.)

So how did the forecast model snowfall forecasts perform in the end with this system? Here are some observations.

One additional note. Forecasters use snowfall ranges for a couple of reasons. First, snow events typically produce a wide range of amounts over a relatively small area like the Twin Cities. This storm is a great example.

Also, snowfall ranges communicate the inherent uncertainty within the forecast models, and help weather consumers prepare for the range of possible outcomes. 

And it’s good to remember that snowfall totals are just one important element in the overall forecast. Snowfall timing, intensity, water ratio, wind velocity, and temperatures have a major impact on conditions. 

Everyone focuses on snowfall totals, but an inch of snow at 10 degrees can do more damage than a foot at 30 degrees.

This latest snow blitz gives us 73.5 inches of snow this season in the Twin Cities. That’s good enough for the 17th-highest season snowfall overall. We’re just a few inches shy of a top 10 spot. And it’s still February. 

This storm had a good supply of arctic air. Lows will dip below zero Friday morning across our region. Highs Friday hover in the teens. 

Temperatures return to the 20s and 30s by Sunday. And yes, those are 60s as close as Kansas City. 

It will be a great weekend to get out and play in all that snow.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

This latest snow blitz puts the Twin Cities at 73.5 inches so far this season, less than 5 inches shy of the Top 10 snowiest winters on record — and it’s still February. The region is a little more than 2 feet from the all-time record of 98.6 inches set in 1983-84.

Storm put Twin Cities within reach of Top 10 snowiest winter

Go Deeper.

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