More Snow
December 15-16, 2003

A fast-moving storm brought a burst of snow to Minnesota and have improved the odds of a white Christmas in all four corners of the state. The snow moved roughly west to east and began in northwest Minnesota during the day on the 15th and tapered off over southeast Minnesota during the morning hours of the 16th. Amounts were the heaviest across central and northern Minnesota. A half-foot of snow fell in places such as Cambridge, Fargo, and Hinckley. Snows also fell in the Arrowhead too with four to six inch snows common even by Lake Superior. Strong winds on the 16th caused considerable blowing and drifting snow, especially in open areas.

Listed below is information on the snow from the various National Weather Service Offices serving Minnesota.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
935 AM CST TUE DEC 16 2003
...OVERNIGHT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS THROUGH 930 AM FROM SHERIFFS OFFICES AND NWS WEATHER OBSERVERS...
LOCATION                   NEW SNOWFALL (INCHES)

CAMBRIDGE                  6.0
MONTICELLO                 5.0
LITCHFIELD                 5.0
ELK RIVER                  4.0
ROCKFORD                   3.2
MORA                       3.0
CENTER CITY                3.0
PRINCETON                  2.8 
GLENCOE                    2.5
FAIRMONT                   2.5
SPRING VALLEY WI           2.5
WATERTOWN                  2.3
LONG PRAIRIE               2.2
ST. CLOUD                  2.1 
ALEXANDRIA                 2.0
ELLSWORTH WI               2.0
CARLOS                     2.0
GLENWOOD                   2.0
WILLMAR                    2.0
CHANHASSEN NWS             2.0
LITTLE FALLS               1.5 
MANKATO                    1.5
BALSAM LAKE WI             1.5
CANBY                      1.5
CHIPPEWA FALLS WI          1.0
SAVAGE                     1.0


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
0930 CST TUE DEC 16 2003

THESE ARE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS FROM
COOPERATIVE AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS.
                  
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA                         

ST LOUIS COUNTY              SNOWFALL/ SNOW DEPTH
CRANE LAKE..............        4.0  /  11 IN
CARLTON COUNTY
CLOQUET 5NW.............        4.0  /   6 IN 
 
PINE COUNTY
HINCKLEY................        6.0  /           
NEAR FINLAYSON..........        6.5  /             
PINE CITY...............        4.0  /   6 IN

CASS COUNTY
DIXON LAKE..............        5.0  /   9 IN
CROW WING COUNTY    
BRAINERD 10SW...........        2.0  /        
AITKIN COUNTY
ISLE 12N................        3.0  /   6 IN
LAKE COUNTY
ISABELLA................        4.0  /   9 IN   
BEAVER BAY..............        4.0  /
FINLAND (DNR)...........        6.0  /  10 IN 
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN          SNOWFALL/SNOW DEPTH
DOUGLAS COUNTY
BENNETT..................       4.5  /   8 IN
SOUTH RANGE..............       6.0  /

IRON COUNTY
GURNEY...................       2.8  /  14 IN


COOPERATIVE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS...UPDATED 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
1057 AM CST TUE DEC 16 2003

HIGH TEMPERATURES PAST 24 HOURS (7AM - 7AM)
LOW TEMPERATURES PAST 24 HOURS (7AM - 7AM)
PRECIPITATION TOTAL PAST 24 HOURS (7AM - 7AM) 
 
                         TEMPERATURE     PRECIPITATION (24 HRS)
                         MAX    MIN      PRECIP  SNOWFALL  DEPTH  
MINNESOTA SITES
 
  ARGYLE                   M       M        0.21    1.9        3
  BLACKDUCK               27      11           M    3.5        8
  BRECKENRIDGE            28      12        0.18    2.5        3
  CROOKSTON               28       6        0.20    3.0        3
  DALTON 3S               27       9        0.14    1.8        3
  KARLSTAD                26       7           M    2.0        7
  OTTERTAIL               27      11        0.30      M        5
  NEW YORK MILLS          26      11        0.13    2.0        5
  NORRIS CAMP DNR         26       9        0.23    3.0        8
  RED LAKE FALLS          26       7        0.30    5.0        8
  SABIN                   30       9        0.59    5.7        8
  TAMERAC REFUGE          29     -16           M    5.0        6
  WADENA                  28      15        0.12    1.5        2
  WARROAD                 27      10        0.19    4.0        7
  ARGYLE  4E                                   M    1.9        3
  GREENBUSH                                 0.08    1.0        6
  ITASCA                                    0.27    3.8        8
  LANCASTER                                 0.09    1.0        M
  LONG LOST LAKE                            0.24    3.2        7
  NEWFOLDEN                                    M    2.0        4
  PELICAN RAPIDS 2N                         0.19    4.8        7
  TWIN VALLEY                                  M    5.0        8
  VIKING                                    0.12    2.0        4
  WASKISH                                   0.31    3.5        8
  WAUBUN 2E                                 0.36    4.0        7
 
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1025 AM CST TUE DEC 16 2003

...FINAL SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR DECEMBER 16TH...
                             
LOCATION                   COUNTY              SNOWFALL   SNOWDEPTH

...MINNESOTA...
AUSTIN KAAL TV             MOWER                  2.0
ALTURA 5W                  WINONA                 1.0          2
BYRON 3N                   OLMSTED                3.7          8
CALEDONIA                  HOUSTON                0.6          2
ELGIN 2SSW                 OLMSTED                2.3          4
GRAND MEADOW               MOWER                  1.5          4
LA CRESCENT 1NNW           HOUSTON                1.0          M
LAKE CITY COOP             WABASHA                2.4          8
PRESTON                    FILLMORE               1.0          2
ROCHESTER                  OLMSTED                3.0"
ROCHESTER KTTC TV          OLMSTED                2.5"
SPRING GROVE 4N            HOUSTON                1.1          2
SPRING VALLEY              FILLMORE               1.0          M
THEILMAN 1SSW              WABASHA                2.2          6
WABASHA                    WABASHA                2.6          6
MANTORVILLE                DODGE                  2.7          M
WINONA                     WINONA                 1.5

-

Return Return to Minnesota Climatology Working Group Main page


URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/snow031215_16.htm
Last modified: December 16, 2003