Blizzard of April 10-11, 2008

Large waves in Duluth: April 10, 2008

Large waves in Duluth: April 10, 2008
Courtesy Allete(Minnesota Power)

The winter of 07-08 flexed its muscle once again with a powerful April snowstorm and blizzard. A strong low pressure area developed over Kansas and moved northeastward into Iowa. By the afternoon of April 11, the center of the storm was over northeast Iowa. Blizzard Warnings were posted for Northeast Minnesota along Lake Superior, in far southwest Minnesota and parts of west central Minnesota. There was plenty of moisture for the storm to work with and reports of an inch of melted precipitation were common over southern and central Minnesota. North and west of a line from Redwood Falls to the Twin Cities the precipitation was mostly in the form of snow. As of 9am April 11th, the heaviest snow total found so far was 14.6 inches in Madison located in lac Qui Parle County. By the afternoon of April 11, conditions gradually impoved and the blizzard warnings were dropped.

Another outstanding aspect, other than the heavy snow, was the wind. Very strong easterly winds herald the advance of the main storm. The 6pm balloon launch at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen recorded a wind speed of 87 mph was measured at 3,900 ft above ground level. During the peak of the blizzard in Duluth the winds gusted up to 62 mph during the peak of the blizzard on April 11. Farther south, strong easterly winds caused the ice on Lake Pepin began to build up on shore and create ice piles.

Below is a description from Mark Seeley's Weather Talk

Last Thursday through Saturday (April 10-12) brought perhaps the last winter storm of the season to our region. A deep low pressure system slowly migrated from the SW to NE across the area and brought abundant precipitation and high winds. Winds of over 50 mph brought 8-12 waves along the Lake Superior shoreline, and several areas nearby endured blizzard conditions. Many other areas reported winds over 40 mph as well. Snowfall amounts across central and northern Minnesota ranged from 6 to 14 inches. Madison in Lac Qui Parle County reported a storm total of 14.6 inches, while Little Falls accumulated 12 inches. Total precipitation amounts were impressive as well with Itasca State Park, Morris, Ortonville, Long Prairie, and and Willmar all reporting over 1 inch of liquid water. Across southern locations where the storm brought mostly rainfall, the totals were near record-setting. Winnebago, Rushford, Lanesboro, Spring Valley, and Preston all reported over 2 inches.

Following the storm, a polar high pressure system brought very cold air to northern and central counties by Monday morning. Record low temperatures were reported on April 14th at Theilman with 18 degrees F, Hibbing and Babbitt with 7 degrees F, and St Cloud with 15 degrees F.


National Weather Service Storm Event Summaries and Maps:


Below are storm reports and storm totals from the National Weather Service.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
200 PM CDT SAT APR 12 2008
A BLIZZARD IMPACTED THE NORTH SHORE...TO DULUTH...AND POINTS EAST ALONG THE SOUTH SHORE
 LATE THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HEAVY SNOW AND HIGH WINDS...FREQUENTLY GUSTING MORE THAN 
40 MPH...RESULTED IN WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND WIDESPREAD BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. 
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING WAS ALSO OBSERVED AT MANY LOCATIONS ACROSS THE NORTHLAND. NUMEROUS 
TREES WERE DOWNED...AND POWER OUTAGES WERE ALSO REPORTED. 
WIND AND SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE LISTED BELOW.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR THE STORM...WHICH BEGAN THURSDAY EVENING
 AND ENDED EARLY SATURDAY. APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO SNOWFALL SPOTTERS...CO-OPERATIVE 
OBSERVERS...AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS FOR THESE REPORTS.  

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   
16.90   3 NE ASKOV               MN  PINE             
15.00   GILE                     WI  IRON             
14.00   SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN         
14.00   5 N PILLAGER             MN  CASS             
13.60   BAYFIELD                 WI  BAYFIELD         
13.00   SAXON                    WI  IRON             
                4 FOOT DRIFTS
12.50   10 W PALISADE            MN  AITKIN           
12.50   8 S HAYWARD              WI  SAWYER           
12.20   5 N MARCELL              MN  ITASCA           
12.00   GURNEY                   WI  IRON             
11.30   KERRICK                  MN  PINE             
11.00   HAYWARD                  WI  SAWYER          
10.50   14 W DRUMMOND            WI  BAYFIELD         
                BARNES TWNSHP
10.50   SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN        
10.20   WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON         
10.00   20 NE PARK FALLS         WI  IRON             
10.00   GLIDDEN                  WI  ASHLAND          
10.00   CLOQUET                  MN  CARLTON          
10.00   BAYFIELD                 WI  BAYFIELD         
10.00   WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON        
 9.90   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS        
 9.80   GRAND RAPIDS             MN  ITASCA         
 9.50   GRAND RAPIDS             MN  SOUTHERN ITASCA  
 9.20   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS        
                MARTIN ROAD...NEAR RICE LAKE TOWNSHIP.
 9.00   OULU                     WI  BAYFIELD         
 9.00   4 SW GORDON              WI  DOUGLAS         
 9.00   BAYFIELD                 WI  BAYFIELD         
                BAYFIELD STATE FISH HATCHERY
 8.50   MAPLE                    WI  DOUGLAS          
 8.40   COHASSET                 MN  ITASCA          
 8.20   SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN         
 8.20   1 NE LUTSEN              MN  COOK             
 8.00   1 SW HINCKLEY            MN  PINE            
 8.00   22 N AITKIN              MN  AITKIN          
 7.30   SILVER BAY               MN  LAKE             
 7.30   ORR                      MN  ST. LOUIS        
 6.50   DULUTH                   MN  ST. LOUIS       
                LAKEWOOD TOWNSHIP.
 6.50   CULVER                   MN  ST. LOUIS       
 6.00   PARK FALLS               WI  PRICE            
 5.50   BRIMSON                  MN  ST. LOUIS       
 4.00   1 W PHILLIPS             WI  PRICE           
      
                         
                          PEAK WIND GUSTS...

DULUTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...62 MPH
DULUTH SKY HARBOR AIRPORT...54 MPH
CLOQUET...52 MPH
TWO HARBORS...51 MPH
HAYWARD...49 MPH
ASHLAND...47 MPH
SILVER BAY...46 MPH
SUPERIOR...43 MPH



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
250 PM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

...PRELIMINARY SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM THURSDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING...

A POTENT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LIFTED FROM KANSAS ON THURSDAY
MORNING TO NORTHEAST IOWA BY EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THIS
PRODUCED MIXED PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE REGION...EVENTUALLY
TRANSITIONING TO ALL SNOW ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA
AND NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE RANKED ACCORDING TO COMBINED SNOWFALL AND
SLEET ACCUMULATION...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR
EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 14.60   MADISON                  MN  LAC QUI PARLE    1250 PM
 12.00   LITTLE FALLS             MN  MORRISON         0626 AM
 11.00   2 N SAUK CENTRE          MN  STEARNS          0815 AM
 10.40   LONG PRAIRIE             MN  TODD             0600 AM
 10.00   8 S MOTLEY               MN  MORRISON         0946 AM
  9.50   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          1255 PM
                 ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
  9.50   SAUK RAPIDS              MN  BENTON           0815 AM
  9.10   7 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0535 AM
  9.00   ST JOSEPH                MN  STEARNS          1248 PM
  9.00   13 ENE WARMAN            MN  KANABEC          0815 AM
  8.50   HEWITT                   MN  TODD             0800 AM
  8.30   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0100 PM
                 OFFICIAL NWS OBSERVATION
  8.00   CARLOS                   MN  DOUGLAS          0800 AM
  7.50   MURDOCK                  MN  SWIFT            0830 AM
  7.50   SAUK RAPIDS              MN  BENTON           0623 AM
  7.00   NEW LONDON               MN  KANDIYOHI        1039 AM
  7.00   ST JOSEPH                MN  STEARNS          0730 AM
  7.00   MILACA                   MN  MILLE LACS       0700 AM
  6.50   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0220 PM
  6.50   MONTEVIDEO               MN  CHIPPEWA         0946 AM
  6.00   WILLMAR                  MN  KANDIYOHI        0800 AM
  6.00   GILMAN                   MN  BENTON           0725 AM
  6.00   6 NW RICE LAKE           WI  BARRON           0643 AM
  6.00   ALBANY                   MN  STEARNS          0500 AM
  5.80   DONNELLY                 MN  STEVENS          0715 AM
  5.30   MORA                     MN  KANABEC          0700 AM
  5.20   MORRIS                   MN  STEVENS          0800 AM
  4.50   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0932 AM
  4.00   LITCHFIELD               MN  MEEKER           1250 PM
  4.00   CUSHING                  WI  POLK             0935 AM
  4.00   DANUBE                   MN  RENVILLE         0800 AM
  3.10   BUFFALO                  MN  WRIGHT           0800 AM
  3.00   BROWNTON                 MN  MCLEOD           0800 AM
  2.80   1 S RICE LAKE            WI  BARRON           0655 AM
  2.50   NORTH BRANCH             MN  CHISAGO          0830 AM
  2.50   MORRIS                   MN  STEVENS          0800 AM
  2.20   CHANHASSEN               MN  CARVER           0100 PM
  2.10   ROCKFORD                 MN  HENNEPIN         0220 PM
  2.00   BALDWIN                  WI  ST. CROIX        0800 AM
  1.70   LESTER PRAIRIE           MN  MCLEOD           0700 AM
  1.50   CLAYTON                  WI  POLK             0800 AM
  1.30   CHASKA                   MN  CARVER           0600 AM
  1.00   1 S CONNORSVILLE         WI  DUNN             0935 AM
  1.00   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0900 AM
  1.00   MORGAN                   MN  REDWOOD          0715 AM
  0.80   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0700 AM
                 MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTL AIRPORT
  0.70   STANLEY                  WI  CHIPPEWA         0800 AM
  0.50   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       0700 AM
  0.50   WINTHROP                 MN  SIBLEY           0500 AM


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
815 AM CDT MON APR 14 2008
...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FROM APRIL 10-11...

THE FOLLOWING ARE FINAL SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE APRIL 10-11
SNOWFALL EVENT AS MEASURED BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS
AND STORM SPOTTERS.
NORTH DAKOTA                                    SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                            FALL (IN)

 FAIRMOUNT (RICHLAND)..........................13.0
 COOPERSTOWN (GRIGGS)..........................7.0-8.0
 2.5S/4.5E WIMBLEDON (BARNES)..................6.0
 ENDERLIN (RANSOM).............................6.0
 FINLEY (STEELE)...............................4.0-6.0
 LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................5.5
 ASOS @ GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)...........4.2
 MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................4.0
 HANNAFORD (GRIGGS)............................4.0
 GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................3.6
 ALICE (CASS)..................................3.0
 FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................2.3
 ASOS @ FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)...................2.1
 VALLEY CITY (BARNES)..........................2.0
 FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................2.0
 HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................2.0
 LISBON (RANSOM)...............................1.0-2.0
MINNESOTA                                      SNOW
 LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

 LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)..................10.5
 ITASCA U OF M (CLEARWATER)...................10.5
 BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)............................8.0
 WADENA (WADENA)...............................7.0
 SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................6.5
 PARK RAPIDS (HUBBARD).........................6.0
 BRECKENRIDGE (WILKIN).........................4.5
 5 S CLEARBROOK (CLEARWATER)...................4.0
 ELBOW LAKE (GRANT)............................4.0
 WASKISH (BELTRAMI)............................3.5
 PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................3.0
 FRAZEE (BECKER)...............................3.0
 DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................2.6
 PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................2.5
 SABIN (CLAY)..................................2.0
 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................2.0
 20 E MAHNOMEN (MAHNOMEN)......................2.0
 RED LAKE (BELTRAMI)...........................2.0
 RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................1.5
 GONVICK (CLEARWATER)..........................2.0
 HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................1.0
 GRYGLA DNR (MARSHALL).........................1.0   
 VIKING (MARSHALL).............................TRACE $$



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1028 AM CDT FRI APR 11 2008

...MAXIMUM OBSERVED WIND GUSTS DURING THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY
MORNING...

THE FOLLOWING TABLE LISTS THE HIGHEST OBSERVED WIND GUSTS FROM
THURSDAY AND EARLY FRIDAY MORNING AT SEVERAL CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN AIRPORTS...ARRANGED
ALPHABETICALLY. NOTE...HIGHER WIND GUSTS MAY HAVE OCCURRED
BETWEEN OBSERVATIONS AT AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM
/AWOS/ SITES.

LOCATION              MAXIMUM OBSERVED WIND GUST          TIME
--------------------------------------------------------------
ALBERT LEA MN...................47 MPH....................2 PM
ALEXANDRIA MN...................39 MPH...................12 AM
APPLETON MN.....................40 MPH....................7 PM
BENSON MN.......................39 MPH....................9 PM
BLAINE MN.......................41 MPH....................5 PM
CRYSTAL MN......................37 MPH....................2 PM
EAU CLAIRE WI...................44 MPH....................8 PM
EDEN PRAIRIE MN.................44 MPH....................9 PM
FAIRMONT MN.....................44 MPH....................6 PM
FARIBAULT MN....................45 MPH....................4 PM
GLENWOOD MN.....................49 MPH...................10 PM
GRANITE FALLS MN................43 MPH....................6 PM
HUTCHINSON MN...................45 MPH....................5 PM
LITCHFIELD MN...................41 MPH....................8 PM
MANKATO MN......................46 MPH....................3 PM
MENOMONIE WI....................41 MPH....................5 PM
MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL
INTL AIRPORT MN.................43 MPH....................4 PM
MONTEVIDEO MN...................40 MPH....................7 PM
MORRIS MN.......................41 MPH...................11 PM
NEW ULM MN......................39 MPH...................10 PM
NEW RICHMOND WI.................40 MPH....................8 PM
OLIVIA MN.......................46 MPH....................7 PM
OSCEOLA WI......................36 MPH....................8 PM
OWATONNA MN.....................46 MPH....................6 PM
PAYNESVILLE MN..................43 MPH....................3 PM
PRINCETON MN....................38 MPH....................4 PM
RED WING MN.....................40 MPH....................5 PM
REDWOOD FALLS MN................39 MPH....................7 PM
ST CLOUD MN.....................43 MPH....................2 AM
ST JAMES MN.....................43 MPH....................6 PM
ST PAUL MN......................43 MPH....................7 PM
STANTON MN......................43 MPH....................6 PM
STAPLES MN......................38 MPH...................10 PM
WASECA MN.......................48 MPH....................6 PM
WILLMAR MN......................47 MPH....................8 PM

THE BELOW TABLE RANKS THE HIGHEST WIND GUSTS BY SPEED FROM THE
ABOVE TABLE.

MAXIMUM OBSERVED WIND GUST......LOCATION..................TIME
--------------------------------------------------------------
1...49 MPH......................GLENWOOD MN..............10 PM
2...48 MPH......................WASECA MN.................6 PM
3...47 MPH......................ALBERT LEA MN.............2 PM
3T..47 MPH......................WILLMAR MN................8 PM
5...46 MPH......................MANKATO MN................3 PM
5T..46 MPH......................OLIVIA MN.................7 PM
5T..46 MPH......................OWATONNA MN...............6 PM