Blizzard of April 10-11, 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