Snowstorm and Blizzard of April 25-26, 2008
Snow at Pine River in Cass County April 26, 2008
Courtesy windryder1 at www.weatherunderground.com
Winter continued to have an icy grip on Minnesota. The latest snowstorm and blizzard hit west central and north central Minnesota on April 25th and 26th. A double barreled low pressure area along a stationary front brought two waves of moisture to the state. The first low brought a wave of steady rain over the eastern part of Minnesota dumping an inch or more in some locations. Some of the highest rainfall totals in Minnesota for April 25th and 26th were 2.68 inches in Caledonia and 2.23 inches in Brownsville, both in Houston County. Another low pressure center developed along the front on April 25th over southern Iowa and moved northeast as it intensified. By April 26, the center of the low was over the north shore of Lake Superior. This storm had plenty of cold air to work with, along with a high amount of moisture. The result was one of the heaviest late season winter storms in recent memory in the state. A swath of a foot or more of snow fell in a band about 80 miles wide from east central South Dakota to Lake of the Woods. Some of the highest snowfall totals found were 18 inches near Pelican Rapids and Fergus Falls in Otter Tail County. Strong winds created enormous drifts in some areas.
This storm, and the cold air that followed, continued to delay ice out for lakes across central and Northern Minnesota.
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 TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1043 AM CDT SAT APR 26 2008
...RARE LATE APRIL HEAVY SNOW...
THE TOTALS BELOW ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION. SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT
INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME
------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------
15.50 1 SE BRANDON MN DOUGLAS 0800 AM
TWO OTHER REPORTS IN AND NEAR BRANDON ALSO
AROUND 15.5 INCHES.
12.00 DONNELLY MN STEVENS 0650 AM
11.00 5 SW EVANSVILLE MN DOUGLAS 0904 AM
10.40 HEWITT MN TODD 0640 AM
10.00 6 SW CANBY MN YELLOW MEDICINE 0900 AM
10.00 CYRUS MN POPE 0900 AM
8.00 STAPLES MN TODD 0904 AM
7.20 BENSON MN SWIFT 1003 AM
7.00 2 SW CLARKFIELD MN YELLOW MEDICINE 0900 AM
6.00 2 N SAUK CENTRE MN STEARNS 0814 AM
STILL SNOWING.
5.50 CARLOS MN DOUGLAS 0751 AM
5.20 LONG PRAIRIE MN TODD 0603 AM
4.00 WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0827 AM
4.00 NEW LONDON MN KANDIYOHI 0827 AM
3.70 DASSEL MN MEEKER 0700 AM
3.50 MURDOCK MN SWIFT 1030 AM
3.50 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0815 AM
3.00 HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 1012 AM
3.00 BROWNTON MN MCLEOD 1012 AM
0.8 INCHES OF TOTAL PRECIPITATION
3.00 ST JOSEPH MN STEARNS 0800 AM
3.00 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0630 AM
2.30 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0700 AM
2.00 MORRILL MN MORRISON 0839 AM
2.00 CAMBRIDGE MN ISANTI 0745 AM
2.00 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0730 AM
MEASURED AT SCSU
2.00 WACONIA MN CARVER 0730 AM
2.00 LITTLE FALLS MN MORRISON 0640 AM
1.80 ANDOVER MN ANOKA 0900 AM
1.60 7 S HILLMAN MN MORRISON 1012 AM
1.50 2 SW BOWLUS MN MORRISON 1031 AM
1.50 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0926 AM
1.50 WATERVILLE MN LE SUEUR 0904 AM
1.50 BUFFALO MN WRIGHT 0827 AM
1.30 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0500 AM
1.20 FOREST LAKE MN WASHINGTON 0700 AM
1.00 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 1012 AM
1.00 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 1012 AM
1.00 WATERTOWN MN CARVER 0848 AM
1.00 BALDWIN WI ST. CROIX 0837 AM
1.00 LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0730 AM
0.70 MANKATO MN BLUE EARTH 0640 AM
0.70 CHASKA MN CARVER 0603 AM
0.60 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0700 AM
0.50 SPRINGFIELD MN BROWN 0730 AM
0.30 STILLWATER MN WASHINGTON 0730 AM
0.30 6 NW RICE LAKE WI BARRON 0650 AM
0.20 MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0700 AM
MEASURED AT THE MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL AIRPORT
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1119 AM CDT SAT APR 26 2008
...SNOW REPORTS THROUGH 11 AM CDT SATURDAY MORNING...
HEAVY...WET LATE SEASON SNOW FELL FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING ACROSS PARTS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST
CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW FALL
REPORTS RECEIVED THROUGH 11 AM CDT FROM NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...TRAINED SPOTTERS...BROADCAST MEDIA...AND THE PUBLIC.
NOTE...E IS FOR ESTIMATED...AND M IS FOR MEASURED.
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
MINNESOTA
...BELTRAMI COUNTY...
BEMIDJI 12.0 E 607 AM 04/26 47.48N 94.88W
KELLIHER 8.0 E 607 AM 04/26 47.94N 94.45W
WASKISH 8.0 M 900 AM 04/26 48.16N 94.51W
...CLAY COUNTY...
HAWLEY 15.0 E 640 AM 04/26 46.88N 96.32W
MOORHEAD 8.3 M 640 AM 04/26 46.86N 96.76W
...CLEARWATER COUNTY...
LONG LOST LAKE 11.5 M 700 AM 04/26 47.19N 95.42W
...HUBBARD COUNTY...
10 N PARK RAPIDS 9.0 E 845 AM 04/26 47.06N 95.06W
...LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY...
5 N ROOSEVELT 12.0 E 640 AM 04/26 48.88N 95.10W
...OTTER TAIL COUNTY...
FERGUS FALLS 15.0 E 630 AM 04/26 46.28N 96.07W
PELICAN RAPIDS 16.0 M 900 AM 04/26 46.57N 96.09W
PELICAN RAPIDS 18.0 E 640 AM 04/26 46.57N 96.09W
PHELPS 13.0 M 900 AM 04/26 46.38N 95.82W
...POLK COUNTY...
FOSSTON 12.0 E 700 AM 04/26 47.58N 95.75W
...RED LAKE COUNTY...
RED LAKE FALLS 9.0 M 700 AM 04/26 47.89N 96.27W
...WADENA COUNTY...
SEBEKA 11.0 M 900 AM 04/26 46.63N 95.09W
WADENA 7.0 M 700 AM 04/26 46.44N 95.13W
...WILKIN COUNTY...
BRECKENRIDGE 12.0 M 700 AM 04/26 46.26N 96.59W
ROTHSAY 13.5 E 8OO AM 04/26 46.47N 96.29W
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
NORTH DAKOTA
...CASS COUNTY...
FARGO 7.0 E 640 AM 04/26 46.88N 96.82W
...RANSOM COUNTY...
LISBON 1.0 E 640 AM 04/26 46.44N 97.68W
...RICHLAND COUNTY...
LIDGERWOOD 8.5 M 700 AM 04/26 46.07N 97.15W
MANTADOR 10.0 M 900 AM 04/26 46.17N 96.98W
WAHPETON 18.0 E 640 AM 04/26 46.27N 96.61W
...SARGENT COUNTY...
HAVANA 5.5 M 640 AM 04/26 45.95N 97.62W
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
1204 PM CDT SAT APR 26 2008
HEAVY SNOW REPORTS
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
MINNESOTA
...BIG STONE COUNTY...
ORTONVILLE 10.0 E 500 AM 04/26 45.30N 96.44W
...TRAVERSE COUNTY...
1 W TINTAH 9.0 M 800 AM 04/26 46.01N 96.34W
WHEATON 9.5 M 530 AM 04/26 45.81N 96.50W
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
SOUTH DAKOTA
...CLARK COUNTY...
CLARK 9.0 M 100 AM 04/26 44.88N 97.73W
4 S GARDEN CITY 10.0 E 757 PM 04/25 44.90N 97.58W
...CODINGTON COUNTY...
WATERTOWN 19.0 M 300 AM 04/26 44.91N 97.17W
...DAY COUNTY...
WEBSTER 12.0 E 234 AM 04/26 45.34N 97.52W
...DEUEL COUNTY...
CLEAR LAKE 17.0 M 400 AM 04/26 44.77N 96.68W
...GRANT COUNTY...
2 SSW MILBANK 13.0 M 500 AM 04/26 45.19N 96.65W
...HAMLIN COUNTY...
HAZEL 10.5 E 500 PM 04/25 44.76N 97.38W
HAYTI 11.3 M 243 AM 04/26 44.66N 97.20W
...HAND COUNTY...
6 ENE DANFORTH 6.0 E 630 PM 04/25 44.29N 98.77W
...MARSHALL COUNTY...
BRITTON 6.0 M 224 AM 04/26 45.79N 97.75W
LANGFORD 6.0 E 835 PM 04/25 45.60N 97.83W
ROY LAKE STATE PARK 8.0 M 331 AM 04/26 45.71N 97.43W
...ROBERTS COUNTY...
2 W SISSETON 10.0 M 515 AM 04/26 45.66N 97.09W
4 NNE VICTOR 16.0 M 603 AM 04/26 45.92N 96.80W
...SPINK COUNTY...
HILLSIDE COLONY 8.0 E 815 PM 04/25 44.74N 98.05W
SNOW REPORTS
LOCATION SNOW FALL TIME/DATE
(INCHES) OF OBSERVATION LAT LON
SOUTH DAKOTA
...BROWN COUNTY...
1 N MANSFIELD 1.0 E 1122 AM 04/25 45.26N 98.56W
...BUFFALO COUNTY...
GANN VALLEY 3.0 E 1145 AM 04/25 44.03N 98.99W
...HUGHES COUNTY...
BLUNT 2.0 E 420 PM 04/25 44.52N 99.99W
...HYDE COUNTY...
HIGHMORE 1.0 E 425 PM 04/25 44.52N 99.44W
...SPINK COUNTY...
DOLAND 4.5 M 1100 PM 04/25 44.89N 98.10W
REDFIELD 4.5 M 1000 PM 04/25 44.87N 98.52W
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
1257 PM CDT SAT APR 26 2008
...HIGHEST WINDS SORTED BY SUSTAINED SPEED IN THE PAST 6 HOURS...
STATION COUNTY TIME SPEED GUST
DEXTER RWIS MOWER 1147 AM 35 MPH 43 MPH
GRAND MEADOW - KIMT MOWER 955 AM 33 MPH MPH
BYRON/KASSON RWIS DODGE 1200 PM 33 MPH 45 MPH
ARCADIA HILL RWIS TREMPEALEAU 1010 AM 33 MPH 48 MPH
PRESTON AWOS FILLMORE 1215 PM 32 MPH 38 MPH
KELLOGG RWIS WABASHA 1049 AM 31 MPH 47 MPH
ROCHESTER ASOS OLMSTED 1154 AM 31 MPH 43 MPH
DODGE CENTER AWOS DODGE 856 AM 30 MPH 39 MPH
MOUNT STERLING 1S RWIS CRAWFORD 809 AM 29 MPH 40 MPH
VOLK FIELD JUNEAU 1055 AM 29 MPH 41 MPH
OELWEIN AWOS FAYETTE 1115 AM 29 MPH 36 MPH
MEDFORD AWOS TAYLOR 1155 AM 29 MPH 39 MPH
CHARLES CITY AWOS FLOYD 855 AM 28 MPH 33 MPH
LA CROSSE ASOS LA CROSSE 1053 AM 26 MPH 40 MPH
AUSTIN AWOS MOWER 1215 PM 26 MPH 33 MPH
MONONA HS AWS CLAYTON 954 AM 26 MPH MPH
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN AWOS CRAWFORD 955 AM 25 MPH 35 MPH
PRESTON KIMT FILLMORE 655 AM 25 MPH MPH
WISC DELLS AWOS SAUK 1115 AM 25 MPH 31 MPH
CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL AWS OLMSTED 1144 AM 23 MPH MPH
BOSCOBEL ASOS GRANT 1153 AM 23 MPH 36 MPH
NECEDAH RAWS JUNEAU 1048 AM 23 MPH 38 MPH
CHARLES CITY KIMT FLOYD 1113 AM 22 MPH MPH
SPARTA AWOS MONROE 1035 AM 22 MPH 33 MPH
WSU CAMPUS AWS WINONA 1129 AM 22 MPH MPH
WILLOW CREEK - KIMT OLMSTED 715 AM 22 MPH MPH
AUSTIN KIMT MOWER 1036 AM 21 MPH MPH
WINONA AWOS WINONA 1055 AM 21 MPH 32 MPH
RICEVILLE - KIMT HOWARD 755 AM 21 MPH MPH
TOMAH 4N RWIS MONROE 1007 AM 20 MPH 36 MPH
KEY TO OBSERVATION TYPES
AWS - SENSORS FROM AWS INCORPORATED. OFTEN LOCATED AT SCHOOLS.
RWIS - ROAD WEATHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS. LOCATED ON MAJOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.
RAWS - FIRE WEATHER OBSERVATIONS. OFTEN LOCATED IN FORESTS.
ASOS/AWOS - AVIATION WEATHER OBSERVATIONS. LOCATED AT AIRPORTS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT
AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.