Snowstorm
November 21-23, 2003
For the first time this winter season, a classic winter storm originated in the lower Great Plains. The storm
then moved through Missouri, across Iowa and into southern Wisconsin. This storm track put Minnesota in the favorable heavy snow band. Before the main storm even arrived there was a weaker storm that moved to the northeast from South Dakota and brought snow to west central and central Minnesota. 2 to 5 inches fell across west central Minnesota. Madison in Lac Qui Parle County picked up an impressive 10.5 inches. Then the whole state waited in anticipation for the big weekend storm.
Map of November 21, 2003 snow event from the Chanhassen National Weather Service.
The main event began as very light snow on the 22nd and picked up in earnest during the night and early morning hours of the 23rd. The low pressure area moved a little faster and was a little weaker than expected, but still dropped some heavy snow amounts. A wide band of 4 inches or more fell over a large area of Minnesota. There were some exceptions. Northwestern Minnesota was too far from the storm and only saw flurries. Over southeast Minnesota warm air kept the precipitation as mainly rain. Some icy accumulation was noted in spots over southeastern Minnesota. The heaviest snow was over north central and northeast Minnesota with 13 inches at Pokegama Dam, McGregor and Brainerd.
Map of November 22-23, 2003 snow event from the Chanhassen National Weather Service.
Map of November 22-23, 2003 snow event from the Duluth National Weather Service.
Listed below is information on the snow from the various National Weather Service Offices serving Minnesota
####################################################
# SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE APPROXIMATE ENDING MONDAY #
# MORNING - NOVEMBER 24TH. #
# #
# SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE FROM BOTH COOPERATIVE #
# AND SNOWFALL SPOTTERS #
####################################################
NORTHEAST MINNESOTA LOCATIONS
=============================================
COOK 031124/1200 9.00
DULUTH_WFO 031124/1200 9.00
EMBARRASS 031124/1200 9.00
LEECH_LAKE_DAM 031124/1200 5.00
GRAND_PORTAGE 031124/1200 4.00
GULL_LAKE 031124/1200 4.00
GRAND_MARAIS 031124/1200 6.00
INTERNATIONAL_FALLS 031124/1200 5.00
ISABELLA 031124/1200 9.00
ISLE 031124/1200 7.00
LITTLEFORK 031124/1200 7.00
MARCELL 031124/1200 11.00
POKEGAMA_LAKE 031124/1200 13.00
TOWER 031124/1200 12.00
KABETOGAMA 031124/1200 15.00
BABBITT 031124/1200 9.00
McGREGOR 031124/1200 13.00
CLOQUET 031124/1200 9.00
LONGVILLE 031124/1200 11.00
PINE_RIVER 031124/1200 10.00
REMER 031124/1200 9.00
GRAND_MARAIS 031124/1200 8.00
GRAND_MARAIS 031124/1200 10.00
BRAINERD 031124/1200 13.00
EMILY 031124/1200 10.00
BEAVER_BAY 031124/1200 3.00
BROOKSTON 031124/1200 6.00
COTTON 031124/1200 9.00
ELY 031124/1200 12.00
HOYT_LAKES 031124/1200 9.00
VIRGINIA 031124/1200 12.00
PNSMSP
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
230 PM CST MON NOV 24 2003
...TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR THE NOVEMBER 22-23, 2003 STORM...
LOCATION STORM TOTAL
MINNESOTA...
CANBY...............10.0
LITTLE FALLS........10.0
MILAN...............10.0
LONG PRAIRIE........10.0
NEW LONDON.......... 9.0
ONAMIA.............. 8.0
CLEARWATER.......... 8.0
BENSON.............. 8.0
DAWSON.............. 8.0
ST. CLOUD........... 8.0
BUFFALO............. 8.0
WILLMAR............. 8.0
LE CENTER........... 7.0
SAVAGE.............. 7.0
ALBANY.............. 7.0
CHANHASSEN NWS...... 6.6
LITCHFIELD.......... 6.0
DASSEL.............. 6.0
REDWOOD FALLS....... 6.0
ST. JAMES........... 6.0
CAMBRIDGE........... 6.0
MORA................ 6.0
HUTCHINSON.......... 6.0
CARLOS.............. 6.0
MILACA.............. 6.0
OLIVIA...............6.0
GLENWOOD............ 5.0
CEDAR............... 5.0
MORRIS.............. 4.0
MANKATO............. 4.0
CENTER CITY......... 4.0
ST. PAUL............ 4.0
STILLWATER.......... 4.0
FOREST LAKE......... 4.0
VERMILLION.......... 3.0
FAIRMONT............ 3.0
NEW ULM............. 2.0
FARIBAULT........... 2.0
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
912 AM CST MON NOV 24 2003
24 HOUR SNOWFALL TOTALS AND TOTAL SNOWDEPTH ACROSS THE AREA
LOCATION COUNTY SNOWFALL SNOWDEPTH
ALTURA 5W WINONA T 0
DODGE CENTER 2W DODGE 0.5
ELGIN 2SSW OLMSTED 0.5 1
GRAND MEADOW MOWER 1.0 1
LAKE CITY COOP WABASHA 1.3 1
PRESTON FILLMORE 0.2
ROCHESTER AP OLMSTED 0.3 0
RUSHFORD FILLMORE 0.0 0
SPRING GROVE 4N HOUSTON 0.4
WABASHA WABASHA 0.1
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1047 AM CDT MON NOV 24 2003
24 HOUR SNOWFALL DATA IN INCHES FOR SOUTH DAKOTA AND THE
SURROUNDING STATES...ENDING 7 AM MONDAY NOVEMBER 24 2003.
MINNESOTA:
LAKEFIELD 2.1
Return to Minnesota Climatology Working Group Main page
URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/snow031121_23.htm
Last modified: November 25, 2003
|