Snowstorm and Blizzard
February 28 to March 2, 2007

A low pressure area formed over Kansas on February 28th and rapidly deepened as it moved northeast over Iowa and Wisconsin. This storm was the perfect setup for heavy snow over Minnesota. The snow began during the evening of February 28th and continued through March 2. A wide swath of snowfall amounts of a foot or more fell across southern and central Minnesota and along the north shore. The highest amount found on March 2 was 25 inches at Wolf Ridge in Lake County. The Twin Cities saw 12.3 inches of snow for a storm total through March 2.

This storm was the first time for the 2006-7 snow season that a widespread blizzard warning was issued not only for Red River Valley, but also for southwest and south central Minnesota. I 90 was closed from Albert Lea to the South Dakota border for a time and I-35 was closed from Albert Lea to Ames.

The U of M closed during the afternoon on March 1st marking the first time since January 18, 1994 that the University has closed due to a weather event.

An interesting pile of ice was observed on the north shore of Lake Superior in Lake County near Tettegouche State Park. Large waves piled up ice 40 feet high and then crashed into the ice mound throwing spray and ice boulders off the top of it. Onshore winds gusting to 59mph along the north shore was the culprit.

Listed below are snowfall totals courtesy the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service Offices in the region also posted web articles about this event including Chanhassen, Duluth, and Sioux Falls.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
630 PM CST SAT MAR 03 2007

...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FROM FEBRUARY 28TH THROUGH MARCH 2ND...
THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
20.20   ANDOVER                  MN  ANOKA            0725 PM
20.00   CUSHING                  WI  POLK             0100 PM
19.00   EAST BETHEL              MN  ANOKA            0224 PM 
18.50   1 SW HUTCHINSON          MN  MCLEOD           1145 AM
18.50   CAMBRIDGE                MN  ISANTI           0812 AM
18.00   DEEPHAVEN                MN  HENNEPIN         1124 AM
18.00   MINNETONKA               MN  HENNEPIN         0545 AM
17.80   PRIOR LAKE               MN  SCOTT            1124 AM
17.50   CHASKA                   MN  CARVER           0700 AM
17.40   NEW HOPE                 MN  HENNEPIN         0711 AM
17.00   BUFFALO                  MN  WRIGHT           0100 PM
17.00   BETHEL                   MN  ANOKA            0906 AM
17.00   PRIOR LAKE               MN  SCOTT            0719 AM
                MEASURED NEAR FRANKLIN TRAIL AND HIGHWAY 13
17.00   ST JAMES                 MN  WATONWAN         0700 AM
16.50   MILACA                   MN  MILLE LACS       0309 PM
16.50   HUTCHINSON               MN  MCLEOD           0906 AM
                KDUZ RADIO.
15.10   CHANHASSEN NWS           MN  CARVER           0600 PM
15.00   MANKATO                  MN  BLUE EARTH       0900 PM
                KEYC TV
15.00   NEW BRIGHTON             MN  RAMSEY           1124 AM
15.00   HEWITT                   MN  TODD             0906 AM
14.80   NORTH ST PAUL            MN  RAMSEY           0900 PM
14.80   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             0900 PM
14.80   MORA                     MN  KANABEC          0823 AM
14.50   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0728 PM
                MEASURED AT COMO PARK.
14.50   WACONIA                  MN  CARVER           0600 PM
14.50   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0545 PM
14.50   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             0215 PM
14.50   2 N SAUK CENTRE          MN  STEARNS          0906 AM
14.30   15 N QUAMBA              MN  KANABEC          0906 AM
14.00   AMBOY                    MN  BLUE EARTH       1124 AM
14.00   GOLDEN VALLEY            MN  HENNEPIN         1046 AM
14.00   VADNAIS HEIGHTS          MN  RAMSEY           0906 AM
14.00   DELANO                   MN  WRIGHT           0823 AM
14.00   RED WING                 MN  GOODHUE          0742 AM
14.00   HENDERSON                MN  SIBLEY           0725 AM
13.90   WOODBURY                 MN  WASHINGTON       0530 PM
13.80   MAPLEWOOD                MN  RAMSEY           1046 AM
13.60   EDINA                    MN  HENNEPIN         0800 PM
13.60   GRANITE FALLS            MN  YELLOW MEDICINE  0450 PM
13.50   FRIDLEY                  MN  ANOKA            1000 PM
13.50   2 S RICE LAKE            WI  BARRON           0906 AM
13.50   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0653 AM
13.50   FOREST LAKE              MN  WASHINGTON       0600 AM
13.00   MURDOCK                  MN  SWIFT            0600 PM
13.00   NORTH BRANCH             MN  CHISAGO          0906 AM
13.00   WATERTOWN                MN  CARVER           0823 AM
13.00   SPRING LAKE PARK         MN  ANOKA            0823 AM
13.00   4 ENE RIVER FALLS        WI  ST. CROIX        0757 AM
13.00   MILROY                   MN  REDWOOD          0711 AM
13.00   FAIRMONT                 MN  MARTIN           0700 AM
13.00   WILLMAR                  MN  KANDIYOHI        0700 AM
13.00   PRINSBURG                MN  KANDIYOHI        0615 AM
12.50   EDEN PRAIRIE             MN  HENNEPIN         0750 PM
12.50   NORTH ST PAUL            MN  RAMSEY           1124 AM
12.50   ALBERT LEA               MN  FREEBORN         0700 AM
12.30   LINO LAKES               MN  ANOKA            0700 AM
12.30   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0600 AM
                MSP AIRPORT
12.20   2 SW STILLWATER          MN  WASHINGTON       0700 AM
12.10   EDEN PRAIRIE             MN  HENNEPIN         0715 AM
12.10   LAKEVILLE                MN  DAKOTA           0655 AM
12.00   CONNORSVILLE             WI  DUNN             0410 PM
12.00   NEW LONDON               MN  KANDIYOHI        0906 AM
12.00   3 SW SHERBURN            MN  MARTIN           0906 AM
12.00   MONTGOMERY               MN  LE SUEUR         0823 AM
12.00   NORWOOD/YOUNG AMERICA    MN  CARVER           0700 AM
12.00   BLOOMINGTON              MN  HENNEPIN         0620 AM
                MEASURED AT 102ND AND CHICAGO
11.50   BARRON                   WI  BARRON           0300 PM
11.50   MONTEVIDEO               MN  CHIPPEWA         0500 AM
11.50   RED WING                 MN  GOODHUE          0415 AM
11.00   ALBERT LEA               MN  FREEBORN         0730 PM
                RADIO STATION KATE
11.00   LITCHFIELD               MN  MEEKER           0700 AM
11.00   3 NE ST FRANCIS          MN  ISANTI           0700 AM
11.00   OWATONNA                 MN  STEELE           0539 AM
10.80   FARIBAULT                MN  RICE             1245 PM
                KDHL RADIO.
10.30   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       0600 PM
10.00   8 W ST CLOUD             MN  STEARNS          0100 PM
10.00   MORRISTOWN               MN  RICE             0719 AM
10.00   BALDWIN                  WI  ST. CROIX        0700 AM
10.00   DURAND                   WI  PEPIN            0700 AM
10.00   1 SW MONTEVIDEO          MN  CHIPPEWA         0700 AM
 9.90   7 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0600 PM
 9.80   2 E ST CLOUD             MN  SHERBURNE        0600 AM
 9.50   GILMAN                   MN  BENTON           0731 AM
 9.40   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0500 PM
                ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
 9.30   4 N MENOMONIE            WI  DUNN             0545 AM
                MEASURED IN THE CEDAR FALLS AREA
 9.10   WEYERHAEUSER             WI  RUSK             0700 AM
 9.10   ST PETER                 MN  NICOLLET         0700 AM
 9.00   ELLENDALE                MN  STEELE           0726 AM
 9.00   5 NE LADYSMITH           WI  RUSK             0700 AM
                AT BIG FALLS HYDRO.
 9.00   ZUMBROTA                 MN  GOODHUE          0700 AM
 9.00   MORGAN                   MN  REDWOOD          0700 AM
 8.50   3 W LADYSMITH            WI  RUSK             0700 AM
 8.50   SPRINGFIELD              MN  BROWN            0700 AM
 8.00   3 E WINNEBAGO            MN  FARIBAULT        0724 PM
 8.00   CARLOS                   MN  DOUGLAS          0813 AM
 8.00   2 W FOLEY                MN  BENTON           0625 AM
 7.80   EAU CLAIRE               WI  EAU CLAIRE       0500 AM
                MEASURED BY WEAU TV
 7.60   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0600 AM
 6.40   JIM FALLS                WI  CHIPPEWA         0700 AM
 5.70   AUGUSTA                  WI  EAU CLAIRE       0700 AM
                AT THE RANGER STATION.
 5.60   MORRIS                   MN  STEVENS          0700 AM
 5.40   STANLEY                  WI  CHIPPEWA         0906 AM

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
130 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2007
...UPDATED SNOWFALL AMOUNTS... 
THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS 
REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SPOTTERS AND LAW 
ENFORCEMENT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. ...MINNESOTA...

SABIN............................11.4
LONG LOST LAKE...................11.0
BRECKENRIDGE.....................11.0
BLACKDUCK.........................9.1
THIEF RIVER FALLS.................9.0
ARGYLE............................8.6
MOORHEAD..........................8.5
ROTHSAY...........................8.0
PELICAN RAPIDS....................8.0
DALTON............................7.8
HALSTAD...........................7.5
WADENA............................7.0
TWIN VALLEY.......................7.0
ITASCA............................6.5
RED LAKE..........................6.0
FOSSTON...........................6.0
GREENBUSH.........................4.2
VIKING............................4.0
LANCASTER.........................3.0
WARROAD...........................3.0

...NORTH DAKOTA...
CAYUGA...........................21.0
BUFFALO..........................20.0
FINLEY...........................19.0
ENDERLIN.........................18.7
LISBON...........................17.3
MADDOCK..........................17.0 
COOPERSTOWN......................16.0
MCVILLE..........................16.0
WIMBLEDON........................15.0
HAVANA...........................14.0
GRAND FORKS EAST.................13.0 
CANDO............................12.6 
LIDGERWOOD.......................12.5
CHAFFEE..........................12.0
GRAFTON..........................12.0
NEW ROCKFORD.....................12.0
GRAND FORKS NWS..................11.6
VALLEY CITY......................11.0
SARLES...........................10.0
LITCHVILLE.......................10.0
FORMAN...........................10.0
PEMBINA..........................10.0
LANKIN............................9.0
MAYVILLE..........................9.0
FARGO.............................8.5
STARKWEATHER......................8.0
EDMORE............................8.0
LANGDON...........................6.4

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTD
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
113 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2007

...UPDATED SNOWFALL TOTALS ACROSS THE AREA...

SNOW CONTINUED TO FALL FRIDAY ACROSS MOST OF EASTERN SOUTH
DAKOTA. THE SNOW COMBINED WITH VERY STRONG WINDS TO BRING
BLIZZARD CODITIONS TO ALL OF EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA.

...LOCATION...           SNOWFALL       WATER      TOTAL SNOW DEPTH                           I

                            (IN)        (IN)          (IN)
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA

MILBANK                     9.2         0.60          19
WILMOT                      7.5         0.55          22
RAUVILLE                    4.5         0.34          22
ANDOVER                     4.0         0.19          15
VICTOR                      3.5         0.35          22
COLUMBIA                    3.0         0.15          16
HECLA                       2.5            M           M
CLARK                       2.1         0.21          19
KIDDER                      2.0         0.19           M
ROSCOE                      1.5         0.11          16
TINTAH                      1.5         0.10           2
STEPHAN                       T            T           7

WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA

ORTONVILLE                  7.0         0.53          22
WHEATON                     2.4         0.26          18
BROWNS VALLEY               6.5         0.45          19

CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA

GANN VALLEY                 3.0            M           8
MURDO                         T         0.01
MISSION RIDGE                 T            T           2



PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
130 PM CST FRI MAR 2 2007

...UPDATED SNOWFALL AMOUNTS...

THE FOLLOWING IS A LISTING OF TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS REPORTED
BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SPOTTERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGH
FRIDAY MORNING.

...MINNESOTA...

SABIN............................11.4
LONG LOST LAKE...................11.0
BRECKENRIDGE.....................11.0
BLACKDUCK.........................9.1
THIEF RIVER FALLS.................9.0
ARGYLE............................8.6
MOORHEAD..........................8.5
ROTHSAY...........................8.0
PELICAN RAPIDS....................8.0
DALTON............................7.8
HALSTAD...........................7.5
WADENA............................7.0
TWIN VALLEY.......................7.0
ITASCA............................6.5
RED LAKE..........................6.0
FOSSTON...........................6.0
GREENBUSH.........................4.2
VIKING............................4.0
LANCASTER.........................3.0
WARROAD...........................3.0


...NORTH DAKOTA...

CAYUGA...........................21.0
BUFFALO..........................20.0
FINLEY...........................19.0
ENDERLIN.........................18.7
LISBON...........................17.3
MADDOCK..........................17.0
COOPERSTOWN......................16.0
MCVILLE..........................16.0
WIMBLEDON........................15.0
HAVANA...........................14.0
GRAND FORKS EAST.................13.0
CANDO............................12.6
LIDGERWOOD.......................12.5
CHAFFEE..........................12.0
GRAFTON..........................12.0
NEW ROCKFORD.....................12.0
GRAND FORKS NWS..................11.6
VALLEY CITY......................11.0
SARLES...........................10.0
LITCHVILLE.......................10.0
FORMAN...........................10.0
PEMBINA..........................10.0
LANKIN............................9.0
MAYVILLE..........................9.0
FARGO.............................8.5
STARKWEATHER......................8.0
EDMORE............................8.0
LANGDON...........................6.4


$$

WJB



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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/snow070228_070302.htm
Last modified: March 9, 2007