Snow December 22-23, 2007

In case there was any doubt having a white Christmas for 2007, Mother Nature brought more snow and cold to Minnesota. The snow arrived in two separate events. The first event was associated with a cold front that moved across the state during the wee hours of Saturday, December 22. The precipitation began as rain and changed over to a wet, slushy snow. Cold air swooped across the state by mid morning and cemented the slush to ice. Snow totals were generally in the one to three inch range over eastern Minnesota.

A strong low pressure center organized over the southern plains and moved northeast into northern Wisconsin by Sunday, December 23. The storm became stationary as it gained strength. This setup eastern Minnesota for the "backwash" snow from the system. Snow moved into the Twin Cities from the northeast around 8-9am on the 23rd and lasted for about 12 hours dropping about 2 to 4 inches of snow. Strong northwesterly winds caused much blowing and drifting. Duluth saw 9.2 inches of lake-enhanced snow. Babbit had one of the higher totals found in northeastern Minnesota with 14.5 inches of snow measured.

There were at least 350 accidents, spin outs and cars in the ditch on the 22nd in the state, and even more on the 23rd. At least seven people were killed in vehicular incidents associated with the weekend snow storms.

Snowfall totals and event reports courtesy of the National Weather Service:

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
853 AM CST MON DEC 24 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1230 PM     SNOW             12 N BRUCE              45.63N 91.27W
12/23/2007  M6.0 INCH        RUSK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1230 PM     SNOW             LADYSMITH               45.46N 91.10W
12/23/2007  E6.0 INCH        RUSK               WI   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1230 PM     SNOW             12 NW BALSAM LAKE       45.58N 92.63W
12/23/2007  M5.0 INCH        POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0310 PM     SNOW             ST PAUL                 44.95N 93.10W
12/23/2007  M3.7 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED IN SW ST. PAUL. 3.7 INCHES TODAY. WEEKEND TOTAL
            4.9 INCHES. MEASURED WIND GUST OF 41 MPH.

0330 PM     SNOW             CUMBERLAND              45.54N 92.02W
12/23/2007  M6.0 INCH        BARRON             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0345 PM     SNOW             NORTH ST PAUL           45.01N 93.00W
12/23/2007  M3.7 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL SNOW DEPTH 8 INCHES.

0402 PM     SNOW             10 N ST CROIX FALLS     45.55N 92.63W
12/23/2007  E3.8 INCH        POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED IN CUSHING. ACCUMULATION FROM TODAY.

0405 PM     SNOW             5 N OGILVIE             45.90N 93.42W
12/23/2007  M1.8 INCH        KANABEC            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED IN ANN LAKE TOWNSHIP. SNOW DEPTH 9 INCHES.

0407 PM     SNOW             OWATONNA                44.09N 93.22W
12/23/2007  E2.0 INCH        STEELE             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0500 PM     SNOW             STANLEY                 44.96N 90.94W
12/23/2007  M6.8 INCH        CHIPPEWA           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0500 PM     SNOW             RUSH CITY               45.68N 92.97W
12/23/2007  M3.0 INCH        CHISAGO            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0522 PM     SNOW             EAU CLAIRE              44.82N 91.49W
12/23/2007  M6.7 INCH        EAU CLAIRE         WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            0.35 INCHES OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT

0530 PM     SNOW             WOODBURY                44.91N 92.92W
12/23/2007  M4.4 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL

0641 PM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
12/23/2007  M3.9 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED IN SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS NEAR 46TH AND BLOOMINGTON.


0655 PM     SNOW             MEDICINE LAKE           45.00N 93.42W
12/23/2007  M3.5 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0754 PM     SNOW             CLAYTON                 45.32N 92.17W
12/23/2007  M4.5 INCH        POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 PM     SNOW             CAMBRIDGE               45.56N 93.23W
12/23/2007  M3.5 INCH        ISANTI             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 PM     SNOW             FRIDLEY                 45.08N 93.26W
12/23/2007  M3.5 INCH        ANOKA              MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0800 PM     SNOW             NEW HOPE                45.04N 93.39W
12/23/2007  M3.9 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 PM     SNOW             7 S HILLMAN             45.91N 93.89W
12/23/2007  E2.1 INCH        MORRISON           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 PM     SNOW             LUCK                    45.58N 92.47W
12/23/2007  E7.5 INCH        POLK               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            8.0 INCHES FOR WEEKEND TOTAL.

0921 PM     SNOW             RED WING                44.58N 92.60W
12/23/2007  E3.5 INCH        GOODHUE            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0921 PM     SNOW             SW ST PAUL              44.95N 93.10W
12/23/2007  M4.0 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HIGHLAND PARK AREA.

1014 PM     SNOW             RUSH CITY               45.68N 92.97W
12/23/2007  M3.2 INCH        CHISAGO            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1200 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
12/24/2007  M2.4 INCH        CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

1224 AM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
12/24/2007  M3.1 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED AT MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

1227 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
12/24/2007  M2.1 INCH        STEARNS            MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0800 AM     SNOW             LONG PRAIRIE            45.98N 94.86W
12/24/2007  M0.6 INCH        TODD               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            24 HOUR TOTAL.



PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1230 AM CST MON DEC 24 2007

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0220 PM     SNOW             ORR                     48.06N 92.82W
12/23/2007  M8.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0239 PM     SNOW             TWO HARBORS             47.03N 91.68W
12/23/2007  E10.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

0239 PM     SNOW             23 N TOFTE              47.89N 90.88W
12/23/2007  M3.0 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0239 PM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
12/23/2007  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0239 PM     SNOW             1 E ISLAND LAKE         47.01N 92.17W
12/23/2007  M7.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO DAY TOTAL

0245 PM     SNOW             15 N AITKIN             46.75N 93.71W
12/23/2007  M2.0 INCH        AITKIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0245 PM     SNOW             NISSWA                  46.50N 94.30W
12/23/2007  M2.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0245 PM     SNOW             PEQUOT LAKES            46.60N 94.32W
12/23/2007  M0.8 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0300 PM     SNOW             DANBURY                 46.01N 92.37W
12/23/2007  M7.0 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0315 PM     SNOW             TOWER                   47.81N 92.29W
12/23/2007  M9.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO DAY TOTAL.

0315 PM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/23/2007  M7.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEST DULUTH...DENFELD TOWNSHIP.

0320 PM     SNOW             HERTEL                  45.81N 92.18W
12/23/2007  M5.0 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0330 PM     SNOW             MAPLE                   46.59N 91.72W
12/23/2007  M13.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0330 PM     SNOW             2 E BUTTERNUT           46.01N 90.46W
12/23/2007  M11.5 INCH       ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0330 PM     SNOW             HOYT LAKES              47.51N 92.15W
12/23/2007  M9.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO DAY TOTAL.

0330 PM     SNOW             3 NE NISSWA             46.53N 94.25W
12/23/2007  M1.5 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0336 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MELLEN                  46.32N 90.66W
12/23/2007  E16.0 INCH       ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STILL SNOWING HEAVY.

0345 PM     SNOW             BAYFIELD                46.81N 90.82W
12/23/2007  M10.5 INCH       BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

0355 PM     SNOW             ELY                     47.91N 91.85W
12/23/2007  M12.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0355 PM     SNOW             BABBITT                 47.65N 91.94W
12/23/2007  M14.5 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     SNOW             1 SW HINCKLEY           46.00N 92.95W
12/23/2007  M3.2 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO DAY TOTAL.

0400 PM     SNOW             OULU                    46.63N 91.53W
12/23/2007  M12.5 INCH       BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     SNOW             8 S HAYWARD             45.89N 91.48W
12/23/2007  M7.5 INCH        SAWYER             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     SNOW             CLAM LAKE               46.16N 90.92W
12/23/2007  M12.5 INCH       ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0420 PM     SNOW             SARONA                  45.71N 91.81W
12/23/2007  M6.5 INCH        WASHBURN           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     SNOW             POPLAR                  46.58N 91.79W
12/23/2007  M16.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     SNOW             7 WNW POPLAR            46.62N 91.92W
12/23/2007  M10.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     SNOW             PHILLIPS                45.70N 90.40W
12/23/2007  M14.0 INCH       PRICE              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0515 PM     SNOW             20 NE PARK FALLS        46.14N 90.15W
12/23/2007  M10.0 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0530 PM     SNOW             GLIDDEN                 46.13N 90.58W
12/23/2007  M18.0 INCH       ASHLAND            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     SNOW             14 N BRULE              46.76N 91.58W
12/23/2007  M10.0 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     SNOW             ASKOV                   46.19N 92.78W
12/23/2007  M6.9 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO DAY TOTAL.

0600 PM     SNOW             10 SW SUPERIOR          46.59N 92.21W
12/23/2007  M12.5 INCH       DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     SNOW             GRAND RAPIDS            47.23N 93.52W
12/23/2007  M3.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     SNOW             BEAVER BAY              47.26N 91.30W
12/23/2007  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 PM     SNOW             4 N GRANTSBURG          45.84N 92.68W
12/23/2007  M5.8 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW DEPTH 11.5 INCHES.

0615 PM     SNOW             CLOQUET                 46.73N 92.49W
12/23/2007  M10.5 INCH       CARLTON            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0615 PM     SNOW             KERRICK                 46.34N 92.59W
12/23/2007  M9.8 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0615 PM     SNOW             BAYFIELD                46.81N 90.82W
12/23/2007  M14.2 INCH       BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            WEST END OF TOWN.

0620 PM     SNOW             CULVER                  46.93N 92.56W
12/23/2007  M6.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW DEPTH 22 INCHES.

0630 PM     SNOW             WRENSHALL               46.62N 92.38W
12/23/2007  M7.6 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0630 PM     SNOW             GILE                    46.43N 90.23W
12/23/2007  M15.0 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 PM     SNOW             KENNAN                  45.53N 90.59W
12/23/2007  M14.5 INCH       PRICE              WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TOTAL SINCE 6PM SATURDAY. CONSIDERABLE DRIFTING UP TO 5
            FEET.

0700 PM     SNOW             5 S HERBSTER            46.76N 91.26W
12/23/2007  M16.0 INCH       BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0855 PM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/23/2007  M10.3 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            DULUTH NWS FORECAST OFFICE.

0900 PM     SNOW             4 SW BRUNO              46.24N 92.73W
12/23/2007  M9.8 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 PM     SNOW             2 E YELLOWLAKE          45.94N 92.34W
12/23/2007  M6.8 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 PM     SNOW             COTTON                  47.17N 92.47W
12/23/2007  M8.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0920 PM     SNOW             SAXON                   46.49N 90.42W
12/23/2007  M16.0 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0945 PM     SNOW             MASON                   46.44N 91.06W
12/23/2007  M9.0 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1005 PM     SNOW             GILE                    46.43N 90.23W
12/23/2007  M16.5 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1045 PM     SNOW             1 E GHEEN               47.97N 92.79W
12/23/2007  M12.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1100 PM     SNOW             MERCER                  46.17N 90.06W
12/23/2007  M8.0 INCH        IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI
612 AM CST MON DEC 24 2007
...SIXTH LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORM IN LA CROSSE WISCONSIN...
...TENTH LARGEST SINGLE DAY SNOW STORM IN LA CROSSE WISCONSIN... 
...FIFTH SNOWIEST DECEMBER IN LA CROSSE WISCONSIN SO FAR...

LA CROSSE DECEMBER SNOW STORMS...
FROM DECEMBER 22ND THROUGH DECEMBER 23RD...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE 
SNOW OBSERVER NEAR LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT REPORTED 11.4 INCHES OF SNOW.  
THIS WAS THE SIXTH LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORM IN LA CROSSE.  IT WAS THE 
LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORM SINCE 1990 WHEN 14.4 INCHES FELL ON DECEMBER 3RD. 
 THE LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORM OCCURRED BACK IN 1927 WHEN 18.3 INCHES OF 
SNOW FELL FROM DECEMBER 6TH THROUGH DECEMBER 7TH.  IN THE TABLE BELOW ARE 

THE TOP TEN LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORMS IN LA CROSSE. 
             LARGEST DECEMBER SNOW STORMS
                  IN LA CROSSE WI
                    1909 - 2007
                      SNOWFALL
      RANK              TOTAL           DATE/DATES
      ----            --------          ----------
        1           18.3 INCHES      DECEMBER 6-7 1927
        2           14.4 INCHES      DECEMBER 3 1990
        3           13.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 29-31 1923
        4           12.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 21-23 1920
        5           11.8 INCHES      DECEMBER 4-6 1925
        6           11.4 INCHES      DECEMBER 22-23 2007
        7           10.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 26 1911
        8            9.9 INCHES      DECEMBER 28-30 1971
        9            9.3 INCHES      DECEMBER 27-28 1966
       10            9.1 INCHES      DECEMBER 27-28 1968

LA CROSSE SNOWIEST DECEMBER DAYS...
ON DECEMBER 23RD...7.0 INCHES OF SNOW FELL.  THIS TIED DECEMBER 10 1971 FOR THE 
TENTH LARGEST SINGLE DAY DECEMBER SNOW.  THIS WAS THE LARGEST SNOW IN A SINGLE 
DAY SNOW IN A DECEMBER SINCE DECEMBER 17 1990 WHEN 7.1 INCHES OF SNOW FELL.  
IN THE TABLE BELOW ARE THE TOP TEN LARGEST DECEMBER SINGLE DAY SNOWS IN LA CROSSE. 
             LARGEST SINGLE DECEMBER SNOWS
                  IN LA CROSSE WI
                    1909 - 2007
                      SNOWFALL
      RANK              TOTAL           DATE/DATES
      ----            --------          ----------
        1           16.7 INCHES      DECEMBER 7 1927
        2           14.4 INCHES      DECEMBER 3 1990
        3           10.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 26 1911
        4            9.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 21 1920
        5            8.6 INCHES      DECEMBER 28 1966
        6            8.5 INCHES      DECEMBER 12 1972
        7            8.1 INCHES      DECEMBER 30 1971
        8            7.4 INCHES      DECEMBER 28 1968
        9            7.1 INCHES      DECEMBER 17 1990
       10            7.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 23 2007
                     7.0 INCHES      DECEMBER 10 1970

SNOWIEST DECEMBERS IN LA CROSSE...
THROUGH DECEMBER 23RD...22.0 INCHES OF SNOW HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE SNOW OBSERVER NEAR LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT.  THIS IS ALREADY THE FIFTH 
SNOWIEST DECEMBER IN LA CROSSE.  
THIS IS THE SNOWIEST DECEMBER SINCE 2000 WHEN 25.5 INCHES OF SNOW FELL.  THE SNOWIEST 
DECEMBER OCCURRED BACK 1990 WHEN 30.4 INCHES OF SNOW FELL.  IN THE TABLE BELOW ARE THE 

TOP TEN SNOWIEST DECEMBERS IN LA CROSSE. 
                 SNOWIEST DECEMBERS                   
                  IN LA CROSSE WI
                    1884 - 2007
                      SNOWFALL
      RANK              TOTAL           YEAR
      ----            --------          ----
        1           30.4 INCHES         1990
        2           26.6 INCHES         1985
        3           25.5 INCHES         2000
                    25.5 INCHES         1927
        5           22.0 INCHES         2007
        6           21.9 INCHES         1911
        7           19.8 INCHES         1969
        8           19.5 INCHES         1950
        9           18.8 INCHES         1977
       10           18.6 INCHES         1972

NORMALLY LA CROSSE RECEIVES 9.6 INCHES IN A TYPICAL DECEMBER AND 44.3 INCHES DURING A NORMAL SNOW SEASON.

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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/snow071222_23.htm
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