Snowstorm: December 13-15, 2009

A large, elongated area of low pressure developed over Wyoming on Saturday, December 13. The storm continued to develop and moved to Nebraska, and then to Rochester by the morning of December 14. By evening, the center of the low was over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Widespread snow fell over the Dakotas, northern and central Minnesota. Blizzard warnings were posted from west central to northern to northeast Minnesota. I-94 was closed for a time from Alexandria to the North Dakota border, but was reopened at 8am December 15. Many places in central and northern Minnesota north of Mille Lacs had from 6 to 12 inches of snow. Some multi-day totals include Duluth with 9.9 inches, International Falls with 14.6 and Finland in Lake County reporting 15 inches. The Duluth National Weather Service posted a recap of the December 13-15 storm.

Temperatures took a steep plunge during the day on Sunday, December 14th. At the Twin Cities Airport, the thermometer read 38 degrees at 1pm, then took a nose dive and fell to 10 degrees six hours later, and to -3 by 1 am... a 41 degree drop in 12 hours. The largest one hour temperature drop in Minnesota found on December 14 was 23 degrees at Albert Lea. The temperature fell from 39 degrees at 11:13am to 16 degrees at 12:13pm. A quick burst of moderate to heavy snow moved through the Twin Cities between 9:00 and 11pm on December 14th and brought most of the snow measured at the Twin Cities Airport from this system.

Wind Chill Warnings were posted on Monday, December 15 for western and northern Minnesota and a Wind Chill Advisory for east central and southeast Minnesota. The most frigid windchill found on December 15 was -43 degrees at Thief River Falls at 1am. The coldest wind chill temperature in the Twin Cities was -33 at 4am December 15.

Below are Local Storm Reports and Public Information Statements courtesy the Chanhassen National Weather Service.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
947 AM CST MON DEC 15 2008


...TOTAL REPORTED SNOWFALL FOR DECEMBER 14TH - AM 15TH SNOWSTORM...



SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 14.00   HEWITT                   MN  TODD             0630 PM
 11.00   LITTLE FALLS             MN  MORRISON         0630 AM
  9.40   7 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0647 AM
  8.50   LITTLE FALLS             MN  MORRISON         0308 PM
  7.00   STAPLES                  MN  TODD             0508 PM
  7.00   7 NNW OGILVIE            MN  KANABEC          0336 PM
  5.00   GLENWOOD                 MN  POPE             0837 PM
  4.20   ST CLOUD                 MN  STEARNS          0640 AM
  3.80   MURDOCK                  MN  SWIFT            0402 PM
                 GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
  3.70   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0543 AM
  3.20   5 NW RICE LAKE           MN  WRIGHT           0519 AM
  3.10   CHANHASSEN               MN  CARVER           0640 AM
                 RECORDED AT THE NWS FORECAST OFFICE.
  3.00   RUSH CITY                MN  CHISAGO          0558 PM
  2.60   WOODBURY                 MN  WASHINGTON       0930 AM
  2.50   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0711 AM
                 OCCURRED AT COMO PARK.
  2.50   KIMBALL                  MN  STEARNS          0635 AM
  2.50   PRIOR LAKE               MN  SCOTT            0100 AM
  2.50   BLOOMINGTON              MN  HENNEPIN         1105 PM
  2.40   MINNEAPOLIS              MN  HENNEPIN         0640 AM
  1.90   WACONIA                  MN  CARVER           0812 AM
  1.90   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0735 AM
                 OCCURRED IN HIGHLAND PARK.
  1.50   WINTHROP                 MN  SIBLEY           0527 AM
  1.00   MORGAN                   MN  REDWOOD          0812 AM
  1.00   LITCHFIELD               MN  MEEKER           0543 AM
  0.70   CLAYTON                  WI  POLK             0702 PM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1251 PM CST MON DEC 15 2008

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

0930 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/14/2008  M52.00 MPH       ST. LOUIS          MN   AWOS

            SKY HARBOR AIRPORT. SUSTAINED WINDS OVER 40 MPH FOR OVER
            5 HOURS...GUSTS OVER 47 MPH FOR 6 HOURS FROM 930 AM TO
            400 PM.

0950 AM     NON-TSTM WND GST DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/14/2008  M58.00 MPH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MEASURED AT DULUTH AERIAL LIFT BRIDGE

1200 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/14/2008  M53.00 MPH       ST. LOUIS          MN   C-MAN STATION

            DULM5 MEASURED GUST AT CANAL PARK.

0805 PM     SNOW             HACKENSACK              46.93N 94.52W
12/14/2008  M9.0 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1200 AM     SNOW             BENNETT                 46.45N 91.85W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1226 AM     SNOW             PROCTOR                 46.74N 92.23W
12/15/2008  M11.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0100 AM     SNOW             15 SSE MCGREGOR         46.41N 93.19W
12/15/2008  M10.0 INCH       AITKIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0442 AM     SNOW             4 E PAYNE               47.09N 92.52W
12/15/2008  M10.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0450 AM     SNOW             GILE                    46.43N 90.23W
12/15/2008  M10.0 INCH       IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            4 INCHES FELL OVERNIGHT...10 INCHES TOTAL

0500 AM     SNOW             BRAINERD                46.35N 94.19W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 AM     SNOW             PEQUOT LAKES            46.60N 94.32W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0600 AM     SNOW             INTERNATIONAL FALLS     48.59N 93.41W
12/15/2008  M13.9 INCH       KOOCHICHING        MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/15/2008  M8.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

            WOODLAND

0600 AM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
12/15/2008  M9.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0605 AM     SNOW             6 NE CLOVERLAND         46.74N 91.60W
12/15/2008  M6.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0610 AM     SNOW             COOK                    47.85N 92.69W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0610 AM     SNOW             EMBARRASS               47.66N 92.20W
12/15/2008  M14.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            3 INCHES EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...11 INCHES 6 AM SUNDAY TO
            6 AM MONDAY

0630 AM     SNOW             SARONA                  45.71N 91.81W
12/15/2008  M6.2 INCH        WASHBURN           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0630 AM     SNOW             4 N GRANTSBURG          45.84N 92.68W
12/15/2008  M6.5 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0630 AM     SNOW             3 SE ESKO               46.68N 92.32W
12/15/2008  M11.0 INCH       CARLTON            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0700 AM     SNOW             LUTSEN                  47.64N 90.71W
12/15/2008  M7.4 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             CHISHOLM                47.49N 92.88W
12/15/2008  M11.5 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             UPSON                   46.37N 90.41W
12/15/2008  M7.8 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             HAYWARD                 46.01N 91.48W
12/15/2008  E7.5 INCH        SAWYER             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             MERCER                  46.17N 90.06W
12/15/2008  M4.0 INCH        IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             MOOSE LAKE              46.45N 92.77W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             NORTHOME                47.87N 94.27W
12/15/2008  M8.2 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             4 W WASHBURN            46.67N 90.98W
12/15/2008  M10.9 INCH       BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 AM     SNOW             27 NNW GRAND MARAIS     48.12N 90.57W
12/15/2008  E9.5 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            LOON LAKE

0700 AM     SNOW             3 E ORR                 48.06N 92.76W
12/15/2008  M14.1 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0705 AM     SNOW             15 N GRAND RAPIDS       47.45N 93.52W
12/15/2008  M12.0 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             REMER                   47.06N 93.91W
12/15/2008  M10.0 INCH       CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
12/15/2008  M7.8 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             GRAND RAPIDS            47.23N 93.52W
12/15/2008  M9.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             3 W FLOODWOOD           46.93N 92.98W
12/15/2008  M12.5 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             MAPLE                   46.59N 91.72W
12/15/2008  M6.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             GURNEY                  46.47N 90.51W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             NISSWA                  46.50N 94.30W
12/15/2008  M5.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             WRENSHALL               46.62N 92.38W
12/15/2008  M8.5 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             1 E ISLAND LAKE         47.01N 92.17W
12/15/2008  M9.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             SAGINAW                 46.86N 92.44W
12/15/2008  M9.7 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL

0800 AM     SNOW             8 N BAYFIELD            46.93N 90.82W
12/15/2008  M6.9 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             MCKINLEY                47.51N 92.41W
12/15/2008  M15.0 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             12 N ISLE               46.32N 93.46W
12/15/2008  M6.6 INCH        AITKIN             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0804 AM     SNOW             4 NNE ASKOV             46.24N 92.74W
12/15/2008  M15.5 INCH       PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL.

0900 AM     SNOW             HERTEL                  45.81N 92.18W
12/15/2008  M5.3 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             4 N WEBSTER             45.39N 97.52W
12/15/2008  M7.0 INCH        DAY                SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OAKLAND

0900 AM     SNOW             COZY CORNER             46.16N 92.24W
12/15/2008  M9.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            MIX OF SNOW...AND FREEZING RAIN

0900 AM     SNOW             3 SE FINLAND            47.38N 91.20W
12/15/2008  M6.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             OULU                    46.63N 91.53W
12/15/2008  E6.5 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             21 N GRAND MARAIS       48.06N 90.34W
12/15/2008  E11.0 INCH       COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            GOLDEN EAGLE LODGE ON THE GUNFLINT TRAIL

0900 AM     SNOW             ISABELLA                47.62N 91.36W
12/15/2008  M15.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             1 SW HINCKLEY           47.39N 92.96W
12/15/2008  M6.3 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0915 AM     SNOW             PALISADE                46.71N 93.49W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        AITKIN             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 AM     SNOW             1 E RADISSON            45.77N 91.20W
12/15/2008  M8.0 INCH        SAWYER             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOW THEN FREEZING RAIN THEN SNOW FOR THE EVENT

1000 AM     SNOW             ASKOV                   46.19N 92.78W
12/15/2008  M11.6 INCH       PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 AM     SNOW             7 S BIGFORK             47.65N 93.65W
12/15/2008  M14.0 INCH       ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 AM     SNOW             LORETTA                 45.89N 90.85W
12/15/2008  M6.0 INCH        SAWYER             WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 AM     SNOW             BABBITT                 47.65N 91.94W
12/15/2008  M14.5 INCH       ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1000 AM     SNOW             23 N TOFTE              47.89N 90.88W
12/15/2008  M12.0 INCH       COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER
Last modified: February 13, 2017
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