March of 2025 has been much more "active" that the previous few months, and Minnesota has had a steady diet of strong weather systems passing through the region.
These systems have resulted in three blizzards and one heavy snowfall event, but in each case, the wintry weather affected only a relatively small part of the state. We already summarized the March 4-5 "Overnight Blizzard," and below we summarize the other major but geographically-limited events.
March 14-15: Intense low pressure with rain, thunderstorms, and blizzard
One of the strongest cyclones (or "low-pressure systems") to hit Minnesota during March in years tracked through the state from southwest to northeast, though the only real impacts were from whiteout conditions in western and northwestern Minnesota. As the system approached, southerly winds pumped extremely warm air across the state on Friday March 14th. The warm air was followed by waves of rain and thunderstorms that lifted northeastward across Minnesota during the evening, as the pressure dropped below 980 millibars (mb) in many areas. Minnesota has experienced much lower pressure, but this was the lowest pressure during March in at least a decade. Meanwhile a major, 2-day outbreak of tornadoes and severe thunderstorms spread from Iowa and southern Wisconsin into the Gulf Coast states. On Saturday the 15th, as strong winds and cold air poured into the state from the north, heavy snow and blizzard conditions developed from west-central through north-central Minnesota. Accumulations were generally only 2-5 inches, but a few reports exceeded six inches, and wind gusts of 45 to 60mph caused visibility to fall to zero in wide open areas at the height of the storm.
March 19: Blizzard in extreme south and southeast Minnesota
It's hard to imagine a major winter storm affecting less of Minnesota than this one did! A powerful low-pressure system passed just far enough to our southeast to keep most of Minnesota high and dry, but heavy snow in Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin managed to poke into extreme southern and extreme southeastern Minnesota. Although accumulating snow fell as far northwest as Fairmont, Pine Island, and Wabasha, the heaviest snow was confined to an area covering about 3% of the state, generally south of Interstate 90, from Martin County to the Wisconsin border with Houston County. A CoCoRaHS observer near Blue Earth measured 8.0 inches of snow, and National Weather Service cooperative observers reported 7.5 inches at Grand Meadow, 7.3 inches at Hokah, 6.8 inches at Caledonia, and 6.5 inches at Mabel. The Rochester airport (located well south of town) recorded 5.6 inches. Wind gusts of 40-50 mph produced widespread blowing and drifting snow, with whiteout conditions in open areas.
March 23: Heavy snow in far northern Minnesota
A strengthening area of low pressure crossed northern Minnesota on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23, with two bands of snow affecting far northern and northeastern areas on Sunday. The first area of rain, sleet, and snow lifted northward early on Sunday, followed by a lull and then more snow later in the afternoon and evening. Snow fell most persistently and heavily near International Falls, Grand Marais, and Grand Portage, but enough snow to shovel and plow also extended westward towards East Grand Forks on the border with North Dakota. CoCoRaHS observers in far northern and northeastern Minnesota recorded 8 to over 10 inches, with International Falls officially recording 7.5 inches of snow at the airport. Winds were gusty, but not nearly as strong as they were during the winter weather events earlier in the month.
March 25, 2025
KAB