Map of February 1-2, 2025 Snowfall. Courtesy: Chanhassen National Weather Service
February got off to a wintry start in parts of Minnesota, as a disturbance produced gusty winds and several inches of snow in the northeast, with lighter accumulations elsewhere. The snow formed on Saturday February 1st, as moisture surged into a cooling air mass associated with a low-pressure system north of the border with Canada. The snow spread primarily across northern and especially northeastern Minnesota, though some snow also made it into central and even parts of southern Minnesota between Saturday afternoon and the morning of Sunday February 2nd. The snow reduced visibility to between a quarter and a half-mile at times, and easterly winds blowing off of Lake Superior enhanced snowfall rates and total precipitation in areas along the lake shore and higher terrain of the Arrowhead region. Accumulations of two inches or more covered the northeastern 40% of Minnesota, and near Lake Superior and in parts of the Arrowhead region accumulations of 5-7 inches were common. The Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center observer for the National Weather Service measured 7.2 inches of snow, and numerous observers with the CoCoRaHS network measured 6-7 inches. The Cloquet Forestry Center measured 6.3 inches and the Duluth airport measured 6.2 inches officially. Other snowfall totals included 6.0 inches at Floodwood, Ely, and Celina; 5.4 inches at Brimson and Tower; 5.3 inches at International Falls; 5.0 inches at Indus and Embarrass; 4.3 inches at Two Harbors, and 3.3 inches at Brainerd.Areas that received the heaviest snow were still way below normal for season-to-date snowfall totals. For example, through February 2nd, Duluth had received 30.7 inches, which is 43% short of the normal value of 53.4 inches. Wolf Ridge was 41% below normal to date as well.February 3, 2025KAB
