Snow and Ice, April 1-3, 2020

April fooled much of Minnesota with a strong cold front that dropped temperatures from the 50s and 60s into the teens and 20s. The air mass transition produced heavy wintry precipitation in northwestern parts of the state, with light precipitation elsewhere.

A mild air mass was in place on Wednesday April 1st, as a strong cold front associated approached Minnesota slowly from the Dakotas. Moisture streaming into the state allowed pockets of light precipitation to break out across western Minnesota by afternoon and evening.

The most consequential precipitation developed during the early morning of Thursday April 2, as moderate rain changed to freezing rain and snow. Snow fell heavily throughout much of the day north of Detroit Lakes and west of Red Lake and Lake of the Woods. Freezing rain and some sleet covered a much larger area to the east, with ice accumulating to around 1/4 inch near Bemidji, Park Rapids, and Alexandria. By Thursday afternoon, a razor-sharp temperature boundary cut through the western third of Minnesota, with temperatures dropping from the high 50s F into the mid and upper 20s over distances of just 50 miles.

Light freezing rain and sleet eventually spread over the rest of Minnesota on Thursday afternoon and evening, with additional waves of sleet and snow falling into Friday afternoon, amid stiff northwesterly winds. Over 80 Minnesota counties were covered by Winter Weather Advisories or Winter Storm Warnings at some point during the storm.

The heaviest snowfall totals were reported near Karlstad in Roseau County, where the National Weather Service received public reports of up to 16 inches of snow. The northwestern corner of the state, generally west of a line from Rothsay to Roseau, received six inches of snow or more.

The following reports were received and shared by the National Weather Service forecast office in Grand Forks, ND.

 

000
NWUS53 KFGF 031803
LSRFGF
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
103 PM CDT FRI APR 3 2020
..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1247 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 W GREENBUSH           48.70N 96.29W
04/03/2020  M16.0 INCH       ROSEAU             MN   PUBLIC           
AVERAGE OF MULTIPLE MEASUREMENTS. VIA SOCIAL 
MEDIA. 
1110 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 W MIDDLE RIVER        48.44N 96.25W
04/03/2020  E16.0 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1037 AM     HEAVY SNOW       10 E KARLSTAD           48.58N 96.30W
04/03/2020  M16.0 INCH       ROSEAU             MN   PUBLIC           
MEASURED AVERAGE OF MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. VIA 
SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1038 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 W NEWFOLDEN           48.36N 96.44W
04/03/2020  M14.0 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1059 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 N HOLT                48.32N 96.19W
04/03/2020  M12.5 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1157 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 N HOLT                48.32N 96.19W
04/03/2020  M12.3 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       BUXTON                  47.60N 97.10W
04/03/2020  E12.0 INCH       TRAILL             ND   PUBLIC           
PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1108 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HATTON                  47.64N 97.46W
04/03/2020  M11.5 INCH       TRAILL             ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0820 AM     HEAVY SNOW       KARLSTAD                48.58N 96.52W
04/03/2020  M11.0 INCH       KITTSON            MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-KT-2 KARLSTAD MN 0.2 
SSW. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GREENBUSH               48.70N 96.18W
04/03/2020  M11.0 INCH       ROSEAU             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER   
EVENT AND 24 HOUR TOTAL THROUGH 7AM. 
0405 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NE GREENBUSH          48.71N 96.17W
04/03/2020  E11.0 INCH       ROSEAU             MN   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS 
ESTIMATED 10 TO 12 INCHES OF SNOW FROM 
BADGER TO GREENBUST ALONG HWY 11. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSE GRAND FORKS       47.87N 97.03W
04/03/2020  M10.5 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-GF-14 GRAND FORKS ND 3.4 
SSE. 
0958 AM     HEAVY SNOW       VOSS                    48.30N 97.45W
04/03/2020  E10.0 INCH       WALSH              ND   PUBLIC           
ICE AND SLEET UNDERNEATH SNOW. VIA SOCIAL 
MEDIA. 
0954 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SE STEPHEN            48.40N 96.80W
04/03/2020  E10.0 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
THIN LAYER OF ICE UNDERNEATH SNOW. VIA 
SOCIAL MEDIA. STORM TOTAL. 
0951 AM     HEAVY SNOW       KARLSTAD                48.58N 96.52W
04/03/2020  E10.0 INCH       KITTSON            MN   PUBLIC           
POWER OUTAGES. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 W GRAND FORKS         47.92N 97.12W
04/03/2020  M10.0 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   OFFICIAL NWS OBS 
A 24 HOUR SNOWFALL THROUGH 7AM AT NWS GRAND 
FORKS OFFICE. 
0645 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 S WARREN              48.14N 96.77W
04/03/2020  M9.8 INCH        POLK               MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1001 AM     HEAVY SNOW       RED LAKE FALLS          47.89N 96.27W
04/03/2020  E9.5 INCH        RED LAKE           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0953 AM     HEAVY SNOW       9 NE SHARON             47.69N 97.76W
04/03/2020  M9.5 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1109 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 SE MAYVILLE           47.44N 97.24W
04/03/2020  M9.2 INCH        TRAILL             ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 NE FARGO              46.91N 96.78W
04/03/2020  M9.2 INCH        CASS               ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-CS-25 FARGO ND 2.1 N. 
1221 PM     HEAVY SNOW       THOMPSON                47.77N 97.11W
04/03/2020  M9.0 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       7 ENE GRANDIN           47.27N 96.86W
04/03/2020  M9.0 INCH        TRAILL             ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-TR-3 GRANDIN ND 7.1 ENE. 
0730 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 ENE CROOKSTON         47.78N 96.59W
04/03/2020  M9.0 INCH        POLK               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-PK-13 CROOKSTON MN 0.6 
ENE. 
1152 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NW THIEF RIVER FALLS  48.13N 96.21W
04/03/2020  M8.5 INCH        PENNINGTON         MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0959 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ALVARADO                48.19N 97.00W
04/03/2020  M8.5 INCH        MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HARWOOD                 46.98N 96.88W
04/03/2020  M8.5 INCH        CASS               ND   PUBLIC           
PHOTO AND REPORT POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1155 AM     HEAVY SNOW       FISHER                  47.80N 96.80W
04/03/2020  M8.3 INCH        POLK               MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1058 AM     HEAVY SNOW       VIKING                  48.22N 96.41W
04/03/2020  E8.0 INCH        MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1041 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 SW THIEF RIVER FALLS  48.06N 96.25W
04/03/2020  E8.0 INCH        PENNINGTON         MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSE NORTH RIVER       46.93N 96.79W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        CLAY               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-CS-45 FARGO ND 3.6 NNE. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 E FERTILE             47.53N 96.28W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        POLK               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-PK-11 FERTILE MN 0.6 E. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SSE GRAND FORKS       47.87N 97.05W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-GF-13 GRAND FORKS ND 3.7 
SSE. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSW MENTOR            47.67N 96.17W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        POLK               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-PK-15 MENTOR MN 2.5 SSW. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HALLOCK                 48.77N 96.94W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        KITTSON            MN   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS 
STORM TOTAL TO 7AM. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 SSE GRAND FORKS       47.88N 97.05W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   BROADCAST MEDIA  
EVENT TOTAL THROUGH 7AM. 
0600 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SE GRAND FORKS        47.89N 97.03W
04/03/2020  M8.0 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-GF-8 GRAND FORKS ND 2.5 
SE. 
0617 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 S HATTON              47.62N 97.46W
04/02/2020  M8.0 INCH        TRAILL             ND   BROADCAST MEDIA  
VIEWER PHOTO OF RULER MEASUREMENT. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NNE MOORHEAD          46.89N 96.75W
04/03/2020  M7.6 INCH        CLAY               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-CY-1 MOORHEAD MN 2.0 N. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 N MOORHEAD            46.91N 96.76W
04/03/2020  M7.6 INCH        CLAY               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER  
24 HOUR STORM TOTAL SNOW THROUGH 7AM. 
1040 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 NW ROSEAU             48.87N 95.79W
04/03/2020  E7.5 INCH        ROSEAU             MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1222 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 E HARWOOD             46.98N 96.82W
04/03/2020  M7.0 INCH        CLAY               MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0956 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 WNW BACKOO            48.85N 97.78W
04/03/2020  M7.0 INCH        PEMBINA            ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-PM-1 CAVALIER ND 7.9 
WNW. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       4 WNW PISEK             48.33N 97.80W
04/03/2020  M7.0 INCH        WALSH              ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LNKN8 LANKIN ND 6 E. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       WALCOTT                 46.55N 96.94W
04/03/2020  E7.0 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   PUBLIC           
REPORT POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HORACE                  46.76N 96.90W
04/03/2020  E7.0 INCH        CASS               ND   TRAINED SPOTTER  
REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1110 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 S CANDO               48.42N 99.20W
04/03/2020  E6.5 INCH        TOWNER             ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1056 AM     HEAVY SNOW       6 W KINDRED             46.65N 97.15W
04/03/2020  M6.5 INCH        CASS               ND   PUBLIC           
AVERAGE OF MULTIPLE MEASUREMENTS. VIA SOCIAL 
MEDIA. 
0900 AM     HEAVY SNOW       COMSTOCK                46.66N 96.75W
04/03/2020  M6.5 INCH        CLAY               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-CY-22 COMSTOCK 0.1 E. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       2 SSW HICKSON           46.64N 96.82W
04/03/2020  M6.5 INCH        CASS               ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-CS-29 HORACE ND 9.3 SSE. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 NE PEMBINA            48.97N 97.24W
04/03/2020  M6.5 INCH        PEMBINA            ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION PBAN8 PEMBINA ND. 
0930 AM     HEAVY SNOW       3 ENE MCLEOD            46.40N 97.24W
04/03/2020  M6.3 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION MCLN8 MCLEOD ND 3 E. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       SABIN                   46.78N 96.66W
04/03/2020  M6.2 INCH        CLAY               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION SBNM5 SABIN MN. 
0800 AM     HEAVY SNOW       1 ENE WOLVERTON         46.57N 96.72W
04/03/2020  M6.0 INCH        WILKIN             MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-WK-5 WOLVERTON MN 1.1 
ENE. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       GOLDEN LAKE             47.58N 97.63W
04/03/2020  M6.0 INCH        STEELE             ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-ST-1 HATTON ND 9.1 WSW. 
0700 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ARGUSVILLE              47.05N 96.94W
04/03/2020  E6.0 INCH        CASS               ND   PUBLIC           
REPORT POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0400 AM     HEAVY SNOW       ROSEAU                  48.85N 95.76W
04/03/2020  M6.0 INCH        ROSEAU             MN   BROADCAST MEDIA  
CORRECTS PREVIOUS SNOW REPORT FROM ROSEAU. 
EVENT TOTAL AS OF 4AM. REPORT OF 5 TO 6 
INCHES AT RADIO STATION. 
0700 AM     SNOW             3 S MOORHEAD            46.82N 96.76W
04/03/2020  M5.8 INCH        CLAY               MN   BROADCAST MEDIA  
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY SNOW REPORT FROM 3 S 
MOORHEAD. EVENT TOTAL THROUGH 7AM. 
0845 PM     SNOW             SHELLY                  47.46N 96.82W
04/02/2020  M5.8 INCH        NORMAN             MN   BROADCAST MEDIA  
VIEWER MEASUREMENT RELAYED BY BROADCAST 
MEDIA. 
1100 AM     SNOW             7 W REYNOLDS            47.67N 97.26W
04/03/2020  E5.5 INCH        TRAILL             ND   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     SNOW             4 SSE WALHALLA          48.87N 97.89W
04/03/2020  M5.5 INCH        PEMBINA            ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-PM-3 WALHALLA 3.6 SSE. 
0800 AM     SNOW             1 NW PRAIRIE ROSE       46.83N 96.85W
04/03/2020  M5.3 INCH        CASS               ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-CS-1 WEST FARGO ND 3.8 
SSE. 
0800 AM     SNOW             5 S MAVIE               48.07N 95.92W
04/03/2020  M5.1 INCH        PENNINGTON         MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-PG-3 GOODRIDGE MN 7.4 
SW. 
0915 AM     SNOW             1 ESE LANGDON           48.76N 98.34W
04/03/2020  M5.0 INCH        CAVALIER           ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-CV-4 LANGDON 1.4 ESE. 
0900 AM     SNOW             LISBON                  46.44N 97.67W
04/03/2020  M5.0 INCH        RANSOM             ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-RS-2 LISBON ND 0.5 ENE. 
0800 AM     SNOW             5 SSW BLABON            47.34N 97.83W
04/03/2020  M5.0 INCH        STEELE             ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-ST-3 HOPE ND 5.4 WNW. 
0616 PM     SNOW             FINLEY                  47.51N 97.84W
04/02/2020  E5.0 INCH        STEELE             ND   BROADCAST MEDIA  
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY SNOW REPORT FROM 
FINLEY. VIEWER REPROT RELAYED BY BROADCAST 
MEDIA. 
0200 PM     SNOW             VALLEY CITY             46.92N 98.01W
04/02/2020  E5.0 INCH        BARNES             ND   PUBLIC           
STORM TOTAL SNOW AND STILL SNOWING. 
1115 AM     SNOW             LISBON                  46.44N 97.68W
04/03/2020  M4.8 INCH        RANSOM             ND   PUBLIC           
0.12 INCHES OF ICE ACCUMULATION IN ADDITION 
TO SNOW. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     SNOW             LISBON                  46.43N 97.68W
04/03/2020  M4.8 INCH        RANSOM             ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LISN8 LISBON ND. 
0700 AM     SNOW             1 WSW LIDGERWOOD        46.07N 97.17W
04/03/2020  M4.5 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION LGRN8 LIDGERWOOD ND. 
0745 AM     SNOW             2 SW FILLMORE           48.16N 99.83W
04/03/2020  M4.2 INCH        BENSON             ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION ESMN8 ESMOND ND 9 
NNW. 
0700 AM     SNOW             ABERCROMBIE             46.45N 96.73W
04/03/2020  M4.0 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION ND-RC-8 ABERCROMBIE ND 0.2 
NW. 
0700 AM     SNOW             2 NNE BACKOO            48.86N 97.70W
04/03/2020  M4.0 INCH        PEMBINA            ND   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION CVLN8 CAVALIER ND 7 
NW. 
0900 AM     SNOW             TWIN VALLEY             47.26N 96.26W
04/03/2020  M3.6 INCH        NORMAN             MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-NR-1 TWIN VALLEY MN 0.1 
NE. 
1033 AM     SNOW             2 SE ROSEAU             48.83N 95.73W
04/03/2020  M3.0 INCH        ROSEAU             MN   PUBLIC           
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0815 AM     SNOW             4 N MUSKODA             46.92N 96.41W
04/03/2020  M3.0 INCH        CLAY               MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-CY-20 HAWLEY 5.2 WNW. 
0700 AM     SNOW             WAHPETON                46.27N 96.61W
04/03/2020  E2.0 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   PUBLIC           
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HEAVY SNOW REPORT FROM 
WAHPETON. SLEET AND SNOW MIX. 
0700 AM     SNOW             4 NE BRECKENRIDGE       46.30N 96.52W
04/03/2020  M1.7 INCH        WILKIN             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER   
CO-OP OBSERVER STATION BKEM5 BRECKENRIDGE MN 
3 E. 
0800 AM     SNOW             FERGUS FALLS            46.29N 96.07W
04/03/2020  M1.5 INCH        OTTER TAIL         MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-OT-5 FERGUS FALLS MN 0.5 
E. 
0800 AM     SNOW             5 NNW CORMORANT         46.80N 96.12W
04/03/2020  M1.3 INCH        BECKER             MN   COCORAHS         
COCORAHS STATION MN-BK-6 LAKE PARK MN 6.0 S. 
1241 PM     ICE STORM        2 N MENAHGA             46.78N 95.10W
04/03/2020                   WADENA             MN   PUBLIC           
QUARTER INCH OF ICE REPORTED 2 MILES NORTH 
OF MENAHGA. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1002 AM     ICE STORM        5 S PERHAM              46.53N 95.57W
04/03/2020                   OTTER TAIL         MN   PUBLIC           
ICE AND WIND CAUSED GALLOPING POWER LINES. 
AROUND ONE INCH OF SNOW. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
1002 AM     ICE STORM        5 S PERHAM              46.53N 95.57W
04/03/2020                   OTTER TAIL         MN   PUBLIC           
ICE AND WIND CAUSED GALLOPING POWER LINES. 
AROUND ONE INCH OF SNOW. VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. 
0700 AM     ICE STORM        2 NE NEW YORK MILLS     46.54N 95.34W
04/03/2020                   OTTER TAIL         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER   
TOTAL PRECIP OF 0.37 INCHES, 0.30 INCHES OF 
ICE. 

 

Modified April 6, 2020