Snow and Ice, February 3-4, 2019

Heavy snow fell in northwestern Minnesota from Sunday to Monday, February 3-4, along with icy conditions over southern and eastern parts of the state.

A low pressure system emerged from the southern Rockies over the weekend, and moved towards Iowa and Wisconsin by Monday, spreading a large shield of precipitation across Minnesota. Bands of heavy snow formed in northwestern Minnesota Sunday and Sunday night, leaving behind 6-9 inches of fluffy powder in many areas. Snow accumulations dropped off to the east and south.

In southern and eastern parts of the state, warm air aloft melted the falling snow into raindrops, which then froze into a glaze on streets and sidewalks, leading to hundreds of accidents, spinouts, and stuck vehicles. At one point Monday morning, ice closed one track of the Metro Transit Blue Line, and many buses were unable to make it up area hills, leading to long delays.

Children in some northwestern Minnesota communities had school delayed or canceled on Monday because of the snow, and in southern and eastern Minnesota, the icy roads caused many school start times to be delayed.

Below are some snowfall totals from the Grand Forks, ND, National Weather Service Office. A complete summary can be found here.

...SNOWFALL REPORTS AS OF 5:45 PM MONDAY FEBRUARY 4TH 2019...
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    REPORT TIME     PROVIDER
2 N PETERSBURG               9.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   COOP
KARLSTAD                     9.0 IN    0445 PM 02/04   PUBLIC
HALLOCK                      9.0 IN    0900 AM 02/04   COOP
1 N HOLT                     9.0 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
ARGYLE                       8.2 IN    0938 AM 02/04   COOP
OLGA                         8.0 IN    0515 PM 02/04   PUBLIC
LANGDON                      8.0 IN    0515 PM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 N WHITMAN                  8.0 IN    0100 PM 02/04   PUBLIC
1 SSW CROOKSTON              8.0 IN    0840 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 NNW DAVIDSON               8.0 IN    0750 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
6 SE PENN                    7.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
GRAND FORKS                  7.2 IN    1200 PM 02/04   OFFICIAL NWS
1 SE GRAND FORKS             7.1 IN    0945 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 W LEROY                    7.0 IN    0855 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
2 SE VESELEYVILLE            7.0 IN    0828 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
4 NE WASKISH                 7.0 IN    0800 AM 02/04   COOP
3 SW FILLMORE                6.7 IN    0700 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
AUDUBON                      6.0 IN    1250 PM 02/04   PUBLIC
2 NW CORMORANT               6.0 IN    1120 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
FOX                          6.0 IN    1010 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
SHARON                       6.0 IN    0940 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
WARREN                       6.0 IN    0800 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
HAVANA                       6.0 IN    0713 AM 02/04   COOP
LANCASTER                    5.8 IN    0900 AM 02/04   COOP
HENDRUM                      5.0 IN    0857 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
1 S ROTHSAY                  5.0 IN    0800 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
DEVILS LAKE                  5.0 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
WEST FARGO                   5.0 IN    0545 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
ROTHSAY                      4.5 IN    0130 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
1 N MOORHEAD                 4.4 IN    0744 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
KARLSTAD                     4.3 IN    0715 AM 02/04   COCORAHS
FARGO                        4.2 IN    1205 AM 02/04   COOP
SABIN                        4.2 IN    1015 AM 02/04   COOP
1 NE PRAIRIE ROSE            4.2 IN    0600 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 E MCLEOD                   4.1 IN    0800 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
1 SSE MOORHEAD               4.1 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
6 W TURTLE RIVER             4.0 IN    1130 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
TWO INLETS                   4.0 IN    0822 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
MICHIGAN                     4.0 IN    0732 AM 02/04   COOP
NEW YORK MILLS               4.0 IN    0730 AM 02/04   COOP
LIDGERWOOD                   4.0 IN    0714 AM 02/04   COOP
MICHIGAN                     4.0 IN    0700 AM 02/04   COOP
BEMIDJI                      4.0 IN    0430 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
MENAHGA                      3.5 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 N OTTERTAIL                3.5 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
LISBON                       3.5 IN    0700 AM 02/04   COOP
OTTERTAIL                    3.5 IN    0430 AM 02/04   COOP
SEBEKA                       3.0 IN    0800 AM 02/04   COOP
PARK RAPIDS                  3.0 IN    0714 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
LISBON                       3.0 IN    0930 PM 02/03   COOP
THIEF RIVER FALLS            3.0 IN    0915 PM 02/03   PUBLIC
MAYVILLE                     2.8 IN    0700 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
3 E BRECKENRIDGE             2.1 IN    0838 AM 02/04   TRAINED SPOTTER
PELICAN RAPIDS               2.0 IN    0807 AM 02/04   PUBLIC
4 W BACKOO                   2.0 IN    0930 PM 02/03   PUBLIC
DETROIT LAKES                1.5 IN    0930 PM 02/03   PUBLIC
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS 
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

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