Winter "Bomb" Cyclone, February 22-24, 2019

It had been some time since a blizzard prompted mass rescues in Minnesota, but one on February 22-24, 2019 did just that, plastering southern Minnesota with blinding snowfall and enormous drifts.

During an already historically-snowy month, a winter storm began on February 22nd, 2019, and turned into a massive and crippling blizzard in southern Minnesota by February 23rd and 24th. The storm produced 10-14 inches of snow and 50 mph wind gusts, shutting down multiple hundreds of miles of Interstate, US, and state highways, stranding hundreds of motorists, and whipping up snow drifts the size of houses.

A low pressure system tracked out the southwestern US, where it had set snowfall records in Arizona, and then cut a familiar path from the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles February 22nd, through Kansas, northern Missouri, southeastern Iowa, and Wisconsin on the 23rd, and through Lake Michigan and into Ontario on the 24th. This particular system was of only moderate intensity when it entered the Great Plains, but by Sunday afternoon had intensified into one of the strongest Great Lakes area cyclones of the past year. Showcasing a pressure drop of approximately 24 millibars in 24 hours between Kansas and northern Lake Michigan, the rapid intensification qualified this storm as a rare "bomb cyclone." Such storms produce a wide array of hazards over a large area, and this one was no exception.

The storm had multiple phases, which is common with large and complex weather systems.

Snow first spread across northwestern and northern Minnesota on Friday February 22nd, lasting well into the night and producing several inches of accumulation. Separately, spoke-like bands of moderate snow worked south-to-north across the southern half of the state later in the night, ending Saturday morning, with 1-3 inches common. After a lull of approximately 12 hours, heavy snow with lightning, sleet, and even rain entered south-central Minnesota from Iowa, lasting through the evening and into early Sunday morning in some areas. An axis of very heavy snow set up from near Albert Lea, through Rochester and Wabasha, with snowfall rates of 1-2 inches per hour over a period of several hours. The snow was slightly lighter or shorter-lived elsewhere. After 8 PM on Saturday, the winds began increasing within the band of the heaviest snow, and by early Sunday morning, as the low pressure system underwent rapid intensification, the entire state began experiencing very strong winds, with gusts of 40-55 mph common. This led to instant blizzard conditions in open areas across southern and southeastern Minnesota, where the new snow and the abundant existing snow were easily lofted by the intense winds.

The snow and wind led to extraordinary drifting in open areas, with many open-country roads covered with 5 to 8 feet of drifted snow. Images of isolated 15 and 20-drifts flooded social media. The harsh conditions ended up closing virtually all roads in the southern 1/5 of the state. Spun out cars became stranded for over 12 hours across southern and southeastern areas, and Governor Tim Walz declared a State of Emergency in Freeborn and Steele Counties of south-central Minnesota, where National Guard troops and equipment had to be activated to rescue many of the motorists. The St. Cloud State men's hockey team had to be rescued, and ended up sheltering in the Watonwan County Jail, in St. James, MN. On Sunday, even as the snow subsided, the winds continued gusting up to 50 mph, producing whiteout conditions. Some people who had ventured onto area lakes to go ice fishing became surrounded by snow drifts and were stranded.

This extraordinary storm perhaps was fitting, given the extraordinary February in which it occurred. The storm-total snowfall of 12.1 inches at Rochester boosted its monthly total to 39.7 inches, which is nearly twice as much as any other February on record.

Additional  summaries of this event were provided by the National Weather Service offices in La Crosse, Wisconsin and the Twin Cities/Chanhassen. Those offices also provided the following snowfall totals and peak wind gust summaries. Please note that some of the values may change.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN  
1052 AM CST SUN FEB 24 2019  
..SNOWFALL REPORTS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER               
..MINNESOTA  
..ANOKA COUNTY  
2 NNE RAMSEY                 1.8 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
OAK GROVE                    1.6 IN    0915 AM 02/24   PUBLIC                 
BLAINE 2NNW                  1.5 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
EAST BETHEL 4ENE             1.0 IN    0315 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..BLUE EARTH COUNTY  
MANKATO                      3.0 IN    0515 AM 02/24   BROADCAST MEDIA        
..BROWN COUNTY  
SVEADAHL 5NNW                2.0 IN    0725 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
SPRINGFIELD 1NW              1.1 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..CARVER COUNTY  
CHANHASSEN NWS               2.9 IN    0600 AM 02/24   OFFICIAL NWS OBS       
VICTORIA 1WSW                2.6 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
WATERTOWN                    2.0 IN    0445 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
WACONIA                      1.6 IN    0600 AM 02/24   UCOOP                  
..CHISAGO COUNTY  
STACY 1W                     3.4 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
NORTH BRANCH 1NNW            3.3 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
RUSH CITY 3NE                2.2 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..DAKOTA COUNTY  
MIESVILLE 4NNE               5.2 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
APPLE VALLEY 3ESE            4.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
LAKEVILLE 2NNE               3.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
1 NNW ROSEMOUNT              3.0 IN    0916 AM 02/24   TRAINED SPOTTER        
1 W HASTINGS                 2.9 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..FARIBAULT COUNTY  
BRICELYN                     7.2 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COOP                   
BLUE EARTH                   6.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
WINNEBAGO                    3.0 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COOP                   
..FREEBORN COUNTY  
ALBERT LEA 1WSW              11.5 IN   0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..GOODHUE COUNTY  
ZUMBROTA                     11.2 IN   0700 AM 02/24   COOP                   
RED WING                     8.0 IN    0801 AM 02/24   PUBLIC                 
VASA 5NNE                    7.6 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
VASA 3ENE                    7.2 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
NERSTRAND 4E                 7.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
CANNON FALLS                 6.0 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
RED WING                     6.0 IN    0815 AM 02/24   COOP                                  
..HENNEPIN COUNTY  
MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL AIRPORT 3.5 IN    0600 AM 02/24   OFFICIAL NWS OBS       
EDINA 1SE                    3.1 IN    0725 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
RICHFIELD 1WNW               3.1 IN    0400 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
EDINA 1SW                    3.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
RICHFIELD 2NNW               3.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
LONG LAKE 4SW                2.5 IN    0731 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
ROBBINSDALE                  2.4 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
EDEN PRAIRIE 3SE             2.3 IN    0913 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
GOLDEN VALLEY                2.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
MINNEAPOLIS DWTN             2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COOP                   
CHAMPLIN 1SW                 1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
LONG LAKE                    1.5 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
ST. BONIFACIUS 2ENE          1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
MINNEAPOLIS                  1.1 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..LE SUEUR COUNTY  
LE CENTER 5NNW               2.5 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
NEW PRAGUE                   2.2 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..MCLEOD COUNTY  
GLENCOE                      1.5 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
SILVER LAKE 1NNW             1.1 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
HUTCHINSON 5N                0.8 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..NICOLLET COUNTY  
NEW ULM 3SE                  1.7 IN    0531 AM 02/24   COOP                   
..RAMSEY COUNTY  
MENDOTA HGTS 2WNW            2.9 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
NORTH ST. PAUL 1WNW          2.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
ROSEVILLE 2WNW               2.0 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..REDWOOD COUNTY  
REDWOOD FALLS                1.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COOP                   
..RENVILLE COUNTY  
BIRD ISLAND 7SSE             2.1 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COOP                   
..RICE COUNTY  
VESELI 1W                    6.5 IN    0500 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
FARIBAULT                    6.2 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COOP                   
MONTGOMERY 3ENE              5.0 IN    0600 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..SCOTT COUNTY  
JORDAN 1SW                   2.6 IN    0530 AM 02/24   COOP                   
2 W NEW PRAGUE               2.6 IN    0333 AM 02/24   TRAINED SPOTTER        
SHAKOPEE                     2.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..SHERBURNE COUNTY  
ORROCK 2SE                   1.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..STEARNS COUNTY  
ST. JOSEPH                   0.5 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..STEELE COUNTY  
ELLENDALE                    11.0 IN   0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
OWATONNA                     8.0 IN    0715 AM 02/24   PUBLIC                 
..WASECA COUNTY  
WASECA                       4.0 IN    1100 PM 02/23   TRAINED SPOTTER        
..WASHINGTON COUNTY  
WOODBURY                     3.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
STILLWATER 1NE               2.0 IN    0753 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
..WRIGHT COUNTY  
ST. MICHAEL 1E               2.5 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
HANOVER 1WNW                 1.8 IN    0800 AM 02/24   COCORAHS               
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.  
----
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI  
406 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2019  
..FEBRUARY 23-24 SNOWFALL REPORTS  
LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON                
..MINNESOTA  
..DODGE COUNTY  
2 NE KASSON                  13.0 IN   0700 AM 02/24   44.05N/92.72W          
HAYFIELD                     11.5 IN   0830 AM 02/24   43.89N/92.85W          
..FILLMORE COUNTY  
CHATFIELD                    12.0 IN   0750 AM 02/24   43.85N/92.18W          
RUSHFORD                     10.5 IN   0704 AM 02/24   43.81N/91.75W          
1 S PETERSON                 9.8 IN    0942 AM 02/24   43.77N/91.83W          
2 NW WYKOFF                  9.7 IN    0240 AM 02/24   43.73N/92.30W          
1 SSE PILOT MOUND            9.1 IN    0700 AM 02/24   43.79N/92.03W          
FOUNTAIN                     9.0 IN    0756 AM 02/24   43.74N/92.13W          
MABEL                        5.0 IN    0700 AM 02/24   43.52N/91.76W          
..HOUSTON COUNTY  
CALEDONIA                    5.5 IN    0734 AM 02/24   43.64N/91.50W          
HOKAH 4NW                    4.4 IN    0608 AM 02/24   43.80N/91.43W          
SPRING GROVE                 4.0 IN    1126 AM 02/24   43.56N/91.64W          
4 NNE HOUSTON                4.0 IN    0545 AM 02/24   43.80N/91.53W          
4 NW EITZEN                  3.5 IN    0800 AM 02/24   43.56N/91.51W          
CALEDONIA                    3.3 IN    0247 AM 02/24   43.63N/91.50W          
3 W STODDARD                 2.6 IN    0700 AM 02/24   43.65N/91.28W          
..MOWER COUNTY  
1 SW AUSTIN                  11.3 IN   0100 PM 02/24   43.66N/92.98W          
AUSTIN                       10.5 IN   0831 AM 02/24   43.67N/92.97W          
2 SW AUSTIN                  10.5 IN   0810 AM 02/24   43.65N/92.99W          
4 WSW AUSTIN                 9.0 IN    0755 AM 02/24   43.64N/93.05W          
..OLMSTED COUNTY  
2 NNW ROCHESTER              13.5 IN   0700 AM 02/24   44.05N/92.49W          
4 W POTSDAM                  12.5 IN   0937 AM 02/24   44.16N/92.43W          
1 SSW ORONOCO                12.3 IN   0908 AM 02/24   44.15N/92.54W          
6 E DOUGLAS                  11.0 IN   0715 AM 02/24   44.10N/92.46W          
2 NE ROCHESTER               11.0 IN   0600 AM 02/24   44.04N/92.44W          
4 ESE DOUGLAS                10.9 IN   0745 AM 02/24   44.08N/92.51W          
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRP 10.5 IN   0554 AM 02/24   43.91N/92.50W          
2 W CHESTER                  10.3 IN   1130 PM 02/23   44.01N/92.38W          
1 NNW ROCHESTER              10.2 IN   1002 AM 02/24   44.02N/92.48W          
ELGIN 2SSW                   10.1 IN   0700 AM 02/24   44.10N/92.27W          
2 SW PREDMORE                10.0 IN   0925 AM 02/24   43.92N/92.35W          
3 ESE DOUGLAS                10.0 IN   0757 AM 02/24   44.09N/92.51W          
2 S PREDMORE                 10.0 IN   0727 AM 02/24   43.90N/92.34W          
..WABASHA COUNTY  
THEILMAN 1SSW                12.2 IN   0730 AM 02/24   44.28N/92.19W          
2 N KELLOGG                  12.0 IN   0730 AM 02/24   44.34N/92.01W          
WABASHA                      11.0 IN   0448 AM 02/24   44.37N/92.04W          
3 SW ZUMBRO FALLS            9.3 IN    0745 AM 02/24   44.24N/92.46W          
..WINONA COUNTY  
1 NW GOODVIEW                12.5 IN   1004 AM 02/24   44.07N/91.72W          
4 S WINONA                   12.0 IN   1106 AM 02/24   43.99N/91.60W          
MINNESOTA CITY               12.0 IN   0944 AM 02/24   44.09N/91.76W          
LEWISTON                     12.0 IN   0721 AM 02/24   43.99N/91.86W          
WINONA                       10.0 IN   0542 AM 02/24   44.05N/91.66W          
WINONA 4SW                   8.0 IN    1035 AM 02/24   43.98N/91.71W          
LA CRESCENT DAM 7            2.5 IN    0800 AM 02/24   43.87N/91.31W          
----
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI  
723 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2019  
..PEAK WIND GUSTS TODAY  
LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       LAT/LON                       
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL AIRP 58 MPH    1226 PM 02/24   43.91N/92.50W          
2 W OELWEIN                  55 MPH    0155 PM 02/24   42.68N/91.97W          
OELWEIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    55 MPH    0155 PM 02/24   42.68N/91.97W          
PLATTEVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPOR 55 MPH    1155 AM 02/24   42.69N/90.44W          
MAYO HELIPAD                 54 MPH    1255 PM 02/24   44.02N/92.48W          
1 ENE DEXTER                 54 MPH    0135 PM 02/24   43.73N/92.68W          
BYRON                        52 MPH    0115 PM 02/24   44.04N/92.64W          
3 N STEWARTVILLE             52 MPH    0205 PM 02/24   43.90N/92.48W          
2 NNW ZUMBRO FALLS           51 MPH    0203 PM 02/24   44.32N/92.44W          
CHARLES CITY AIRPORT         51 MPH    0155 PM 02/24   43.07N/92.61W          
DECORAH MUNICIPAL AIRPORT    51 MPH    1255 PM 02/24   43.28N/91.74W          
2 E KASSON                   51 MPH    0520 PM 02/24   44.02N/92.71W          
1 SSE KELLOGG                49 MPH    0915 AM 02/24   44.28N/91.99W          
5 NW FRANKVILLE              49 MPH    0132 PM 02/24   43.25N/91.70W          
DODGE CENTER AIRPORT         49 MPH    0115 PM 02/24   44.02N/92.83W          
AUSTIN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT     48 MPH    1256 PM 02/24   43.66N/92.93W          
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN  AIRPORT    48 MPH    1115 AM 02/24   43.02N/91.12W          
2 N IONIA                    48 MPH    1040 AM 02/24   43.07N/92.46W          
2 SE DOUGLAS                 47 MPH    1145 AM 02/24   44.08N/92.55W          
LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT   47 MPH    1227 PM 02/24   43.88N/91.26W          
MEDFORD AIRPORT              47 MPH    1255 PM 02/24   45.10N/90.30W          
2 SE EYOTA                   47 MPH    0520 PM 02/24   43.96N/92.21W          
BOSCOBEL AIRPORT             47 MPH    0250 PM 02/24   43.16N/90.67W          
MAUSTON AIRPORT              45 MPH    1055 AM 02/24   43.84N/90.14W          
BLACK RIVER FALLS AREA AIRPO 44 MPH    0355 PM 02/24   44.25N/90.86W          
1 E BLACK RIVER FALLS        40 MPH    0315 PM 02/24   44.30N/90.83W          
3 NE LUBLIN                  39 MPH    0514 PM 02/24   45.11N/90.69W          
PRESTON AIRPORT              39 MPH    0255 PM 02/24   43.68N/92.18W          
WINONA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT     39 MPH    0115 PM 02/24   44.08N/91.71W          
1 ENE BOSCOBEL               38 MPH    1103 AM 02/24   43.15N/90.68W          
SPARTA/FORT MCCOY AIRPORT    37 MPH    0235 PM 02/24   43.96N/90.74W          
2 NNE ROCHESTER              37 MPH    0210 PM 02/24   44.05N/92.45W          
2 E CATARACT                 36 MPH    0403 PM 02/24   44.09N/90.79W          
3 SW HAMMOND                 36 MPH    0246 PM 02/24   44.18N/92.41W          
3 W SAINT JOSEPH             34 MPH    0654 PM 02/24   43.78N/91.10W          
LAKE CITY                    32 MPH    1245 PM 02/24   44.45N/92.27W                
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
626 PM CST SUN FEB 24 2019
...PEAK WIND REPORTS AS OF 6 PM..
LOCATION                     SPEED     TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             
ST. PAUL DWTN AP             62 MPH    1049 AM 02/24   ASOS                 
CLARA CITY 2WSW              55 MPH    1005 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
NEW ULM AP                   55 MPH    1055 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
WASECA AP                    54 MPH    0119 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
REDWOOD FALLS AP             54 MPH    1132 AM 02/24   ASOS                 
WILLMAR AP                   52 MPH    1036 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
FAIRMONT AP                  52 MPH    1109 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
ALEXANDRIA AP                51 MPH    1219 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
ELLENDALE 5NNE               51 MPH    1141 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
WINTHROP 2W                  50 MPH    1145 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
CANNON FALLS 7SSE            50 MPH    1215 PM 02/24   MNDOT                
BENSON AP                    49 MPH    1236 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
EAU CLAIRE AP                49 MPH    0340 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
MANKATO AP                   49 MPH    1025 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
BLUE EARTH 2NW               49 MPH    1110 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
NEW GERMANY 1NW              49 MPH    0945 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
WASECA 1SSE                  49 MPH    1120 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
ST. CLOUD AP                 49 MPH    0211 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
EDEN PRAIRIE AP              48 MPH    1237 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
GLENWOOD AP                  48 MPH    1116 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
LITCHFIELD 3S                48 MPH    1211 PM 02/24   RAWS                 
CRYSTAL AP                   48 MPH    1246 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
STARBUCK 8SSW                48 MPH    1100 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
MORRIS AP                    48 MPH    1136 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AP      48 MPH    1224 PM 02/24   ASOS                 
ALEXANDRIA 2SSE              47 MPH    1130 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
SAUK CENTRE 2SE              47 MPH    1110 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
LITCHFIELD AP                46 MPH    1115 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
LAKEVILLE AP                 46 MPH    1216 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
HANLEY FALLS                 46 MPH    1040 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
MADELIA 3ENE                 46 MPH    1045 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
OLIVIA AP                    46 MPH    0259 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
OWATONNA AP                  46 MPH    1052 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
CUMBERLAND AP                46 MPH    0435 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
LONG PRAIRIE AP              45 MPH    1016 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
GRANITE FALLS AP             45 MPH    1036 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
RICE 1NNW                    45 MPH    0320 PM 02/24   MNDOT                
STANLEY 1SSE                 45 MPH    1056 AM 02/24   WIDOT                
ALBERT LEA AP                44 MPH    0456 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
BLAINE AP                    44 MPH    0145 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
MENOMONIE AP                 44 MPH    0155 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
NEW RICHMOND AP              44 MPH    0235 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
STANTON AP                   44 MPH    0115 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
SAUK CENTRE AP               43 MPH    1155 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
MADISON AP                   43 MPH    1055 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
GLENCOE AP                   43 MPH    1115 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
HUTCHINSON AP                43 MPH    1035 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
1 NW CAMP RIPLEY             43 MPH    0356 PM 02/24   NONFEDAWOS           
CLEARWATER 1SE               43 MPH    1015 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
BELGRADE 3ESE                43 MPH    1045 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
RED WING 4W                  43 MPH    0900 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
MARIETTA 5SSW                43 MPH    0820 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
MONTEVIDEO AP                43 MPH    0135 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
OSCEOLA AP                   43 MPH    0235 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
PRINCETON AP                 43 MPH    1256 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
CARVER 3S                    43 MPH    1049 AM 02/24   RAWS                 
RIVER FALLS 4NW              43 MPH    0256 PM 02/24   WIDOT                
HARDING 3WNW                 42 MPH    1220 PM 02/24   MNDOT                
CAMBRIDGE AP                 41 MPH    0356 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
LADYSMITH 2SW                41 MPH    0505 PM 02/24   RAWS                 
TONY AP                      41 MPH    0335 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
RICE LAKE AP                 41 MPH    0155 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
SOUTH ST. PAUL AP            41 MPH    0215 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
LAKE ELMO AP                 40 MPH    0136 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
MAYER 1NE                    40 MPH    0400 PM 02/24   MNDOT                
CHETEK AP                    40 MPH    0135 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
APPLETON AP                  39 MPH    0104 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
CANBY AP                     39 MPH    0959 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
SKYLINE                      39 MPH    1130 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
NEW PRAGUE 2W                39 MPH    1045 AM 02/24   MNDOT                
SOUTH ST. PAUL 1WSW          39 MPH    1246 PM 02/24   MNDOT                
RED WING AP                  39 MPH    0215 PM 02/24   AWOS                 
SANTIAGO 3E                  38 MPH    0120 PM 02/24   RAWS                 
GORDONSVILLE                 38 MPH    0300 PM 02/24   GOES                 
MORA AP                      38 MPH    0556 AM 02/24   AWOS                 
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.