A Pacific storm is bringing areas of low elevation rain, moderate to heavy mountain snow, and high winds to the Northwest. Strong Santa Ana winds and very dry conditions are producing elevated to critical fire weather conditions in southern California. Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through early Wednesday morning across parts of northeast Texas into western Tennessee. Read More >
The 1996-97 winter had already been a long one by the time March began. The snow started to accumulate in November, and kept the ground covered under a blanket of white through February. Seasonal snowfall records had been set in many locations. Finally, the winter looked like it might give way to spring as March started, with most locations losing their snow cover.
However, a storm system developed over Texas and the southern Plains and tracked toward the Upper Mississippi River Valley on the evening on the 12th. Snow developed across the region that evening and continued through the 13th and 14th. The heaviest snows fell on the 13th and 14th when the forcing and instability with the storm were the strongest. A large swath of 10 or more inches of snow fell from southeast Minnesota through east central Wisconsin (Fig. 1), with a narrow band of 15-25" from around Winona, MN and La Crosse, WI to Green Bay, WI (Table 1). Daily and monthly snowfall records were set throughout most of the region. In addition, this snowfall added to an already snowy winter season, helping Rochester, MN to its snowiest season on record with a total of 84.6" for 1996-97.
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Fig 1. Approximate snowfall totals for March 12-14, 1997 (most snow from the 13-14). |
Iowa |
Minnesota |
Wisconsin |
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Waukon |
8.5" |
Minnesota City |
21.0" |
Mather |
22.0" |
Richland Center |
7.0" |
Cresco |
8.0" |
La Crescent |
18.0" |
Sparta |
20.0" |
Lynxville |
5.5" |
Decorah |
7.5" |
Winona |
17.8" |
Viroqua |
20.0" |
Muscoda |
5.0" |
Mason City |
5.0" |
Hokah |
15.7" |
La Crosse |
19.1" |
Jump River |
4.0" |
Charles City |
3.9" |
Caledonia |
15.5" |
Mauston |
18.0" |
Lancaster |
2.0" |
New Hampton |
3.5" |
Spring Grove |
14.0" |
Cashton |
17.0" |
Prairie du Chien |
2.0" |
Elkader |
1.5" |
Theilman |
14.0" |
Hillsboro |
17.0" |
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Fayette |
1.2" |
Preston |
13.0" |
Blair |
15.6" |
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Grand Meadow |
12.0" |
LaFarge |
15.0" |
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Austin |
9.0" |
Neilsville |
14.0" |
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Byron |
9.0" |
Alma |
13.0" |
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Harmony |
8.0" |
Gays Mills |
11.0" |
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Zumbrota |
6.5" |
Mondovi |
10.0" |
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