Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >
Overview
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A storm system moved in from the northwest and spread a band of 4 to 7 inches across central Minnesota into western Wisconsin. The heaviest snow fell on Thursday morning, December 19th, which prompted several school closings and caused travel impacts through the evening. A few of the highest amounts are listed below. Here's a link to the Full List of Reports. 8.9 inches near Faribault MN in Rice County. |
 Interpolated snowfall map based on reports from observers across the region. |
Weather Data
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| At 500mb, a northern stream shortwave trough moved across the High Plains toward the Great Lakes. A Jet Streak (color fill) on the southern side, together with the curvature of the flow, created rising motion over Minnesota and Wisconsin. HREF 500mb Height / Wind. | Temperatures were cold enough for the precipitation to fall as snow (blue shading). HREF mean Ptype. | Two days before the event, the heaviest snow was expected along I-94. This is shown by the higher probabilities (yellow) of seeing at least two inches of snow. | As the event drew near, the forecast shifted to the south, and the heaviest snow ended up south of I-94. |
Photos & Video
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| The MNDOT image above shows heavy snow falling along I-35 near Faribault MN. | The MNDOT image above shows heavy snow near Shakopee MN along Hwy 169. |
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