Minneapolis Sets Single-Storm Snowfall Record

Images (click to enlarge): Feb. 20-21, 2011 total snowfall amounts for metro Minneapolis and for surrounding southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, from National Weather Service

The 13.8" of snow on February 20-21 in Minneapolis was the largest amount for a single storm in February. It was also the first time more than a foot of snow fell in a single February storm. Some nearby locations reported amounts up to 20".

Of the top 5 February storm totals at Minneapolis, 3 have now occurred in the last 7 years. Climate records at Minneapolis have been collected for 140 years (since 1871).

From the National Weather Service:

Top 5 February Snow Storms for the Twin Cities
1) Feb. 20-21 2011    13.8"
2) Feb. 1-3 2004      11.2"
3) Feb. 19-20 1952    10.5"
4) Feb. 22 1913        8.8"
5) Feb. 24-25 2007     8.7"  

The winter snowfall total of 74.9" to date at Minneapolis is now the 10th highest on record for a full season, but it's the 3rd highest to date. The record seasonal total was 98.6" in 1983-84.

The NWS points out that February on average is the least snowiest winter month in Minneapolis. The reason for this is that the upper Midwest is usually dominated by cold high pressure areas in mid-winter. These tend to be relatively dry, and they suppress the prevailing storm track to the south. Except for a stretch of several days in which temperatures failed to rise out of the single digits, this February has been relatively warm at Minneapolis. Through the first 3 weeks, the month has averaged 1.1° above the long-term climatological mean.

Here are some reports of double-digit snow totals from southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin:

20.00   MADISON                  MN  LAC QUI PARLE    0830 PM
19.60   BLOOMINGTON              MN  HENNEPIN         0825 PM
19.00   3 NW EDEN PRAIRIE        MN  HENNEPIN         0515 PM
18.00   CREDIT RIVER             MN  SCOTT            0937 PM
18.00   BURNSVILLE               MN  DAKOTA           0519 PM
17.50   SPRINGFIELD              MN  BROWN            0840 AM
16.30   1 SSW MONTEVIDEO         MN  CHIPPEWA         0700 AM
15.50   2 W PRIOR LAKE           MN  SCOTT            0900 AM
15.10   LAKEVILLE                MN  DAKOTA           0814 PM
15.10   RICHFIELD                MN  HENNEPIN         0820 PM
15.00   OSCEOLA                  WI  POLK             0500 PM
15.00   MENOMONIE                WI  DUNN             0552 PM
15.00   3 SSW BURNSVILLE         MN  DAKOTA           0845 AM
14.20   1 N PRIOR LAKE           MN  SCOTT            0930 PM
14.00   INVER GROVE HEIGHTS      MN  DAKOTA           1002 PM
14.00   WOODBURY                 MN  WASHINGTON       0800 AM
14.00   EDEN PRAIRIE             MN  HENNEPIN         0809 PM
14.00   RED WING                 MN  GOODHUE          0730 PM
13.60   ANDOVER                  MN  ANOKA            1024 PM
13.50   MAPLEWOOD                MN  RAMSEY           1210 PM
13.80   MINNEAPOLIS(MSP AIRPORT) MN  HENNEPIN         1240 AM
13.70   CHANHASSEN (NWS OFFICE)  MN  CARVER           1240 AM
13.30   ST PAUL                  MN  RAMSEY           0610 AM
13.00   GRANITE FALLS            MN  CHIPPEWA         1013 AM
12.90   3 WNW RICE               MN  STEARNS          0700 AM
12.70   EDINA                    MN  HENNEPIN         0203 PM
12.70   1 NW BURNSVILLE          MN  DAKOTA           0700 PM
12.60   COON RAPIDS              MN  ANOKA            0638 PM
12.50   CARVER                   MN  CARVER           0700 AM
12.40   HASTINGS                 MN  DAKOTA           0907 PM
12.40   ROBERTS                  WI  ST. CROIX        0800 AM
12.30   5 SW ST PAUL             MN  RAMSEY           0845 AM
12.00   1 N CAMERON              WI  BARRON           0500 PM
12.00   MANKATO                  MN  BLUE EARTH       0333 PM
12.00   LAKE ELMO                MN  WASHINGTON       0800 AM
12.00   3 N BLOOMER              WI  CHIPPEWA         0730 AM
12.00   BALDWIN                  WI  ST. CROIX        0700 AM
12.00   3 SW MINNEAPOLIS         MN  HENNEPIN         0900 PM
12.00   SHAKOPEE                 MN  SCOTT            0854 PM
11.60   JORDAN                   MN  SCOTT            0710 AM
11.50   MILROY                   MN  REDWOOD          0700 AM
11.10   BLAINE                   MN  ANOKA            0917 PM
11.00   DURAND                   WI  PEPIN            1000 PM
11.00   SAUK RAPIDS              MN  BENTON           0800 PM
11.00   MORGAN                   MN  REDWOOD          0702 AM
11.00   4 NNE MAPLEWOOD          MN  RAMSEY           0830 PM
11.00   1 ESE CHASKA             MN  CARVER           0800 PM
10.60   3 NNW MINNEAPOLIS        MN  HENNEPIN         0346 PM
10.60   MINNETONKA               MN  HENNEPIN         0803 AM
10.50   CLAYTON                  WI  POLK             0616 PM
10.50   LITCHFIELD               MN  MEEKER           0420 PM
10.50   ELK MOUND                WI  DUNN             0600 AM
10.50   REDWOOD FALLS            MN  REDWOOD          0500 AM
10.30   7 S HILLMAN              MN  MORRISON         0335 PM
10.20   OAKDALE                  MN  WASHINGTON       0747 PM
10.00   GLENWOOD                 MN  POPE             0600 PM
10.00   ST JAMES                 MN  WATONWAN         0700 PM
10.00   MADELIA                  MN  WATONWAN         1245 PM
10.00   COMFREY                  MN  BROWN            1210 PM
10.00   BROWNTON                 MN  MCLEOD           1210 PM
10.00   NW GILMAN                MN  BENTON           0828 AM
10.00   ISANTI                   MN  ISANTI           0626 AM
10.00   EAU CLAIRE WQOW          WI  EAU CLAIRE       0500 AM
10.00   2 N MENOMONIE            WI  DUNN             1100 PM
10.00   1 W CARVER               MN  CARVER           0900 PM
10.00   4 SSW MINNEAPOLIS        MN  HENNEPIN         0700 PM
10.00   ST PETER                 MN  NICOLLET         0530 PM