Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Warnings in 2006

Winter Storm Warning 4, NWS Twin Cities, MN

December 31, 200627 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm warning at Dec 31, 2006, 3:21 PM CST for 27 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 9 hr. 60 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Dec 31, 2006, 3:21 PM CST (21:21 UTC)
Expired
Jan 1, 2007, 12:00 AM CST
In force
9 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN
All 27 counties

Anoka County, MN, Benton County, MN, Blue Earth County, MN, Brown County, MN, Carver County, MN, Chisago County, MN, Dakota County, MN, Faribault County, MN, Freeborn County, MN, Hennepin County, MN, Isanti County, MN, Kanabec County, MN, Le Sueur County, MN, Martin County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Mille Lacs County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Ramsey County, MN, Rice County, MN, Scott County, MN, Sherburne County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Steele County, MN, Waseca County, MN, Washington County, MN, Watonwan County, MN, Wright County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 17 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:23 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Dec 31, 3:30 PM CSTSNOW 7Lester Prairie, MN
Dec 31, 3:30 PM CSTSNOW 7Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 3:33 PM CSTSNOW 7.52 N Montrose, MN
Dec 31, 3:35 PM CSTSNOW 5Corcoran, MN
Dec 31, 3:44 PM CSTSNOW 23 Sw Gibbon, MN
Dec 31, 3:44 PM CSTSNOW 3Chanhassen, MNMEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
Dec 31, 3:44 PM CSTSNOW 4Lewisville, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 2.2St Paul, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 3.5Winthrop, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 4.5Chanhassen, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 58 Ene Warman, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 8Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 4:34 PM CSTSNOW 8Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 4:45 PM CSTSNOW 1St Paul, MNREPORTED ON THE SOUTHWEST SIDE OF THE CITY IN SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK
Dec 31, 4:45 PM CSTSNOW 8.5North Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 4:57 PM CSTSNOW 3.5Prior Lake, MN
Dec 31, 5:05 PM CSTSNOW 7Henderson, MN
Dec 31, 5:18 PM CSTSNOW 7Henderson, MN
Dec 31, 5:18 PM CSTSNOW 7Janesville, MN
Dec 31, 5:18 PM CSTSNOW 7.4Chaska, MN
Dec 31, 5:20 PM CSTSNOW 2Edina, MNREPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN
Dec 31, 5:24 PM CSTSNOW 8.7Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 5:30 PM CSTSNOW 7St Michael, MN
Dec 31, 5:33 PM CSTSNOW 8.5Waconia, MN
Dec 31, 5:40 PM CSTSNOW 9North Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 5:44 PM CSTSNOW 4St James, MN
Dec 31, 5:45 PM CSTSNOW 4.5Maple Grove, MN
Dec 31, 5:57 PM CSTSNOW 1Rush City, MN
Dec 31, 5:57 PM CSTSNOW 9.5Mankato, MN
Dec 31, 6:00 PM CSTSNOW 2Minneapolis, MNMEASURED AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
Dec 31, 6:00 PM CSTSNOW 3Annandale, MN
Dec 31, 6:00 PM CSTSNOW 5.5Chanhassen, MNMEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE.
Dec 31, 6:07 PM CSTSNOW 1Fridley, MN
Dec 31, 6:07 PM CSTSNOW 7.5Buffalo, MN
Dec 31, 6:30 PM CSTSNOW 6Minnesota Lake, MN
Dec 31, 6:38 PM CSTSNOW 2Farmington, MNREPORTED AT THE NWS CWSU
Dec 31, 6:45 PM CSTSNOW 3Edina, MNREPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN
Dec 31, 6:48 PM CSTSNOW 3.3Apple Valley, MN3 1/4 INCHES REPORTED
Dec 31, 7:00 PM CSTSNOW 2.5Oak Park, MN
Dec 31, 7:00 PM CSTSNOW 3Brownton, MN
Dec 31, 7:00 PM CSTSNOW 7Corcoran, MN
Dec 31, 7:00 PM CSTSNOW 7.51 Sw Delano, MN
Dec 31, 7:25 PM CSTSNOW 4.3New Brighton, MN
Dec 31, 7:30 PM CSTSNOW 7Watertown, MN
Dec 31, 7:41 PM CSTSNOW 3Rush City, MN
Dec 31, 7:45 PM CSTSNOW 3.5Edina, MNREPORTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN
Dec 31, 7:45 PM CSTSNOW 4.3Ramsey, MN
Dec 31, 7:45 PM CSTSNOW 8Deephaven, MN
Dec 31, 7:46 PM CSTSNOW 10Waconia, MNREPORTED BY NOHRSC EMPLOYEE
Dec 31, 8:00 PM CSTSNOW 7.5Elk River, MNMEASUREMENT OCCURRED AT THE ELK RIVER POWER PLANT.
Dec 31, 8:06 PM CSTSNOW 2.2St Paul, MN
Dec 31, 8:15 PM CSTSNOW 5.5Burnsville, MNREPORTED BY METEOROLOGISTS AT DTN/METEOROLOGIX
Dec 31, 8:32 PM CSTSNOW 1.5Ellendale, MN
Dec 31, 8:49 PM CSTSNOW 3Farmington, MNREPORTED AT THE CWSU
Dec 31, 8:50 PM CSTSNOW 5.5Hutchinson, MN
Dec 31, 9:21 PM CSTSNOW 2.55 S Farmington, MN
Dec 31, 9:25 PM CSTSNOW 10Mankato, MNLIQUID EQUIVALENT REPORTED AT 1.07 INCHES
Dec 31, 9:35 PM CSTSNOW 4Apple Valley, MN
Dec 31, 9:41 PM CSTSNOW 5.7Chanhassen, MNMEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.
Dec 31, 9:41 PM CSTSNOW 6.5Chanhassen, MNMEASURED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 9.4 hours before the alert went out and 16 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2006-12-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2006-12-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 166 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
528 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
166 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
164 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
WWUS43 KMPX 312121
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
321 PM CST SUN DEC 31 2006

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH
CENTRAL AREAS OF MINNESOTA...

.A WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR EAST CENTRAL AND
SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH MIDNIGHT. THIS INCLUDES THE TWIN
CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA ON SOUTHWARD THROUGH FAIRMONT AND BLUE
EARTH...AS WELL AS AREAS TO THE NORTH OF THE TWIN
CITIES...INCLUDING MORA AND CAMBRIDGE. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF
6 TO 10 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED BY MIDNIGHT.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FOR
POLK...ST CROIX AND PIERCE COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND
GOODHUE COUNTY IN MINNESOTA. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES ALSO REMAIN
IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT FROM LITTLE FALLS THROUGH REDWOOD FALLS.

SNOW ACROSS PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS
AFTERNOON HAS ACCUMULATED TO AROUND 6 INCHES. THIS WOULD INCLUDE
THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN CITIES TO MANKATO.
SEVERAL MORE INCHES OF SNOW WILL OCCUR IN THESE AREAS THROUGH THE
EVENING WITH UP TO 10 INCHES TOTAL ACCUMULATION. 

SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TO THE EAST AND WEST OF THE WARNING AREA WILL
RANGE FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...THERE WILL BE
BRISK NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS...CAUSING BLOWING AND DRIFTING
SNOW ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL AREAS OF MINNESOTA. 

DRIVING WILL BE TREACHEROUS OVER FAR EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WEST
CENTRAL WISCONSIN DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS AS
SURFACE TEMPERATURES FALL BELOW FREEZING AND THE RAIN CHANGES TO
SNOW. DIFFICULT DRIVING WILL ALSO BE ENCOUNTERED ACROSS
CENTRAL...EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL AREAS OF MINNESOTA AS
VISIBILITIES OF A HALF MILE OR LESS ARE ENCOUNTERED IN THE SNOW
AND BLOWING SNOW.

THE WINTER WEATHER IS IN RESPONSE TO A DEEPENING LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM OVER IOWA THAT WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS WISCONSIN
TONIGHT.

MNZ044-045-050>053-059>063-066>070-074>077-082>085-091>093-010530-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-070101T0600Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0004.061231T2121Z-070101T0600Z/
MILLE LACS-KANABEC-BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-WRIGHT-
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-
DAKOTA-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA-
STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PRINCETON...MORA...FOLEY...ELK RIVER...
CAMBRIDGE...CENTER CITY...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...
ST. PAUL...STILLWATER...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA...
SHAKOPEE...BURNSVILLE...NEW ULM...ST. PETER...LE SUEUR...
FARIBAULT...ST. JAMES...MANKATO...WASECA...OWATONNA...FAIRMONT...
BLUE EARTH...ALBERT LEA
321 PM CST SUN DEC 31 2006

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING FROM MORA AND CAMBRIDGE ON
SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN SUBURBS OF THE TWIN
CITIES TO FAIRMONT...BLUE EARTH AND ALBERT LEA. TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATION WILL BE FROM 6 TO 10 INCHES. IN ADDITION TO THE
SNOW...BRISK NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL OCCUR THIS EVENING
CAUSING SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...
SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO
POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

$$

MNZ043-049-057-058-065-073-078-WIZ014-023-024-010530-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0008.000000T0000Z-070101T0600Z/
MORRISON-STEARNS-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-RENVILLE-REDWOOD-GOODHUE-POLK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLE FALLS...ST. CLOUD...WILLMAR...
LITCHFIELD...OLIVIA...REDWOOD FALLS...RED WING...AMERY...
BALSAM LAKE...HUDSON...NEW RICHMOND...RIVER FALLS...PRESCOTT
321 PM CST SUN DEC 31 2006

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST
TONIGHT. 

SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE EVENING FROM LITTLE FALLS TO
REDWOOD FALLS. THE SNOW WILL END BEFORE MIDNIGHT WITH TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES. RAIN AND SNOW FROM BALSAM LAKE
TO RED WING WILL CHANGE TO ALL SNOW BY THIS EVENING AND THEN
CONTINUE THROUGH MIDNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...BRISK NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS
WILL DEVELOP OVERNIGHT CAUSING SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW.

$$

RAH

The office that day

Everything else NWS Twin Cities, MN issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Dec 30, 9:40 PM CSTWinter Weather AdvisoryMPXAnoka, Benton, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa and 35 more26 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Minnesota, 2006Every winter storm warning in 2006

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.