Alert archive / Minnesota / Blizzard Warnings in 2011
Blizzard Warning 2, NWS Twin Cities, MN
NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this blizzard warning at Mar 12, 2011, 1:15 AM CST for 16 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 7 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Mar 12, 2011, 1:15 AM CST (07:15 UTC)
- Expired
- Mar 12, 2011, 8:00 AM CST
- In force
- 7 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Twin Cities, MN
Counties Carver County, MN, Chippewa County, MN, Douglas County, MN, Kandiyohi County, MN, Lac qui Parle County, MN, McLeod County, MN, Meeker County, MN, Pope County, MN, Renville County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Stearns County, MN, Stevens County, MN, Swift County, MN, Todd County, MN, Wright County, MN, Yellow Medicine County, MN
The radar
The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 121 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:16 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.
The nearest sounding before it
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 7.3 hours before the alert went out and 119 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 733 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 51 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 79 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 111 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.
704 WWUS43 KMPX 120715 WSWMPX URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 115 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD AND NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING OVER PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT... ...BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW OVER PARTS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING... .THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH 800 AM THIS MORNING. SOME CITIES INCLUDED IN THE BLIZZARD WARNING ARE ALEXANDRIA...BENSON...LITCHFIELD...MORRIS...ST CLOUD...AND WILLMAR. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL 50 MPH GUSTS WERE CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER MUCH OF WESTERN MINNESOTA. ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT...VISIBILITIES AT TIMES WERE NEAR ZERO AND ROADS HAVE BECOME VERY SLICK DUE TO DRIFTING SNOW. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THE BLIZZARD WARNING AREA UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO IMPROVE AFTER DAYBREAK THIS MORNING AS WIND SPEEDS SLOWLY SUBSIDE. THE BLIZZARD WARNING COVERS PORTIONS OF INTERSTATE 94. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PORTION OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH THIS MORNING. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA INCLUDE LITTLE FALLS AND MORA. MNZ041-042-047>049-054>056-064-121400- /O.UPG.KMPX.WW.Y.0035.000000T0000Z-110312T1800Z/ /O.NEW.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.110312T0715Z-110312T1400Z/ DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA- YELLOW MEDICINE- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS... GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO... GRANITE FALLS 115 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. * TIMING...THROUGH EARLY TO MID MORNING. * MAIN IMPACT...BLOWING SNOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITY. * OTHER IMPACTS...WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. && $$ MNZ057>059-065>068-121400- /O.NEW.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.110312T0715Z-110312T1400Z/ KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILLMAR...LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO... OLIVIA...HUTCHINSON...GAYLORD...CHASKA 115 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING. * TIMING...THROUGH EARLY TO MID MORNING. * MAIN IMPACT...BLOWING SNOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITY. * OTHER IMPACTS...WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. && $$ MNZ043>045-050-121400- /O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0035.000000T0000Z-110312T1800Z/ MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-BENTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLE FALLS...PRINCETON...MORA...FOLEY 115 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. * TIMING...THROUGH THIS MORNING. * MAIN IMPACT...BLOWING SNOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITY. * OTHER IMPACTS...WIND GUSTS OF 45 MPH AND SNOWFALL OF ONE HALF TO ONE INCH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. && $$
2 follow-up statements
451 WWUS43 KMPX 121029 WSWMPX URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 429 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD TO NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING OVER PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH EARLY THIS MORNING... .A BLIZZARD WARNING CONTINUES FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH 800 AM THIS MORNING. INCLUDED IN THE BLIZZARD WARNING ARE ALEXANDRIA...BENSON...LITCHFIELD...MORRIS...ST CLOUD...WILLMAR...AS WELL AS A PORTION OF INTERSTATE 94. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH OCCASIONAL 40 TO 50 MPH GUSTS WERE CREATING WHITEOUT CONDITIONS OVER PORTIONS OF THE BLIZZARD WARNING BEFORE SUNRISE. ACCORDING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT...VISIBILITIES AT TIMES WERE NEAR ZERO AND ROADS HAVE BECOME VERY SLICK DUE TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO IMPROVE AFTER DAYBREAK THIS MORNING AS WIND SPEEDS SLOWLY SUBSIDE. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PORTION OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA THROUGH THIS MORNING...DUE TO BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. SOME LOCATIONS IN THE ADVISORY AREA INCLUDE LITTLE FALLS AND MORA. MNZ064-065-067-121130- /O.CAN.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110312T1400Z/ YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-SIBLEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GRANITE FALLS...OLIVIA...GAYLORD 429 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN THE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS CANCELLED THE BLIZZARD WARNING. LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS REPORTED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN VISIBILITY ACROSS RENVILLE...SIBLEY...AND YELLOW MEDICINE COUNTIES. THEREFORE...THE BLIZZARD WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. A WIND ADVISORY DOES REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON. $$ MNZ041-042-047>049-054>059-066-068-121400- /O.CON.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110312T1400Z/ DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA- KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-MCLEOD-CARVER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS... GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR... LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...HUTCHINSON...CHASKA 429 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING... A BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 AM CST THIS MORNING. * TIMING...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN PLACES THROUGH EARLY TO MID MORNING. * MAIN IMPACT...BLOWING SNOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITY. * OTHER IMPACTS...WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 45 MPH. A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH NOON. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. && $$ MNZ043>045-050-121800- /O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0035.000000T0000Z-110312T1800Z/ MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-BENTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLE FALLS...PRINCETON...MORA...FOLEY 429 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. * TIMING...BLOWING SNOW THROUGH THIS MORNING. * MAIN IMPACT...BLOWING SNOW SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING VISIBILITY AT TIMES. * OTHER IMPACTS...WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO STRONG WINDS BLOWING SNOW AROUND. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. && $$
154 WWUS43 KMPX 121400 WSWMPX URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 800 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS HAVE COME TO AN END... .WINDS HAVE DECREASED SOME THIS MORNING...WHICH HAS ALLOWED FOR GROUND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO SUBSIDE ACROSS PARTS OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL MINNESOTA. HOWEVER...THE LIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW FROM LAST NIGHT HAS CREATED A LAYER OF ICE ON MANY AREA ROADS AND TRAFFIC WILL REMAIN VERY DIFFICULT THROUGH THE MORNING. A WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BOTH THE BLIZZARD WARNED AND WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY COUNTIES THROUGH NOON TODAY. MNZ041-042-047>049-054>059-066-068-121500- /O.EXP.KMPX.BZ.W.0002.000000T0000Z-110312T1400Z/ DOUGLAS-TODD-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA- KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-MCLEOD-CARVER- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ALEXANDRIA...LONG PRAIRIE...MORRIS... GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR... LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...HUTCHINSON...CHASKA 800 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...BLIZZARD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM CST THIS MORNING... THE BLIZZARD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 8 AM CST THIS MORNING. REDUCED VISIBILITIES DUE TO BLOWING SNOW HAVE DIMINISHED. HOWEVER...MANY ROADS REMAIN SLICK AND ICE COVERED FROM OVERNIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. $$ MNZ043>045-050-121500- /O.CAN.KMPX.WW.Y.0035.000000T0000Z-110312T1800Z/ MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-BENTON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LITTLE FALLS...PRINCETON...MORA...FOLEY 800 AM CST SAT MAR 12 2011 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS CANCELLED... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS CANCELLED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. REDUCED VISIBILITIES DUE TO BLOWING SNOW HAVE DIMINISHED. HOWEVER...MANY ROADS REMAIN SLICK AND ICE COVERED FROM OVERNIGHT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. $$
Nearby
Blizzard Warnings in Minnesota, 2011Every blizzard warning in 2011
Sources
The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.