Alert archive / Minnesota / Winter Storm Warnings in 2015

Winter Storm Warning 2, NWS Twin Cities, MN

February 3, 20156 counties in Minnesota

NWS Twin Cities, MN issued this winter storm warning at Feb 3, 2015, 12:13 PM CST for 6 counties in Minnesota. It was in force for 7 hr. 9 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
Feb 3, 2015, 12:13 PM CST (18:13 UTC)
Expired
Feb 3, 2015, 7:00 PM CST
In force
7 hr
Issued by
NWS Twin Cities, MN

Counties Le Sueur County, MN, Nicollet County, MN, Renville County, MN, Rice County, MN, Sibley County, MN, Steele County, MN

The radar

The Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 18:12 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
Feb 3, 1:00 PM CSTSNOW 3.5St Peter, MN
Feb 3, 1:45 PM CSTSNOW 4.8Winthrop, MN
Feb 3, 1:45 PM CSTSNOW 5.5Owatonna, MN5.5 INCHES FELL IN ONLY ONE HOUR AND 45 MINUTES.
Feb 3, 1:45 PM CSTSNOW 5.5Owatonna, MN
Feb 3, 2:05 PM CSTSNOW 3Le Sueur, MN
Feb 3, 2:15 PM CSTSNOW 4.2St Peter, MN
Feb 3, 2:25 PM CSTSNOW 4Gibbon, MN
Feb 3, 3:36 PM CSTSNOW 4.2Danube, MN
Feb 3, 5:15 PM CSTSNOW 53 Sw Renville, MN

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, 6.2 hours before the alert went out and 57 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 2015-02-03Temperature 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 2015-02-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 43 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
1099 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
43 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
148 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.

206 
WWUS43 KMPX 031813 CCA
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...A QUICK BURST OF ACCUMULATING SNOW TO IMPACT THE AFTERNOON
COMMUTE...

.SNOW WILL CONTINUE SPREADING THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA...WITH THE HEAVIEST ACCUMULATION OF 5 TO 7 INCHES FROM
MONTEVIDEO THROUGH JUST NORTH OF MANKATO TO FARIBAULT. A HEAVY
SNOW BAND ALONG AND JUST NORTH OF THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY HAS
PRODUCED REPORTS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES BY EARLY AFTERNOON NEAR
MONTEVIDEO. AMOUNTS WILL BE CLOSER TO 1 TO 4 INCHES ON EITHER SIDE
OF THIS HEAVY SNOW BAND.

MNZ076-077-085-040100-
/O.UPG.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0002.150203T1813Z-150204T0100Z/
LE SUEUR-RICE-STEELE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...OWATONNA
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
7 PM CST THIS EVENING. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...5 TO 7 INCHES. HOURLY RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.

* OTHER IMPACTS...DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... 

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

MNZ065-067-075-032100-
/O.NEW.KMPX.WS.W.0002.150203T1813Z-150203T2100Z/
RENVILLE-SIBLEY-NICOLLET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OLIVIA...GAYLORD...ST. PETER
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL
3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...5 TO 7 INCHES. HOURLY RATES OF 1 TO 2
  INCHES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON.

* OTHER IMPACTS...DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA
FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN
EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

MNZ047>049-051-054>059-064-066-073-074-032100-
/O.EXB.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150203T2100Z/
STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-MCLEOD-REDWOOD-BROWN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...
ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...
LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...HUTCHINSON...
REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS
AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3
PM CST THIS AFTERNOON.

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL EXACERBATE THE AFTERNOON
  COMMUTE. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR SNOW MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$

MNZ060>063-068-083-WIZ023-025-040100-
/O.EXA.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-BLUE EARTH-ST. CROIX-DUNN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...CHASKA...MANKATO...HUDSON...MENOMONIE
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7
PM CST THIS EVENING.

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL EXACERBATE THE AFTERNOON
  COMMUTE. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR SNOW MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$

MNZ069-070-078-084-093-WIZ024-026-028-040100-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
SCOTT-DAKOTA-GOODHUE-WASECA-FREEBORN-PIERCE-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SHAKOPEE...HASTINGS...RED WING...
WASECA...ALBERT LEA...PRESCOTT...DURAND...EAU CLAIRE
1213 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL EXACERBATE THE AFTERNOON
  COMMUTE. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR SNOW MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$
2 follow-up statements
833 
WWUS43 KMPX 032058
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
258 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...A QUICK BURST OF ACCUMULATING SNOW TO IMPACT THE AFTERNOON
COMMUTE...

.SNOW WILL CONTINUE SPREADING THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
MINNESOTA. THE SNOW IS BEGINNING TO TAPER ACROSS WESTERN MINNESOTA
BUT ROADS REMAIN SNOW COVERED. THE HEAVIEST TOTAL ACCUMULATION OF
5 TO 7 INCHES IS FROM MONTEVIDEO THROUGH JUST NORTH OF MANKATO TO
FARIBAULT. A HEAVY SNOW BAND ALONG AND JUST NORTH OF THE MINNESOTA
RIVER VALLEY HAS PRODUCED REPORTS IN EXCESS OF 4 INCHES BY EARLY
AFTERNOON NEAR MONTEVIDEO. AMOUNTS WILL BE CLOSER TO 1 TO 3 INCHES
ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS HEAVY SNOW BAND.

MNZ065-067-075-040100-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
RENVILLE-SIBLEY-NICOLLET-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OLIVIA...GAYLORD...ST. PETER
258 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...5 TO 7 INCHES. HOURLY RATES OF 1 TO 2 
  INCHES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

MNZ076-077-085-040100-
/O.CON.KMPX.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
LE SUEUR-RICE-STEELE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...OWATONNA
258 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATION...5 TO 7 INCHES. HOURLY RATES OF 1 TO 2 
  INCHES ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. 

* OTHER IMPACTS...DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING.  SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF
SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN
AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

&&

$$

MNZ047>049-051-054>059-064-066-073-074-040100-
/O.EXT.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-YELLOW MEDICINE-MCLEOD-REDWOOD-BROWN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...
ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...
LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...GRANITE FALLS...HUTCHINSON...
REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM
258 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL EXACERBATE THE 
  AFTERNOON COMMUTE. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 
  INCHES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR SNOW MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$

MNZ060>063-068>070-078-083-084-093-WIZ023>026-028-040100-
/O.CON.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-GOODHUE-
BLUE EARTH-WASECA-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...HASTINGS...RED WING...MANKATO...
WASECA...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...DURAND...
EAU CLAIRE
258 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CST THIS
EVENING...

* TIMING...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

* MAIN IMPACT...HIGH SNOWFALL RATES WILL EXACERBATE THE 
  AFTERNOON COMMUTE. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 
  INCHES. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
FOR SNOW MEANS THAT SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL
DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED
VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

&&

$$
476 
WWUS43 KMPX 040100
WSWMPX

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
700 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...SNOW IS DIMINISHING...

.SNOW COVERED ROADS REMAIN THIS EVENING...BUT THE SNOW HAS ALMOST
ENDED AND ADDITIONAL IMPACTS ARE NOT EXPECTED.

MNZ065-067-075>077-085-040200-
/O.EXP.KMPX.WS.W.0002.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
RENVILLE-SIBLEY-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-STEELE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...OLIVIA...GAYLORD...ST. PETER...
LE SUEUR...FARIBAULT...OWATONNA
700 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CST THIS EVENING...

$$

MNZ047>049-051-054>064-066-068>070-073-074-078-083-084-093-
WIZ023>026-028-040200-
/O.EXP.KMPX.WW.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-150204T0100Z/
STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-SHERBURNE-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-MCLEOD-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-REDWOOD-BROWN-GOODHUE-
BLUE EARTH-WASECA-FREEBORN-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MORRIS...GLENWOOD...ST. CLOUD...
ELK RIVER...MADISON...BENSON...MONTEVIDEO...WILLMAR...
LITCHFIELD...MONTICELLO...MINNEAPOLIS...BLAINE...ST. PAUL...
STILLWATER...GRANITE FALLS...HUTCHINSON...CHASKA...SHAKOPEE...
HASTINGS...REDWOOD FALLS...NEW ULM...RED WING...MANKATO...
WASECA...ALBERT LEA...HUDSON...PRESCOTT...MENOMONIE...DURAND...
EAU CLAIRE
700 PM CST TUE FEB 3 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL EXPIRE AT 7 PM CST THIS EVENING...

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 3, 3:19 AM CSTWinter Weather AdvisoryMPXAnoka, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Dakota and 22 more16 hr

Nearby

Winter Storm Warnings in Minnesota, 2015Every winter storm warning in 2015

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.