Winter Storm in Minnesota, January 3 to 5, 1997

Name: Winter Storm in Minnesota, January 3 to 5, 1997
Start: 1997-01-03T17:00
End: 1997-01-05T17:00
Location: Minnesota

January 3 to 5, 1997 · NWS MPX · 21 events in 21 counties and zones

S. resulted in a major snow storm over central Minnesota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 21 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.

A storm system which passed through the central U.S. resulted in a major snow storm over central Minnesota. Snowfall exceeded a foot and a half in many central Minnesota locations including 21 inches at Alexandria and Glenwood, 20 inches at Long Prairie, 19 inches at Little Falls and Milaca and 18 inches at Collegeville. Snow accumulations dropped off rapidly towards the Twin Cities where 4 inches was recorded. Other snowfall amounts included 12 inches at St. Cloud and St. Francis, 10 inches at Cambridge and Benson, 8 inches at Forest Lake, Canby and Montevideo. Strong winds gusting to 40 mph at times developed in the evening on 1/4 resulted in near blizzard conditions over west central Minnesota. Drifts of 5 to 7 feet were reported in the Madison area. Interstate 94 remained closed for a 24 hour period from Sauk Centre northward. West central Minnesota also received a period of freezing rain which preceeded the snow late in the day on 1/3. Numerous highways were closed across west central Minnesota due to the combination of ice, snow and blowing snow. Highway 10 closed west of Staples for a time. The additional snow and ice from this snowstorm in combination with previously fallen accumulations resulted in numerous roofs collapsing over west central Minnesota. Seven cows perished under a collapsed barn, south of the town of Brandon. A partial roof collapse occurred at the Belgrade Fire Department and a marine business in New London suffered a roof collapse. A grocery store lost its roof in Glenwood. Several structures also collapsed in the Staples area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Douglas

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Todd

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morrison

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mille Lacs

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kanabec

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Kanabec forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stevens

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pope

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stearns

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Benton

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sherburne

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Isanti

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Isanti forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chisago

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Chisago forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lac Qui Parle

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Swift

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chippewa

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kandiyohi

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Meeker

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wright

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hennepin

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Hennepin forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Anoka

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Anoka forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Washington

When: January 3, 5:00 PM CST to January 5, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Coordinates: 45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, January 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5589011, 5589012, 5589170, 5589171, 5589172, 5589173, 5589174, 5589175, 5589176, 5589177, 5589178, 5589179, 5589180, 5589181, 5589182, 5589183, 5589184, 5589185, 5589186, 5589187, 5589188.