Heavy Snow, Clay
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Clay forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 13, 1997
A band of heavy snow fell across west central Minnesota, where Pelican Rapids reported 10 inches of new snow. Blue Grass reported 9 inches of snow, and Rothsay and Fergus Falls both reported 8 inches.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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 FGF wrote it up.
A band of heavy snow fell across west central Minnesota, where Pelican Rapids reported 10 inches of new snow. Blue Grass reported 9 inches of snow, and Rothsay and Fergus Falls both reported 8 inches. A north to northeast wind gusted up to 35 mph, causing reduced visibilities in open areas.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
8 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, West Becker
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- West Becker forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, East Becker
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- East Becker forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Wilkin
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Wilkin forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.357, -96.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, West Otter Tail
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- West Otter Tail forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, East Otter Tail
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- East Otter Tail forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Wadena
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Wadena forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.586, -94.969 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Grant
- When
- March 13, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Grant forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 45.934, -96.012 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Heavy Snow
- Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Ice Storm in Michigan, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Tornado in Georgia, March 13, 1997
- Ice Storm in Ohio, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Storm Surge in Ohio, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Lightning Strike in Alabama, March 13, 1997
- Ice Storm in Minnesota, March 13, 1997
- Storm Surge in Ohio, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Storm Surge in Ohio, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, March 13 to 14, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Florida, March 13, 1997
- Winter Storm in Michigan, March 13 to 16, 1997
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, March 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: 5589975, 5589976, 5589977, 5589978, 5589979, 5589980, 5589981, 5589982.