Minnesota, 1999

Ice Storm in Minnesota, April 3 to 4, 1999

April 3 to 4, 1999 · NWS DLH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Accumulations of ice up to one-quarter of an inch, along with a mixture of sleet, snow, and slush on the ground, made travel very hazardous across much of northeastern Minnesota. The area hardest hit extended from Duluth up the north shore of Lake Superior.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 DLH wrote it up.

Accumulations of ice up to one-quarter of an inch, along with a mixture of sleet, snow, and slush on the ground, made travel very hazardous across much of northeastern Minnesota. The area hardest hit extended from Duluth up the north shore of Lake Superior. The weight of ice accumulations brought down trees and power lines and cause extensive damage to an 800 foot television tower in Duluth. The situation was exacerbated by strong winds gusting to around 50 MPH.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Koochiching

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Koochiching forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.245, -93.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Northern St. Louis

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Northern St. Louis forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.590, -92.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Northern Cook / Northern Lake forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.670, -90.975 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Southern Lake

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Southern Lake forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.557, -91.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Southern Cook

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Southern Cook forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.817, -90.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Southern St. Louis / Carlton

When
April 3, 4:00 PM CST to April 4, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Southern St. Louis / Carlton forecast zone
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.091, -92.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, April 1999

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: 5695663, 5695664, 5695665, 5695666, 5695667, 5695668.