Dense Fog in Minnesota, March 30, 2001

Name: Dense Fog in Minnesota, March 30, 2001
Start: 2001-03-30T00:00
End: 2001-03-30T10:00
Location: Minnesota

March 30, 2001 · NWS MPX · 42 events in 42 counties and zones

Light southerly winds, combined with tremendous amounts of snow pack induced humidity, generated a large area of dense fog across much of central and south central Minnesota. Most areas reported visibilities of one eighth to one quarter of a mile, with occasional reports of near zero visibility due to fog.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 42 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: 42

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Twin Cities, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 29, 9:15 PM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 29, 9:15 PM CST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
915 PM CST THU MAR 29 2001

DENSE FOG ADVY ISSUED EARLIER FOR WIDESPREAD VSBYS 1/4SM OR LESS
ACRS SRN INTO WRN PORTIONS OF CWA.  DENSE FOG ORIGINATED IN THE LATE
AFTN/EARLY EVE VCNTY OF AEL DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS...AND THEN SPREAD
RAPIDLY WNW.  WEAKNESS IN SFC PRES GRADIENT REFLECTION OF PERSISTENT
LOW LEVEL WEAK CIRCULATION SHOWING UP AT 900-925MB.  JUST ENOUGH
WEAK LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE TO PRODUCE PATCHY -RA/-DZ OVR ERN MN
COUNTY WARNING AREA.  PATCHY LGT PRECIP MAY LINGER INTO FRI MRNG
ACRS ERN CWA BEFORE UPSTREAM TROUGH TAKES OVER EMPHASIS.  IN
ADDITION...SFC DEWPTS IN MID TO UPR 30S SURGING TWD MN/IA BDR FM ERN
IA.  POTENT S/W TROUGH STILL LKLY TO AFFECT AREA LATE FRI INTO FRI
NGT.  290 THETA SFC SHOWS CONDENSATION PRES DEFICITS DECREASING TO
LESS THAN 20MB WITH SATURATION THROUGH THE 10K.  WEAK THETA-E RDG
AND CONVERGENCE WITH ELEVATED LIS APPROACHING ZERO IN ERN SD AT 00Z.
HENCE MAY NEED TO INCREASE POPS TO MORE LKLY CATEGORY...ESPECIALLY
FOR WRN AREAS FRI NGT.

.MSP...DENSE FOG ADVY TNGT INTO FRI MRNG ALG AND WEST OF LN FM AXN
TO LJF TO FBL AND SOUTH.
KAVINSKY

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

42 dense fog. Local standard time, as filed.

Dense Fog, Anoka

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Anoka forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Benton

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Blue Earth

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Brown

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Carver

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Carver forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Chippewa

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Chisago

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Chisago forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Dakota

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Dakota forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Douglas

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Douglas forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Faribault

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Faribault forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Freeborn

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Goodhue

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Goodhue forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Hennepin

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Hennepin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Isanti

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Isanti forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Kanabec

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kanabec forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Kandiyohi

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Lac Qui Parle

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Le Sueur

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Le Sueur forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Martin

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, McLeod

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: McLeod forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Meeker

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Mille Lacs

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Morrison

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Nicollet

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Pope

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Ramsey

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Redwood

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Redwood forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Renville

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Rice

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Scott

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Sherburne

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Sibley

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Sibley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Stearns

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Steele

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Stevens

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Stevens forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Swift

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Todd

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Waseca

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Waseca forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Washington

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Watonwan

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Wright

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dense Fog, Yellow Medicine

When: March 30, 12:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Dense Fog: Fog reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less, filed where it caused accidents or disruption.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, March 2001

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: 5239057, 5239058, 5239059, 5239060, 5239061, 5239062, 5239063, 5239064, 5239065, 5239066, 5239067, 5239068, 5239069, 5239070, 5239071, 5239072, 5239073, 5239074, 5239075, 5239076, 5239077, 5239078, 5239079, 5239080, 5239081, 5239082, 5239083, 5239084, 5239085, 5239086, 5239087, 5239088, 5239089, 5239090, 5239091, 5239092, 5239093, 5239094, 5239095, 5239096, and more.