Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 14 to 15, 2002

Name: Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 14 to 15, 2002
Start: 2002-03-14T08:00
End: 2002-03-15T04:00
Location: Minnesota

March 14 to 15, 2002 · NWS MPX · 38 events in 38 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 38 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: 38

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.

An area of surface low pressure moved from the Oklahoma Panhandle during the early morning hours on Thursday the 14th, to northeastern Kansas by noon, and then proceeded to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area by the early morning hours on Friday the 15th. Heavy snow fell across a wide swath of Central and South Central Minnesota. Some snowfall totals of note include: Dawson - 21.0 inches; Mora and Montevideo - 18.0 inches; St. Cloud and Willmar - 17.5 inches; Olivia - 17.0 inches; Foley and Canby - 16.0 inches; Hutchinson, New London, Buffalo, Benson, and Litchfield all with 15.0 inches; Cambridge - 14.0 inches; Granite Falls, Onamia, and Madison all with 14.0 inches; Redwood Falls and Vesta - 12.0 inches; Milaca, Gaylord, and New Hope all with 11 inches; Chanhassen - 10.8 inches; Little Falls, Elk River, and Fridley all with 10 inches.

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 14, 3:30 AM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 14, 3:30 AM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
330 AM CST THU MAR 14 2002

SNOW HAS DEVELOPED IN REGION OF ISENTROPIC LIFT AHEAD OF UPPER
TROUGH...NOW OVER THE WY ROCKIES ON SATELLITE IMAGE.  DYNAMICS
CONTINUE TO BE IMPRESSIVE...BUT OVER ALL TREND IS TO SHIFT
PRECIPITATION MAXIMUM NORTH.  THERE IS A PROBLEM IN SRN MN WITH
WARMING THICKNESSES AFFECTING TYPE OF PRECIPITATION.  SLEET SHOULD
MIX WITH SNOW...BUT RAIN IS POSSIBLE.  SO A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
WILL BE ISSUED FOR FAR SOUTH CENTRAL.  THE FORECAST WILL UPGRADE THE
REST OF THE WATCH AREA TO A WARNINGS...WITH THE HEAVIEST SNOW ACROSS
THE METRO AREA AND INTO W CENTRAL WI.  ADVISORIES WILL BE ISSUED FOR
ST CLOUD AND SOME W CENTRAL COUNTIES...BUT THE CUT OFF WILL BE SHARP
WITH DRY LOW LEVEL FLOW.

SNOW CONTINUES TONIGHT IN ERN MN AND WRN WI.  WITH THE UPPER LOW
TRACKING ACROSS THE AREA...SNOW SHOULD BE PERSISTENT.  SOME
LINGERING SNOW IN ERN MN AND WRN WI ON FRIDAY...BUT A DRY PERIOD
INTO SATURDAY.  EXTENDED FORECAST REMAINS UNCHANGED.

.MSP...WINTER STORM WARNING THROUGH MIDNIGHT SOUTH CENTRAL AND PART
       OF WEST CENTRAL.
       WINTER STORM WARNING THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT EAST CENTRAL
       MN INCLUDING THE METRO AND WEST CENTRAL WI.
       WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES PART OF CENTRAL MN AND FREEBORN
       COUNTY.

SCOTT

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Anoka

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Anoka forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Benton

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Benton forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Blue Earth

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Brown

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Carver

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Carver forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chippewa

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Chisago

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Chisago forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Dakota

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Dakota forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Goodhue

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Goodhue forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hennepin

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Hennepin forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Isanti

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Isanti forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kanabec

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Kanabec forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kandiyohi

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lac Qui Parle

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Le Sueur

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Le Sueur forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Martin

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Martin forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McLeod

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: McLeod forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Meeker

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Meeker forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mille Lacs

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morrison

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Morrison forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Nicollet

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pope

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Pope forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ramsey

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Redwood

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Redwood forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Renville

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rice

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Rice forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Scott

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Scott forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sherburne

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sibley

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Sibley forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stearns

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Stearns forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Steele

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Swift

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Swift forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Todd

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Todd forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Waseca

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Waseca forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Washington

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Washington forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Watonwan

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wright

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Wright forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Yellow Medicine

When: March 14, 8:00 AM CST to March 15, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 44.716, -95.868 (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 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, March 2002

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: 5286932, 5286933, 5286934, 5286935, 5286936, 5286996, 5286997, 5286998, 5286999, 5287000, 5287001, 5287002, 5287003, 5287004, 5287005, 5287006, 5287007, 5287008, 5287009, 5287010, 5287011, 5287012, 5287013, 5287014, 5287015, 5287016, 5287017, 5287018, 5287019, 5287020, 5287021, 5287022, 5287023, 5287024, 5287025, 5287026, 5287027, 5287028.