Minnesota, 2004

Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 1 to 2, 2004

February 1 to 2, 2004 · NWS MPX · 28 events in 28 counties and zones

Low pressure over Nebraska moved across southern Minnesota during the morning of the 1st bringing a few inches of snowfall accumulation. A second, more powerful storm tracked from Missouri into Illinois early on the 2nd.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 28 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
28

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.

Low pressure over Nebraska moved across southern Minnesota during the morning of the 1st bringing a few inches of snowfall accumulation. A second, more powerful storm tracked from Missouri into Illinois early on the 2nd. The second storm dropped moderate to heavy snow across east central and south central Minnesota between the evening of the 1st and the evening of the 2nd. Snowfall totals from both storms ranged from 6 inches along a line from Redwood Falls to Mora to a foot across south central Minnesota (see attached graphic). The highest totals included 13 inches in Faribault and 12 inches at St. James, Albert Lea, and Blue Earth. Behind the second system, temperatures plummeted into the single digits and teens below zero. Wind chills dropped into the 30s below zero on the morning of the 3rd.

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 Jan 31, 8:36 PM CST, 5 hours 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 31, 8:36 PM CST, 5 hours 24 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
830 PM CST SAT JAN 31 2004

.DISCUSSION...
BAND OF SNOW DEVELOPING FAIRLY RAPIDLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MN..AND
NARROW BAND OF STRONG RETURNS EXTENDING BACK INTO SE SD SW OF KFSD.
LOOKING LIKE FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING..BUT 00Z RUC WANTING TO PLACE
THIS BAND FARTHER NW THAN WHAT SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING. 00Z ETA
LOOKING A LITTLE BETTER BUT SHOWING 2 AREAS. ONE ON WEST FRINGE OF
CWA SEEMS TO BE OUT OF BEST ISENTROPIC LIFT. OTHER BAND TO THE SOUTH
MATCHES SNOW BAND BETTER. THIS ALSO CLOSE TO FAVORABLE TEMPS FOR ICE
CRYSTAL GROWTH. CURRENT ADVSY LOOKS GOOD. WILL NEED TO WATCH THE
SNOW BAND TO THE SW OF FSD CLOSELY.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THRU MONDAY NIGHT
     MNZ053-060>063-068>070-076>078-083>085-092-093
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT THRU SUNDAY
     MNZ045-051-052-058-059-065>067-073>075-082-091
     MNZ053-060>063-068>070-076>078-083>085-092-093
WI...WINTER STORM WATCH FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THRU MONDAY NIGHT
     WIZ014>016-023>028
     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT THRU SUNDAY
     WIZ014>016-023>028
&&

JPR
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 31, 4:05 PM CST, 9 hours 55 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
405 PM CST SAT JAN 31 2004

MNZ041>044-047>050-054>057-064-011200-
BENTON-CHIPPEWA-DOUGLAS-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-
POPE-STEARNS-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-YELLOW MEDICINE-
405 PM CST SAT JAN 31 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WEST CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF
CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT.

MNZ045-051-052-058-059-065>067-073>075-082-091-011200-
BROWN-ISANTI-KANABEC-MARTIN-MCLEOD-MEEKER-NICOLLET-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-
SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-WATONWAN-WRIGHT-
405 PM CST SAT JAN 31 2004

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA
AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

ACCUMULATING SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
AS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS. ONE TO
TWO INCHES OF ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING. A
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

SNOW WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
INTENSIFIES OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL CAN
BE EXPECTED DURING THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES WILL RESULT IN TOTAL
ACCUMULATIONS FROM TWO TO FIVE INCHES. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
REMAINS IN EFFECT SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT.

MNZ053-060>063-068>070-076>078-083>085-092-093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
011200-
ANOKA-BARRON-BLUE EARTH-CARVER-CHIPPEWA-CHISAGO-DAKOTA-DUNN-
EAU CLAIRE-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-LE SUEUR-PEPIN-PIERCE-
POLK-RAMSEY-RICE-RUSK-SCOTT-ST CROIX-STEELE-WASECA-WASHINGTON-
405 PM CST SAT JAN 31 2004

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
AND WINTER STORM WATCH SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND
PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SNOW WILL SPREAD BACK ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT. ACCUMULATING SNOW CAN
BE ANTICIPATED AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE
APPROACHES FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS. ONE TO TWO INCHES OF ACCUMULATION
IS POSSIBLE BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS
IN EFFECT AFTER MIDNIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

SNOW WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE AREA ON SUNDAY AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
INTENSIFIES OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL CAN
BE EXPECTED FROM MID MORNING THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. ADDITIONAL
ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES WILL RESULT IN TOTAL
ACCUMULATIONS FROM TWO TO FIVE INCHES. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
REMAINS IN EFFECT SUNDAY.

A STRONGER LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL TAKE SHAPE OVER THE CENTRAL
PLAINS SUNDAY NIGHT AND MOVE SLOWLY NORTHEAST TO ILLINOIS BY LATE
MONDAY. THIS FEATURE MAY BRING HEAVY SNOW TO PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL
AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN FROM SUNDAY
NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT. EARLY INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT 8 OR MORE
INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE. A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT SUNDAY
NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT EAST OF A LINE FROM NORTH BRANCH TO
WACONIA TO ST PETER TO BLUE EARTH. THIS WATCH INCLUDES THE TWIN
CITIES METROPOLITAN AREA AS WELL AS ALBERT LEA...FARIBAULT...RED
WING...RICE LAKE...EAU CLAIRE AND LADYSMITH.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

28 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Hennepin

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Wright

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Carver

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Scott

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Le Sueur

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Sibley

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, McLeod

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Nicollet

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Brown

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Redwood

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Ramsey

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Washington

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Dakota

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Rice

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Goodhue

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Watonwan

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Blue Earth

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Waseca

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Steele

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Freeborn

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Faribault

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Faribault forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Martin

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Mille Lacs

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Kanabec

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Isanti

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Sherburne

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM 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, Anoka

When
February 1, 2:00 AM CST to February 2, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Anoka forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
45.273, -93.246 (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

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, February 2004

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: 5385592, 5385593, 5385594, 5385595, 5385596, 5385597, 5385598, 5385599, 5385600, 5385601, 5385602, 5385603, 5385604, 5385605, 5385606, 5385607, 5385608, 5385609, 5385729, 5385730, 5385731, 5385732, 5385733, 5386002, 5386003, 5386101, 5386102, 5386103.