Blizzard, Chippewa
- When
- November 28, 2:00 PM CST to November 29, 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)
Blizzard in Minnesota, November 28 to 29, 2005
An intense low pressure system over North Central Iowa during the morning of the 28th, moved to South Central Minnesota by the late afternoon, and then marched to a position over Western Lake Superior by the morning of the 29th. Aided by sustained northerly winds of 26 to 37 knots (30 to 43 mph), with gusts to 47 knots (54 mph), the snow and blowing snow reduced visibilities to near zero across…
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
- 5
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 intense low pressure system over North Central Iowa during the morning of the 28th, moved to South Central Minnesota by the late afternoon, and then marched to a position over Western Lake Superior by the morning of the 29th. Aided by sustained northerly winds of 26 to 37 knots (30 to 43 mph), with gusts to 47 knots (54 mph), the snow and blowing snow reduced visibilities to near zero across much of Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Stevens, Swift and Yellow Medicine Counties. Snow accumulations were very difficult to measure considering the high winds, with most measurements in the 3 to 6 inch range reported across the region. At or around 07:00 CST on the 28th, ice buildup from a period of freezing rain disabled four substations owned by Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power, located near the South Dakota border in Lac Qui Parle County. Power lines were also severed across portions of Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle and Yellow Medicine Counties during the morning hours after sunrise. Portions of Lac Qui Parle Power (including the city of Madison), and parts of Yellow Medicine County were without power for as little as one hour, and for as long as 24 hours. Thousands of customers were affected. The longest duration of power disruption occurred near the Minnesota/South Dakota border. The Blizzard was also responsible for closing portions of Interstate 94, U.S. 10 and Minnesota 210 during the overnight on the 28th. Numerous automobile and truck accidents were reported across the region. Information on power outgages and road closures provided by Montevideo American News and Owatonna People's Press.
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 Nov 28, 11:46 AM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Nov 28, 11:46 AM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1146 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005
.UPDATE...
HAVE UPDATED ALL SHORT TERM PRODUCTS TO REFLECT A SLOWER EVOLUTION
FROM RAIN TO SNOW CENTRAL AND EASTERN AREAS. EXTENDED THE WARNING
AND ADVISORY THAT WERE IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO 6 AM TUESDAY
MORNING. ISSUED A NEW WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM GAYLORD
NORTHEAST TO MORA AND CAMBRIDGE FOR TONIGHT. 12Z NAM SHOWING
IMPRESSIVE FORCING CENTRAL MN TONIGHT WITH QPF AMOUNTS FROM 0.25
TO 0.50. FREEZING RAIN NOW OCCURRING LAQ QUI PARLE COUNTY WITH
TREE BRANCHES DOWN.
&&
.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR CHIPPEWA-DOUGLAS-
LAC QUI PARLE-POPE-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-YELLOW MEDICINE.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR BENTON-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-MORRISON-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-STEARNS.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST
TUESDAY FOR BROWN-ISANTI-KANABEC-MCLEOD-MILLE LACS-NICOLLET-
SHERBURNE-SIBLEY-WRIGHT.
WI...NONE.
&&
RAHHazardous weather outlook, Nov 28, 11:17 AM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1117 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005 MNZ041-042-047-048-054>056-064-291217- CHIPPEWA-DOUGLAS-LAC QUI PARLE-POPE-STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD- YELLOW MEDICINE- 1117 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005 ...WINTER STORM WARNING THROUGH 6 AM TUESDAY MORNING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW THIS AFTERNOON WITH SNOW CONTINUING TONIGHT. SOME FREEZING RAIN WILL OCCUR WHEN THE RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 7 TO 9 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SNOW WILL AGAIN INVADE THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A UPPER LEVEL WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVING IN FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...SO STAY UPDATED WITH LATER FORECASTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT...BUT ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM THE SNOW NET WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MNZ043-049-050-057-058-065-073-291217- BENTON-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-MORRISON-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-STEARNS- 1117 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON TODAY THROUGH 6 AM TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM OVER NORTH CENTRAL IOWA WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. RAIN WILL CHANGE SNOW LATE THIS AFTERNOON WITH SNOW CONTINUING TONIGHT. SOME FREEZING RAIN WILL OCCUR WHEN THE RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 5 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY SNOW WILL AGAIN INVADE THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A UPPER LEVEL WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVING IN FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...SO STAY UPDATED WITH LATER FORECASTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT...BUT ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM THE SNOW NET WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MNZ044-045-051-052-059-066-067-074-075-291217- BROWN-ISANTI-KANABEC-MCLEOD-MILLE LACS-NICOLLET-SHERBURNE-SIBLEY- WRIGHT- 1117 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL... CENTRAL AND EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A LOW PRESSURE STORM SYSTEM NORTH CENTRAL IOWA WILL MOVE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. RAIN WILL CHANGE SNOW THIS EVENING WITH SNOW CONTINUING OVERNIGHT. SOME FREEZING RAIN WILL OCCUR WHEN THE RAIN CHANGES TO SNOW. BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATION BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 2 TO 4 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SNOW WILL AGAIN INVADE THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A UPPER LEVEL WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVING IN FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...SO STAY UPDATED WITH LATER FORECASTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT...BUT ANY SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM THE SNOW NET WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. MNZ053-060>063-068>070-076>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 291217- ANOKA-BARRON-BLUE EARTH-CARVER-CHIPPEWA-CHISAGO-DAKOTA-DUNN- EAU CLAIRE-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-LE SUEUR-MARTIN-PEPIN- PIERCE-POLK-RAMSEY-RICE-RUSK-SCOTT-ST CROIX-STEELE-WASECA-WASHINGTON- WATONWAN- 1117 AM CST MON NOV 28 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MIX WITH AND CHANGE TO SNOW TONIGHT. AN INCH OR TWO OF SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SNOW WILL AGAIN INVADE THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A UPPER LEVEL WEATHER DISTURBANCE MOVING IN FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW MAY OCCUR WITH THIS SYSTEM...SO STAY UPDATED WITH LATER FORECASTS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY OR TONIGHT. RAH
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
5 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, Lac Qui Parle
- When
- November 28, 2:00 PM CST to November 29, 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)
Blizzard, Stevens
- When
- November 28, 2:00 PM CST to November 29, 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)
Blizzard, Swift
- When
- November 28, 2:00 PM CST to November 29, 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)
Blizzard, Yellow Medicine
- When
- November 28, 2:00 PM CST to November 29, 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
- Blizzard
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Blizzard in South Dakota, November 28 to 29, 2005
- Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, November 28, 2005
- High Wind in Nebraska, November 28, 2005
- Blizzard in Nebraska, November 28, 2005
- Damaging Wind in Tennessee, November 28, 2005
- Damaging Winds in Mississippi, November 28, 2005
- Damaging Wind in Mississippi, November 28, 2005
- Blizzard in Kansas, November 28, 2005
- Tornado in Alabama, November 28, 2005
- Tornado in Louisiana, November 28, 2005
- Tornado in Mississippi, November 28, 2005
- Blizzard in Minnesota, November 28 to 29, 2005
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, November 2005
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: 5479666, 5479667, 5479668, 5479669, 5479670.