Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 13 to 15, 2008

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 13 to 15, 2008
Start: 2008-12-13T17:00
End: 2008-12-15T09:00
Location: Minnesota

December 13 to 15, 2008 · NWS DLH · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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: $5,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 15

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.

A strong winter storm moved through the upper Midwest over the weekend, providing the Northland with its first widespread snowfall of the winter season. Heavy snow combined with strong winds to create blizzard conditions near Lake Superior, and near blizzard conditions elsewhere. The storm was preceded by mild weather, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. A period of rain and freezing rain fell on Saturday evening (the 13th) across central and eastern Minnesota from Brainerd through Hinckley.

Eight to 15 inches of snow fell across northeast Minnesota, with the highest amounts in the Iron Range, north to the Canadian border. Lesser amounts of 8 inches fell in the Brainerd Lakes region, towards Hinckley, and also in the tip of the Arrowhead. Some specific totals include 10 inches at Duluth and Remer, 12 inches at Chisholm, and 14 inches near Bigfork.

Snowfall was heaviest across the region on Sunday afternoon (the 14th), accumulating 1 to 2 inches per hour. Winds gusting over 50 mph were common in Duluth, causing blizzard conditions with near zero visibility for several hours. The strong northeast winds caused large waves nearly 15 feet high at the Duluth ship entry. These waves damaged part of the Duluth Lakewalk. Bitterly cold wind chills in the 40s to near 50 below zero followed the storm.

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 Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 13, 2:56 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 13, 2:56 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
256 PM CST SAT DEC 13 2008

.DISCUSSION...

...WINTER STORM IS ON ITS WAY...

CURRENT WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DEPICTS THE 500 MB LOW DIGGING INTO
THE WEST...WITH AN OPEN WAVE DEPICTED IN CENTRAL IDAHO. CURRENT
SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A 985 LOW IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING. A POWERFUL
150 KT 300 MB JET IS DIGGING SOUTHEAST OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
COAST...WITH THE CORE OF STRONGER WINDS DIGGING AROUND THE BASE OF
THE TROUGH. THE RELATIVELY SLOW MOVING LOW WILL RAPIDLY EJECT
NORTHEAST...WITH MODELS GENERALLY AGREEING ON A TRACK TO WEST OF
DES MOINES...AND THEN NORTHEAST THROUGH LA CROSSER WISCONSIN...AND
THEN NORTHEAST TOWARD IRONWOOD MICHIGAN.

AN INVERTED TROUGH HAS ALREADY SET UP....POINTED TOWARD THE HEAD
OF LAKE SUPERIOR. BOTH THE NAM AND GFS PICK UP ON THIS
FEATURE..AND SATURATE THE MID LEVELS QUICKLY AFTER 0Z TONIGHT.
THIS WILL DIMINISH THE FREEZING DRIZZLE...AND TURN THINGS OVER TO
SNOW. GENERALLY LIGHTER SNOW...WITH AN ISENTROPIC COMPONENT IS
EXPECTED TONIGHT. MOSAIC RADAR ALREADY DEPICTING SNOW IN
SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER...WE UPGRADED TO A BLIZZARD WARNING FOR THE
HEAD OF THE LAKES AREA. A VERY IMPRESSIVE PRESSURE GRADIENT SETS
UP OVER THE LAKE WHICH WILL FUNNEL WINDS DOWN THE LAKE. MET
GUIDANCE AT DYT...WHICH CAN BE UNDERDONE...SHOWING SUSTAINED WINDS
IN THE UPPER 20 KTS...WITH A PERIOD OF TIME OF SUSTAINED WINDS OF
35 KT. 975-950 MB WINDS ARE SUSTAINED 30-35 KT FOR OVER A 6 HOUR
PERIOD...AND WHILE THE GFS WINDS ARE NOT REFLECTING AS STRONG..THE
PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE LAKE IS JUST AS STRONG. THE LATEST
ECMWF HAS INDICATED SOME STRENGTHENING...INCREASING CONFIDENCE.

AGAIN...NOTE THAT THIS BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WHOLE
PERIOD TO MINIMIZE CONFUSION...BUT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS REALLY ARE
NOT EXPECTED UNTIL SUNDAY MORNING...AND ESPECIALLY SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...WHEN THE SNOW REALLY GETS GOING...AND WINDS SHIFT TO A
NORTHEAST DIRECTION. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL SUBSIDE TOWARD THE
END OF THE EVENT WHEN WINDS NO LONGER COME OFF THE LAKE. LATER
SHIFTS WILL MONITOR THESE WINDS...AS THE WINDS ALSO GET FUNNELED
INTO THE CHEQUAMEGON BAY AREA. HAVE STUCK WITH NEAR BLIZZARD
WORDING FOR NOW...THOUGH HIGHWAY 2 AROUND HIGHWAY 2 WILL BE
IMPACTED.

AS FAR AS SNOW TOTALS ARE CONCERNED...THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST SNOW HAS
NOT DEVIATED SIGNIFICANTLY...THOUGH THIS FORECAST PACKAGE WILL HIT
THE BRAINERD TO GRAND RAPIDS AREA A BIT HARDER...AS THE THERMAL
GRADIENT ROTATES OVER THIS AREA. HAVE LEFT THE MENTIONED OF
FREEZING RAIN IN SOUTHERN ZONES IN NORTHWEST WISCONSIN...AS 850 MB
WARM AIR ADVECTION PULLS WARMER AIR AROUND...THOUGH THE COLD
GROUND WILL LIKELY ALLOW ANY RAIN TO FREEZE ON CONTACT. MOST OF
THE SOUNDINGS INDICATE SNOW...WITH ONLY BRIEF PERIODS OF SLEET OR
FREEZING RAIN. THE HEAVIEST BAND OF SNOW STILL LOOKS TO LINE UP
FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO ELY. THE GULF IS OPEN FOR THIS EVENT...WITH
AN 850 MB JET IN EXCESS OF 60 KT ALREADY WHIPPING THROUGH
MISSOURI...WITH SURFACE GUSTS OF NEAR 40 KT IN CENTRAL MISSOURI.
SURFACE MIXING RATIOS OF 2-3 G/KG WILL BE COMMON...THOUGH THE BEST
MOISTURE...WHERE IT WILL BE WARMER...WILL BE IN WISCONSIN. SOME
CONCERN THAT THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE SYSTEM WILL PREVENT
SOME OF THIS MOISTURE FROM WRAPPING AROUND THE LOW.

THE FIRST BATCH WILL COME TONIGHT...THE GFS BEING A BIT MORE
AGGRESSIVE WITH QPF AND OMEGA. PROBABLY NO MORE THAN 2 TO 4
INCHES...MAINLY SOUTH AND WEST OF THE TWIN PORTS. THE MAIN SHOW
OCCURS ON SUNDAY...WITH IMPRESSIVE LIFT IN THE DENDRITIC GROWTH
ZONE SHIFTING FROM A LINE FROM BRAINERD TO DULUTH SUNDAY MORNING
AND EARLY AFTERNOON...TO A LINE FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO ELY SUNDAY
LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY...

WITH A 990 MB SURFACE LOW REACHING LAKE SUPERIOR LATE SUNDAY
NIGHT...WINDS SHOULD BACK FROM NORTHEAST TO NORTH CUTTING OFF THE
LAKE CONTRIBUTION TO SNOW FROM DULUTH ALONG THE NORTH SHORE.  WRAP
AROUND TROPICAL MOISTURE SHOULD CAUSE SUBSTANTIAL SNOW TO CONTINUE
INTO MONDAY AS A LAKE MOISTURE CONTRIBUTION CONTINUES TO ENHANCE
SNOW ALONG THE SHORE COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.  A RAPIDLY
COOLING COLUMN...FAST NORTHEAST PROGRESSION OF THE SURFACE LOW AND
AN INCREASING DISTANCE FOR MOISTURE TRAVEL SHOULD END SIGNIFICANT
SNOW OVER OUR AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING.  WINDS WILL
CONTINUE TO BACK TO THE POINT THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER BE ONSHORE ON
THE WISCONSIN LAKESHORE TUESDAY EVENING...CAUSING SNOW SHOWERS TO
DISSIPATE TO FLURRIES THERE.  HIGH PRESSURE FROM SASKATCHEWAN AND
ALBERTA WILL BRING ARCTIC AIR INTO OUR AREA MONDAY NIGHT AND
TUESDAY.  THIS IS A VAST POOL OF ARCTIC AIR...THIS FIRST SHOT
FEATURES THICKNESSES IN THE 4800 TO 4850 METER RANGE WITH 850 MB
TEMPERATURES APPROACHING -35C.  WE WILL GET A GLANCING SHOT AT THIS
AIR AS THE UPPER FLOW REMAINS ZONAL.  VARIOUS SHORT WAVES WILL BE
PRECEEDED BY LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS LATE TUESDAY OR TUESDAY NIGHT...
THURSDAY AND AGAIN SATURDAY.  EACH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SHALLOW BUT
CONVINCING SHOT OF ARCTIC AIR INTO OUR AREA...WITH SURFACE
TEMPERATURES LIKELY GETTING INTO THE -30C TO -40C RANGE ACROSS MANY
INLAND AREAS OVERNIGHT BETWEEN THE PRECIPITATION EVENTS.  THE WIND
ALOFT SHOWS SIGNW OF VEERING DURING THE COMING WEEKEND...RESULTING
IN A SERISE OF IMPORTANT DUMPS OF ARCTIC AIR LATE IN THE WEEKEND AND
DURING THE COMING WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...
INTENSE LOW PRESSURE WILL ARRIVE FROM THE ROCKIES ON SUNDAY. GULF
MOISTURE WILL SURGE NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE SYSTEM... WHICH WILL
SET THE STAGE FOR HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.
GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE SNOW...CAUSING VSBYS TO DROP INTO
THE LIFR AND VLIFR RANGE BY MORNING. KDLH WILL EXPERIENCE THE
WORST OF THE STORM...WITH BLIZZARD CONDITIONS DEVELOPING SUN
MORNING WITH STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS OFF LAKE SUPERIOR.

&&

POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  20  23  -1   2 /  80 100  80  30
INL   3   6 -11  -4 /  80 100  80  40
BRD  17  19  -8  -2 /  80 100  80  20
HYR  27  32   4   4 /  80  90  70  20
ASX  23  30   5   6 /  80  90  80  60

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 AM CST MONDAY FOR CROW WING-PINE-
     SOUTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN CASS.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST MONDAY FOR CENTRAL ST.
     LOUIS-KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN AITKIN-NORTHERN CASS-NORTHERN
     COOK/NORTHERN LAKE-NORTHERN ITASCA-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-
     SOUTHERN COOK/LAKESHORE-SOUTHERN ITASCA-SOUTHERN
     LAKE/LAKESHORE.

     BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST MONDAY FOR CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST.
     LOUIS.

WI...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST MONDAY FOR ASHLAND-BAYFIELD-
     IRON.

     BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST MONDAY FOR DOUGLAS.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 AM CST
     MONDAY FOR BURNETT-PRICE-SAWYER-WASHBURN.

LS...GALE WARNING FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM CST SUNDAY FOR LSZ121-LSZ144-
     LSZ145-LSZ146-LSZ147-LSZ148.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM CST SUNDAY FOR LSZ140-
     LSZ141-LSZ142-LSZ143.

DONOFRIO/EOM/LONKA

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 13, 1:31 PM CST, 3 hours 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
131 PM CST SAT DEC 13 2008

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-141130-
KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-NORTHERN COOK/NORTHERN LAKE-
NORTHERN ITASCA-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE-
SOUTHERN COOK/LAKESHORE-NORTHERN CASS-SOUTHERN ITASCA-
SOUTHERN CASS-CROW WING-NORTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN AITKIN-
CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-PINE-DOUGLAS-BAYFIELD-ASHLAND-IRON-
BURNETT-WASHBURN-SAWYER-PRICE-
131 PM CST SAT DEC 13 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE NORTHLAND. SNOW
WILL INCREASE THIS EVENING NORTH OF A LINE FROM THE BRAINERD LAKES
REGION NORTH TOWARDS THE TWIN PORTS. SNOW...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH
FREEZING RAIN...MAY OCCUR ELSEWHERE. SNOW WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT
WITH SEVERAL INCHES ACCUMULATION ACROSS MOST OF NORTHEAST
MINNESOTA. A MIXTURE OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN IS
EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN. A WINTER STORM
WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA AND PARTS OF
NORTHWEST WISCONSIN FROM LATE SATURDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY...AND A
BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE HEAD OF THE LAKES. BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL CLOSE TO DAYBREAK...AND WILL BE
LOCALIZED. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS FOR MORE DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF NORTHEAST MINNESOTA
AND PARTS OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN SUNDAY INTO EARLY MONDAY...WITH A
BLIZZARD WARNING FOR AREAS NEAR THE HEAD OF LAKE SUPERIOR. LOCALLY HEAVY
SNOW COMBINED WITH STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS WILL CREATE NEAR
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY ALONG LAKE SUPERIOR FROM
GRAND PORTAGE TO THE TWIN PORTS AND EAST TO BAYFIELD WISCONSIN.
ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 6 TO 15 INCHES ACROSS THE
REGION...WITH HIGHEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED FROM THE ARROWHEAD TO THE
TWIN PORTS AND WEST TO GRAND RAPIDS. VERY COLD AIR WILL RETURN TO
THE REGION SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING WITH WIND CHILL VALUES
DROPPING WELL BELOW ZERO.

LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TUESDAY AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. ACCUMULATIONS
ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SKYWARN SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OR
TONIGHT.

LSZ121-140>148-141130-
BAYFIELD TO OAK POINT WI-GRAND PORTAGE TO GRAND MARAIS MN-
GRAND MARAIS TO TACONITE HARBOR MN-
TACONITE HARBOR TO SILVER BAY HARBOR MN-
SILVER BAY HARBOR TO TWO HARBORS MN-TWO HARBORS TO DULUTH MN-
DULUTH MN TO PORT WING WI-PORT WING TO SAND ISLAND WI-
SAND ISLAND TO BAYFIELD WI-OAK POINT TO SAXON HARBOR WI-
131 PM CST SAT DEC 13 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

LIGHT FREEZING DRIZZLE IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

INCREASING NORTHEAST WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG STORM SYSTEM
WILL CREATE VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR BOATERS SUNDAY AND
MONDAY. A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT ON SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT.
SEE THE LATEST MARINE WEATHER MESSAGE FOR MORE DETAILS.

DONOFRIO

MORE INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/DULUTH (ALL LOWER CASE)

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 13, 12:58 PM CST, 4 hours 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1258 PM CST SAT DEC 13 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0630 AM     SNOW             EMBARRASS               47.66N 92.20W
12/13/2008  M1.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             COOK                    47.85N 92.69W
12/13/2008  M1.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             3 SE FINLAND            47.38N 91.20W
12/13/2008  M1.3 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 AM     SNOW             ISLAND LAKE             47.01N 92.19W
12/13/2008  M2.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0815 AM     SNOW             SAGINAW                 46.86N 92.44W
12/13/2008  M1.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0900 AM     SNOW             GURNEY                  46.47N 90.51W
12/13/2008  M1.5 INCH        IRON               WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0955 AM     SNOW             GRAND MARAIS            47.76N 90.34W
12/13/2008  M2.5 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0955 AM     SNOW             MERCER                  46.17N 90.06W
12/13/2008  M2.0 INCH        IRON               WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

1045 AM     SNOW             CULVER                  46.93N 92.56W
12/13/2008  M1.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OVERNIGHT

1045 AM     SNOW             5 SE HERBSTER           46.78N 91.19W
12/13/2008  M2.0 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OVERNIGHT

1100 AM     SNOW             5 N GRAND MARAIS        47.83N 90.34W
12/13/2008  M4.0 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            OVERNIGHT

&&
ALL TOTALS LISTED ARE OVERNIGHT SNOW AMOUNTS

TLONKA

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 winter storm, 1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Central St. Louis

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Central St. Louis forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.590, -92.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Crow Wing

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Crow Wing forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.482, -94.071 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Aitkin

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Aitkin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.608, -93.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Cass

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.950, -94.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Itasca

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Itasca forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.510, -93.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Southern St. Louis / Carlton

When: December 13, 5:00 PM CST to December 15, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Southern St. Louis / Carlton forecast zone
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.091, -92.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions lasted for several hours, beginning around the noon hour on Sunday.

Winter Storm, Southern Lake

When: December 13, 6:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.557, -91.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Koochiching

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Koochiching forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.245, -93.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Cass

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Cass forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.950, -94.325 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Cook / Northern Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.670, -90.975 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Itasca

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Itasca forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.510, -93.632 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern St. Louis

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Northern St. Louis forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.590, -92.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pine

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Pine forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.121, -92.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Aitkin

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Aitkin forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.608, -93.415 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Southern Cook

When: December 13, 7:00 PM CST to December 15, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Cook forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.817, -90.541 (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.
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

Every storm in Minnesota in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, December 2008

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: 145453, 145455, 145457, 145467, 145469, 145471, 145470, 145456, 145458, 145459, 145460, 145461, 145465, 145466, 145468.