Minnesota, 2008

Lake-Effect Snow in Minnesota, January 11 to 13, 2008

January 11 to 13, 2008 · NWS DLH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Heavy lake effect snow developed in extreme northeast Minnesota, especially along the North Shore, during the early morning hours of January 11 and persisted through late afternoon January 13. Total snowfall accumulations ranged from 10 inches at Finland to 26 inches along portions of the Gunflint Trail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

Heavy lake effect snow developed in extreme northeast Minnesota, especially along the North Shore, during the early morning hours of January 11 and persisted through late afternoon January 13. Total snowfall accumulations ranged from 10 inches at Finland to 26 inches along portions of the Gunflint Trail.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 lake-effect snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Lake-Effect Snow, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When
January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 13, 5:00 PM 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)

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Cook

When
January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 13, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Southern Cook forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.817, -90.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lake-Effect Snow, Southern Lake

When
January 11, 6:00 AM CST to January 13, 5:00 PM CST
Where
Southern Lake forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
47.557, -91.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Lake-Effect Snow
Heavy snow in bands downwind of a large lake as cold air crosses warmer water.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, January 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: 74081, 74083, 74084.