Winter Storm in Minnesota, April 1, 2009

Name: Winter Storm in Minnesota, April 1, 2009
Start: 2009-04-01T00:00
End: 2009-04-01T12:00
Location: Minnesota

April 1, 2009 · NWS DLH · 12 events in 12 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 12 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: 12

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 broad and slow moving low pressure system brought a prolonged period of snow to northeast Minnesota. The snow began early in the morning March 31 and became heavy during the day, with snowfall rates of over 1 inch per hour. There was a break in the heavy snow late in the afternoon and evening of the 31st before another band of heavier snow brought additional accumulations overnight and the following day, April 1st. Light freezing rain and rain were reported during the break in the snow. Over 7 inches of snow fell across northeast Minnesota, with localized amounts of a foot in southern Cass County, and up to 18 inches across the north shore of Lake Superior from near Two Harbors to Grand Portage. Gusty winds caused significant blowing and drifting of the snow, especially along the north shore of Lake Superior.

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 Mar 31, 9:06 PM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 31, 9:06 PM CST, 2 hours 54 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1006 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

.UPDATE...AFTER A BREAK IN THE PRECIPITATION FOR MANY AREAS...
SNOW WAS ONCE AGAIN SPREADING NORTHWARD INTO THE CWA. THERE HAS
BEEN A WIDE VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS ACROSS THE CWA DURING
THE EVENING...INCLUDING SNOW...FREEZING RAIN...FREEZING DRIZZLE...
AND EVEN SLEET. THIS SHOULD CONTINUE FOR A TIME BEFORE THE
PRECIPITATION CHANGES OVER TO ALL SNOW. THE SNOW WILL ONCE AGAIN
BE HEAVY AT TIMES OVERNIGHT. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM EARLIER LOOK
GOOD GIVEN THE NEW SNOW STARTING TO REDEVELOP ON AREA RADARS.
UPDATED EARLIER FOR A 10 TO 18 INCH FORECAST ALONG THE NORTH SHORE
AND AMOUNTS COMING IN SO FAR ARE AROUND A FOOT FROM WOLF RIDGE
ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER...TO FINLAND AND AT THE GOLDEN EAGLE
LODGE ALONG THE GUNFLINT TRAIL. WITH SNOW CONTINUING
OVERNIGHT...SEE NO REASON SOME LOCATIONS WILL NOT SEE UP TO A FOOT
AND A HALF.

THE 4KM NMM WRF SIMULATED REFLECTIVITY DOING A FAIRLY DECENT JOB
AT SHOWING INDIVIDUAL BAND FORMATIONS/STRUCTURES...ALTHOUGH THE
TIMING IS OFF SOMEWHAT. THINK A FAIRLY DECENT DEFORMATION AREA OF
SNOW WILL DEVELOP IN THE WESTERN CWA AS THE NIGHT WEARS
ON...LENDING CREDENCE TO HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THAT AREA. BEST FORCING
SHOULD BE FROM THE NORTH SHORE...INTO THE WESTERN 1/3 OF THE CWA.
STRONG UVM AND DEFORMATION SHOULD MAXIMIZE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS IN
THOSE AREAS...SO THE STORM IS DEFINITELY NOT DONE YET.

&&

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 236 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009/

DISCUSSION...
WINTER STORM WELL UNDER WAY WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF NEW SNOW
ACROSS NE MN...AND A WINTRY MIX OF SN/RA/FZRA FOR MUCH OF NW WIS.
FCST STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ARE RIGHT ON TRACK. SN AMOUNTS
AS OF 2 PM GENERALLY RANGED FROM 3 TO 5 FOR MOST AREAS IN NE
MN...WITH 6-8 ALREADY IN THE ARROWHEAD/NORTH SHORE AREA. HEAVY SN
CONTINUES AT THIS HR WITH WDSPRD WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH AND
1/2SM VSBY OR LESS ACROSS THE MN ZONES. TEMPS ARE HOVERING IN THE
MID/UPR 30S ACROSS NW WIS...WHERE RA/SN/FZDZ IS COMMON WITH SN
TOTALS AS OF 2 PM OF 2 OR LESS...MAINLY IN NRN BAYFIELD AND
DOUGLAS COUNTIES.

SEVERAL REPORTS OF ICY ROAD CONDITIONS...CARS/TRUCKS IN
DITCHES...ACCIDENTS ALONG INTERSTATE 35 FROM
DULUTH/PROCTOR...SOUTH TO MOOSE LAKE...HINCKLEY AND PINE CITY.
TRAVEL WILL REMAIN HAZARDOUS THROUGH THE NIGHT.

CURRENT SAT/RADAR IMAGERY SHOWS A WELL DEFINED DRY SLOT OVER CEN
MN...WITH THE LEADING EDGE CURRENTLY ALONG A LINE FROM KBRD TO
KMZH...AND KHYR...WRAPPING INTO THE STACKED LOW. THIS DRY SLOT
WILL LIFT N THROUGH MUCH OF THE DLH CWA THROUGH THE AFTRN/EARLY
EVEN...BRINGING A 2-3 HR LULL IN THE PRECIP. NAM12 850-925 MB RH
FIELDS AND NAM COBB OUTPUT PICKING UP ON THE DRY SLOT WELL FOR DLH
/00-02Z/ AND BRD /20-23Z/. HOWEVER...AS THE VORT MAX/LOW CENTER
TRACKS INTO THE SRN CWA AND THE DEF ZONE SHIFTS E OVER NE MN AFT
00Z...THE SN WILL AGAIN BECOME WDSPRD. AFT 06Z THE MN ZONES ARE
ALSO PLACED IN A ZONE OF STRONG FORCING FOUND ON THE NW QUAD OF
THE LOW AND IN THE JET COUPLET. BANDS OF +SN WITH 1-2 IN/HR RATES
WILL AGAIN BE FOUND THROUGH 15-18Z...MAINLY IN THE IRON RANGE AND
ARROWHEAD REGION. WILL EXTEND THE WARNING THROUGH 17Z FOR NRN ST
LOUIS/COOK/LAKE COUNTIES OF THE MN ARROWHEAD AND INCREASE SN
TOTALS BY A FEW INCHES. NO CHANGES TO OTHER ZONES.

INCREASED SN AMOUNTS ALONG THE BORDERLAND/ARROWHEAD OVERNIGHT AS
WELL AS POPS/SN AMOUNTS ON WED. THE ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATION WED WILL
BE LIGHT...GENERALLY AN INCH OR TWO FOR MOST AREAS...BUT MORE
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF 2-4 WILL BE FOUND IN THE ARROWHEAD. MODELS
IN GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE STACKED LOW LINGERS OVER THE TIP OF THE
MN ARROWHEAD THROUGH WED AFTRN...KEEPING THE FORCING AND MOISTURE
IN THE NORTHLAND UNTIL LATE WED NIGHT ONCE THE SYSTEM EXITS NE
INTO ONTARIO.

EXTENDED...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY.
A WEAK NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE WILL CLIP THE FAR
NORTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES THURSDAY NIGHT. SOME ISOLATED SNOW
SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE. A BREAK IN THE ACTION FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT
WITH SFC RIDGING OVER THE AREA. MODELS DISAGREE ON THE HANDLING OF
THE NEXT POTENT SYSTEM TO PULL OUT OF THE ROCKIES INTO THE PLAINS
FOR THE WEEKEND...THROUGH TUESDAY AS WELL. 00Z/ECMWF KEEPS THE
ACTION SOUTH OF THE FA...WHILE THE 12Z GFS BRINGS IT INTO THE
SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA. THE 12Z CANADIAN IS FOLLOWING THE LEAD
OF THE ECMWF AND KEEPING IT SOUTH. HAVE USED A BLEND OF MODELS AND
SURROUNDING OFFICES INPUT FOR THE FORECAST/GRIDS.

AVIATION...AS STRONG SYSTEM ROTATES THROUGH THE AREA. CONDITIONS
WILL CHANGE FROM LIFR TO IFR AND EVENTUALLY MVFR. THE MVFR IS
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DRY SLOT CURRENTLY WORKING ITS WAY NORTHWARD FROM
SOUTHERN MN. PCPN WILL ALSO END FOR A TIME. EXPECT THE PCPN TO BEGIN
AGAIN AROUND 00Z AS NEXT BATCH OF FORCING ARRIVES. MAINLY IFR
CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL OCCASIONALLY DROPPING TO LIFR.

&&

POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  28  34  21  38 /  90  60  30  20
INL  25  32  19  35 / 100  70  40  10
BRD  27  34  21  37 /  80  60  20  10
HYR  30  37  20  39 /  80  40  20  20
ASX  30  37  23  39 /  80  60  30  20

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...

MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR
     CARLTON/SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS-CENTRAL ST. LOUIS-CROW WING-
     KOOCHICHING-NORTHERN AITKIN-NORTHERN CASS-NORTHERN ITASCA-
     PINE-SOUTHERN AITKIN-SOUTHERN CASS-SOUTHERN ITASCA.

     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL NOON CDT WEDNESDAY FOR NORTHERN
     COOK/NORTHERN LAKE-NORTHERN ST. LOUIS-SOUTHERN
     COOK/LAKESHORE-SOUTHERN LAKE/LAKESHORE.

WI...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR BAYFIELD-
     BURNETT-DOUGLAS-WASHBURN.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR ASHLAND-
     IRON-PRICE-SAWYER.

LS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM CDT WEDNESDAY FOR LSZ121-LSZ140-
     LSZ141-LSZ142-LSZ143-LSZ144-LSZ145-LSZ146-LSZ147-LSZ148.

DAP

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 31, 9:27 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1027 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-011030-
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-
1027 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES ACROSS THE NORTHLAND OVERNIGHT. ROAD
CONDITIONS ARE HAZARDOUS FOR MANY AREAS...AND WITH FALLING
TEMPERATURES AND INCREASING SNOWFALL...THEY MAY GET DETERIORATE
EVEN FURTHER OVERNIGHT.

THE HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED TO FALL ACROSS THE INTERIOR PORTIONS
OF THE MINNESOTA ARROWHEAD...WHERE UP TO 18 INCHES OF SNOW MAY
FALL. ELSEWHERE...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO BE FROM 7
TO 11 INCHES IN THE GRAND RAPIDS...CASS LAKE AND BRAINERD AREAS.
THE REMAINDER OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA WILL SEE SNOW TOTALS OF
GENERALLY 5 TO 9 INCHES. LESSER AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 6 INCHES WILL BE
FOUND SOUTH AND EAST OF A LINE FROM ASHLAND TO HAYWARD WISCONSIN
DUE TO A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY OUR OFFICE FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING
THIS STORM.

MINOR RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
NEAR AITKIN...BRAINERD...AND FORT RIPLEY. OTHER FLOODING IS
POSSIBLE ALONG SMALLER RIVERS AND STREAMS...INCLUDING ALONG THE
CROW WING RIVER IN SOUTHERN CASS COUNTY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ON WEDNESDAY ACROSS THE REGION...WITH
AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO OF ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA. ADDITIONAL SNOWFALL OF 2 TO 5 INCHES WILL
BE POSSIBLE ALONG IN THE MINNESOTA ARROWHEAD. SEE THE LATEST
WINTER WEATHER PRODUCTS FOR MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

MINOR RIVER FLOODING WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
NEAR AITKIN...BRAINERD...AND FORT RIPLEY. OTHER FLOODING IS
POSSIBLE ALONG SMALLER RIVERS AND STREAMS...INCLUDING ALONG THE
CROW WING RIVER IN SOUTHERN CASS COUNTY. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE
SEE THE LATEST HYDROLOGIC PRODUCTS ISSUED BY THE DULUTH NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SNOWFALL SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT SNOW
AMOUNTS AND TOTALS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE VIA PHONE OR
E-SPOTTER.

LSZ121-140>148-011030-
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-
1027 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NEARSHORE WATERS OF
WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR THROUGH THE NIGHT. STRONG NORTHEAST WINDS
AND HIGH WAVES WILL PRODUCE HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS FOR SMALL
CRAFT IN THESE AREAS. FOR MORE DETAILS...PLEASE SEE THE LATEST
NEARSHORE MARINE FORECAST ISSUED BY THE DULUTH NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

DAP

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, Mar 31, 6:26 PM CST, 5 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
726 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

0330 PM     SNOW             5 N PILLAGER            46.40N 94.48W
03/31/2009  M3.0 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0345 PM     SNOW             4 N GRANTSBURG          45.84N 92.68W
03/31/2009  M1.0 INCH        BURNETT            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0345 PM     SNOW             WRENSHALL               46.62N 92.38W
03/31/2009  M4.5 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     SNOW             21 N GRAND MARAIS       48.06N 90.34W
03/31/2009  M8.5 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0400 PM     SNOW             3 SW LITTLEFORK         48.37N 93.60W
03/31/2009  M2.0 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0435 PM     SNOW             FINLAND                 47.41N 91.25W
03/31/2009  M12.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     SNOW             1 E ISLAND LAKE         47.01N 92.17W
03/31/2009  M5.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            IN ADDITION TO MIST AND SNOW PELLETS

0445 PM     SNOW             3 N NISSWA              46.54N 94.30W
03/31/2009  M3.0 INCH        CROW WING          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0445 PM     SNOW             15 N GRAND RAPIDS       47.45N 93.52W
03/31/2009  M5.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0500 PM     SNOW             6 NE DULUTH             46.84N 92.03W
03/31/2009  M6.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0500 PM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
03/31/2009  M5.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            STORM TOTAL 5.5 INCHES. FREEZING RAIN CURRENTLY.

0514 PM     SNOW             2 SE ESKO               46.69N 92.33W
03/31/2009  M4.5 INCH        CARLTON            MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            FREEZING RAIN CURRENTLY

0515 PM     SNOW             5 NW WASHBURN           46.72N 90.97W
03/31/2009  M3.3 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAS CHANGED OVER TO FREEZING RAIN/SLEET

0530 PM     SNOW             6 NE CLOVERLAND         46.74N 91.60W
03/31/2009  M3.5 INCH        DOUGLAS            WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0535 PM     SNOW             4 W WASHBURN            46.67N 90.98W
03/31/2009  M3.8 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

0542 PM     SNOW             DULUTH                  46.78N 92.12W
03/31/2009  M4.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            RICE LAKE TOWNSHIP. LIGHT FREEZING RAIN. GLAZE OF ICE.

0550 PM     SNOW             OULU                    46.63N 91.53W
03/31/2009  M3.1 INCH        BAYFIELD           WI   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.42 LIQUID EQUIVALENT OF SNOW AND RAIN

0554 PM     SNOW             BEAVER BAY              47.26N 91.30W
03/31/2009  M5.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            11 INCHES STORM TOTAL.

0600 PM     SNOW             CLOQUET                 46.73N 92.49W
03/31/2009  M3.0 INCH        CARLTON            MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0615 PM     SNOW             SANDSTONE               46.13N 92.86W
03/31/2009  M4.0 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 PM     SNOW             35 NW GRAND MARAIS      48.11N 90.88W
03/31/2009  M9.5 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            AT LOON LAKE ON THE END OF THE GUNFLINT TRAIL

0700 PM     SNOW             INTERNATIONAL FALLS     48.59N 93.41W
03/31/2009  M5.1 INCH        KOOCHICHING        MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

            SNOW DEPTH 17 INCHES

0707 PM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
03/31/2009  M11.8 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            STORM TOTAL - STILL SNOWING

&&

DPACKING

Local storm report, Mar 31, 7:05 PM CST, 4 hours 55 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
805 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

0755 PM     SNOW             3 NNE FINLAND           47.45N 91.22W
03/31/2009  M12.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0755 PM     SNOW             3 NE SILVER BAY         47.32N 91.23W
03/31/2009  M8.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ILLGEN CITY

0756 PM     SNOW             8 E LEADER              46.52N 94.48W
03/31/2009  M5.0 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0804 PM     SNOW             LUTSEN                  47.64N 90.71W
03/31/2009  M9.3 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

DPACKING

Local storm report, Mar 31, 7:30 PM CST, 4 hours 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
830 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

0827 PM     SNOW             KABETOGAMA              48.44N 93.03W
03/31/2009  M4.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0827 PM     SNOW             30 NW GRAND MARAIS      48.06N 90.80W
03/31/2009  M12.5 INCH       COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SCW

Local storm report, Mar 31, 10:30 PM CST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1130 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

1045 PM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
03/31/2009  M13.3 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SCW

Local storm report, Mar 31, 10:34 PM CST, 1 hour 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1134 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

0830 PM     SNOW             7 NW TWO HARBORS        47.10N 91.78W
03/31/2009  M10.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0830 PM     SNOW             DEER RIVER              47.34N 93.79W
03/31/2009  M4.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0700 PM     SNOW             COOK                    47.85N 92.69W
03/31/2009  M2.0 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0610 PM     SNOW             KERRICK                 46.34N 92.59W
03/31/2009  M3.4 INCH        PINE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0536 PM     SNOW             1 S WALKER              47.08N 94.58W
03/31/2009  M7.0 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SCW

Local storm report, Mar 31, 10:37 PM CST, 1 hour 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1137 PM CDT TUE MAR 31 2009

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

0755 PM     SNOW             3 NE SILVER BAY         47.32N 91.23W
03/31/2009  M8.0 INCH        LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ILLGEN CITY

0755 PM     SNOW             3 NNE FINLAND           47.45N 91.22W
03/31/2009  M12.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0756 PM     SNOW             8 E LEADER              46.52N 94.48W
03/31/2009  M5.0 INCH        CASS               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0804 PM     SNOW             LUTSEN                  47.64N 90.71W
03/31/2009  M9.3 INCH        COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0827 PM     SNOW             KABETOGAMA              48.44N 93.03W
03/31/2009  M4.5 INCH        ST. LOUIS          MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0827 PM     SNOW             30 NW GRAND MARAIS      48.06N 90.80W
03/31/2009  M12.5 INCH       COOK               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0830 PM     SNOW             DEER RIVER              47.34N 93.79W
03/31/2009  M4.0 INCH        ITASCA             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0830 PM     SNOW             7 NW TWO HARBORS        47.10N 91.78W
03/31/2009  M10.0 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

1045 PM     SNOW             SILVER BAY              47.29N 91.28W
03/31/2009  M13.3 INCH       LAKE               MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

SCW

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Central St. Louis

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 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, Northern St. Louis

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 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, Koochiching

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Koochiching forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 48.245, -93.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 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, Southern Lake

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 11:00 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, Southern Cook

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 12:00 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)

Winter Storm, Northern Cass

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 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, Southern Itasca

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 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)

Winter Storm, Southern Cass

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 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, Northern Aitkin

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 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, Crow Wing

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 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, Southern St. Louis / Carlton

When: April 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Southern St. Louis / Carlton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 47.091, -92.569 (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 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, April 2009

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: 165289, 165290, 165291, 165293, 165294, 165295, 165296, 165297, 165298, 165300, 165301, 165302.