Minnesota, 2009

Cold in Minnesota, January 14 to 16, 2009

January 14 to 16, 2009 · NWS MPX · 42 events in 42 counties and zones

The upper level pattern the second week of January had a very strong long-wave trough across the Great Lakes region that basically caused significant arctic air to invade the upper Midwest. A deep snow pack and several minor snowfall events prior to this arctic outbreak allowed for little modification of this air mass as it dived southward.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 42 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
2
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
42

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.

The upper level pattern the second week of January had a very strong long-wave trough across the Great Lakes region that basically caused significant arctic air to invade the upper Midwest.

A deep snow pack and several minor snowfall events prior to this arctic outbreak allowed for little modification of this air mass as it dived southward. Temperatures dropped below zero and stayed below zero for the majority of the outbreak.

In addition to the low temperatures, brisk winds of 10 to 20 mph caused wind chill values to drop into the 40 to 60 below range. Some of the coldest wind chill values are as follows; Glenwood at -56, Morris at -56, Alexandria at -51, Benson at -51, Granite Falls at -51, Appleton at -49, Redwood Falls at -49, Willmar at -49, Fairmont at -48, St. Cloud at -48, and St. James at -47.

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 14, 5:52 AM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 14, 5:52 AM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
552 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

.UPDATE...
ADDED 12Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW.

.DISCUSSION...
/ISSUED 255 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009/

THE FORECAST CHALLENGES FOCUS ON TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE NEXT
FIVE DAYS AND ASSOCIATED WIND CHILLS NAMELY IN THIS BITTER COLD
SNAP FROM TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

AS CLIPPER DEPARTS...LOW LEVEL THICKNESS GRADIENT AND NORTHERLY
WINDS ARE DEVELOPING AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT EARLY THIS MORNING
ACROSS NRN MN WHICH WILL DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA BY LATE
MORNING. HAVE MONITORED COLD AIR BUILD IN THE YUKON OVER THE PAST
COUPLE WEEKS AND SLIDE SOUTHEAST THROUGH CANADA TO NEAR THE INTL
BORDER DURING THIS LAST WEEK. NOW THIS ARCTIC FRONT WILL DRIVE IT
SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA TODAY...BRINGING SOME OF THE COLDEST AIR IN
FIVE YEARS PLUS TO THE REGION. FAVORABLE WIND SETUP ALSO IN PLAY
AS THE MORNING PROGRESSES AND WILL LAST THROUGH MUCH OF THE NEXT
48 HOURS. SO WIND CHILL WARNING IS IN EFFECT.

SURFACE ANALYSIS REVEALING CLIPPER LOW OF 1010MB MOVING INTO IL
AND ARCTIC HIGH OF 1047 MB MOVING SOUTHEAST FROM CTRL
SASKATCHEWAN AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING. 37MB GRADIENT NOT
PARTICULARLY TIGHT...HOWEVER SOME OTHER NICE FEATURES IN PLACE
ARE LEANING US TO GO HIGHER THAN MODEL FORECAST WIND SPEEDS TODAY
AND TONIGHT. CLEARING SKIES AND GOOD ADIABATIC DOWNSLOPE IN PLACE
DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS WILL HELP TO BRING GOOD SPEEDS DOWN TO
THE TOP OF THE MIX DOWN CHANNEL. NEAR DRY ADIABATIC LAPSE RATES
ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP BY LATE MORNING WITH THE CAA PATTERN
ALLOWING FOR MIX DOWN OF GUSTS AND STEADY SUSTAINED OF 15 TO 25
MPH TO BE REALIZED. ISALLOBARIC COMPONENT ALSO AIDING THESE
SUSTAINED SPEEDS WITH A SFC PRESSURE RISE MAXIMUM OF 5MB/3HR
FORECAST TO COME ACROSS SRN MN THROUGH MID-AFTN. CAA FORECAST
THROUGH EARLY AFTN WITH POSSIBLY SOME SLIGHT WARMING AFTER THAT.
HAVE MASSAGED THE HOURLY TEMP FORECASTS TO FIT THIS REASONING.
WIND CHILL READINGS TO NOT REACH WARNING CRITERIA IN SRN MN AND
WRN WI UNTIL NOON TODAY. HOWEVER...ADVISORY CRITERIA WILL BE MET
SOON AFTER SUNRISE SO A HEADLINE OUT THE GATE THIS MORNING SEEMS
PRUDENT.

GRADIENT TO CONTINUE ALONG WITH UNIDIRECTIONAL LOWER TROP FLOW
INTO TONIGHT. WITH THE LOW STARTING POINT OF TEMPS GOING INTO
TONIGHT...AND THE FORECAST AIR MASS CHARACTERISTICS /H8 TEMPS AND
MSLP VALUES/...HAVE UNDERCUT GUIDANCE BY A GOOD AMOUNT. BLENDED
GOING FCST WITH A MONTH LONG BIAS-CORRECTED 00Z MET GUIDANCE
/WHICH WAS THE COOLEST AVAILABLE/...WHICH SHOULD DO WELL
CONSIDERING HOW COLD THINGS HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST MONTH. ALSO
UNDERCUT EVEN FURTHER THE FCST TEMPS OVER FRESH SNOW AREA FROM
LAST NIGHT. COLDEST MIN TEMP READINGS TO NEAR 30 BELOW ZERO SHOULD
BE IN WEST CTRL MN WHERE WINDS ARE FCST TO DIMINISH SOMEWHAT AFTER
09Z.

THU WILL LIKELY FOLLOW A DIURNAL TREND WITH WARMING DURING THE
DAY...HOWEVER SUCH A LOW STARTING POINT AND NO WAA WILL LEAD TO
HIGHS WELL BELOW ZERO. THE HEART OF THE ARCTIC HIGH TO MOVE SOUTH
TO FAR SRN IL BY 12Z FRI. THIS DISTANCE FROM US WILL KEEP SOME
GRADIENT IN PLACE OVER THE AREA DURING THU NIGHT. WRN MN LIKELY TO
SEE RISING TEMPS AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH BACKSIDE RETURN FLOW.
HOWEVER...ERN MN AND WRN WI LIKELY TO SEE THEIR LOWEST TEMPS THU
NIGHT/FRI MORNING OF THIS COLD SNAP. SO VERY LOW WIND CHILLS
FORECAST INTO FRI MORNING FOR THAT AREA. SOME UNCERTAINTY REMAINS
ON WIND SPEEDS IN THAT TIME...BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE FORECAST TO
BE 5 TO 8 MPH AND ENOUGH FOR A WARNING.

SO WITH REGARD TO HEADLINES...WIND CHILLS ARE FORECAST TO WARM
ABOVE OUR WARNING CRITERIA ACROSS THE AREA BY THU AFTN.
HOWEVER...LOW WIND CHILLS /ADVISORY CRITERIA/ WILL CONTINUE WITH
WARNING THRESHOLDS EXPECTED TO BE RE-REACHED THU NIGHT IN ERN MN
AND WRN WI. WITH THE DEGREE OF COLD AIR AND CONFIDENCE AT THIS
POINT...AND IMPACTS DURING FRI MORNING FOR THE PUBLIC...HAVE
OPTED TO HAVE WIND CHILL WARNING RUN THROUGH 18Z FRI FOR ERN MN
AND WRN WI.

WITH REGARD TO PRECIP AND SKY COVER...NOT MUCH GOING ON THROUGH
THU EVE BUT CLEAR SKIES. ELEVATED N TO S ORIENTED WARM FRONT TO
MOVE THROUGH THE AREA ON FRI. DRY AIR IN PLACE TO LIKELY PLAY A
NUMBER ON HOW QUICKLY THIS WILL SATURATE IF AT ALL. SO ONLY HAVE A
SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SOME LIGHT SNOW DURING THE DAY FRI. THE WEST
COULD WARM UP A DECENT AMOUNT ON FRI COMPARED TO TODAY OR THU
GIVEN THE WEST WIND. HOWEVER...SNOW COVER FROM LAST NIGHT SHOULD
OFFSET THE BUFFALO RIDGE DOWNSLOPING AND ADIABATIC WARMING BY A
DECENT AMOUNT. AS WAVE DEVELOPS AND RIDES SOUTHWARD ALONG
BAROCLINIC ZONE ON FRI NIGHT...INTRODUCE POPS THEN AS WELL AND
PERSIST THEM INTO SAT. WRN WI THE BEST CHANCE TO SEE A LITTLE
ACCUMULATION WITH THIS SETUP. BRIEF COLD RESURGENCE FOR SAT THEN
LOWER TROP BAROCLINIC ZONE IS EXPECTED TO PUSH BACK OVER THE AREA
WITH TEMPS TO NEAR FREEZING POSSIBLE ON SUN THROUGH TUES.
CONFIDENCE STILL SOMEWHAT SHAKY ON HOW WARM IN WHICH PARTS OF THE
FORECAST AREA...BUT CERTAINLY SHOULD FEEL MILD COMPARED TO THE
NEXT 48 HOURS. LOOKING WAY OUT THERE...SIGNS IN THE GUIDANCE THAT
OUR COLD WINTER PATTERN THUS FAR RE-ESTABLISHES ITSELF BY LATE
NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION... /12Z TAF ISSUANCE/
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AS LOW
PRESSURE/CLIPPER RETREATS OFF TO THE SOUTHEAST OVER ILLINOIS. SKIES
WILL BECOME CLEAR FROM NORTHEAST TO SOUTHWEST. CLOUDS/CEILINGS
HEIGHTS WILL BE 6 TO 9 THOUSAND FEET AGL THIS MORNING...THEN CLEAR
OR SCATTERED CLOUDS AT OR ABOVE 25 THOUSAND FEET AGL BY AFTERNOON.
NORTH WIND 10 TO 20 MPH THEN SHIFTING NORTHWEST 5 TO 10 MPH TONIGHT.

&&

.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WIND CHILL WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY FOR ANOKA-BENTON-
     CARVER-CHISAGO-DAKOTA-FREEBORN-GOODHUE-HENNEPIN-ISANTI-
     KANABEC-LE SUEUR-MILLE LACS-MORRISON-RAMSEY-RICE-SCOTT-
     SHERBURNE-STEELE-WASECA-WASHINGTON-WRIGHT.

     WIND CHILL WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST THURSDAY FOR BLUE EARTH-BROWN-
     CHIPPEWA-DOUGLAS-FARIBAULT-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-MARTIN-
     MCLEOD-MEEKER-NICOLLET-POPE-REDWOOD-RENVILLE-SIBLEY-STEARNS-
     STEVENS-SWIFT-TODD-WATONWAN-YELLOW MEDICINE.

WI...WIND CHILL WARNING UNTIL 12 PM CST FRIDAY FOR BARRON-CHIPPEWA-
     DUNN-EAU CLAIRE-PEPIN-PIERCE-POLK-RUSK-ST. CROIX.

&&

MTF
Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 14, 4:08 AM CST, 4 hours 52 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
408 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028-
151200-
DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS-
BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-LAC QUI PARLE-SWIFT-CHIPPEWA-
KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-ANOKA-RAMSEY-WASHINGTON-
YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA-
REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-GOODHUE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-
WASECA-STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-POLK-BARRON-RUSK-
ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-EAU CLAIRE-
408 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA THROUGH TONIGHT. THE
COMBINATION OF THIS COLDER AIR AND NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BRING
DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF 30 TO 45 BELOW ZERO BEGINNING TODAY AND
LASTING THROUGH TONIGHT. VERY COLD TEMPERATURES OF 20 TO 30 BELOW
ZERO ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THE COLD AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. DANGEROUS
WIND CHILLS OF 25 TO 45 BELOW ZERO ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN
WESTERN MINNESOTA THURSDAY AND ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE OUTLOOK
AREA THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. SOME OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES OF
THE WINTER THUS FAR ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA THURSDAY MORNING
AND IN EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN AGAIN ON FRIDAY
MORNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL
AMOUNTS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:00 AM CST, 1 hour before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
800 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0800 AM     SNOW             BROWNTON                44.73N 94.35W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
01/14/2009  M0.8 INCH        CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

&&

KME
Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:21 AM CST, 39 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
821 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0600 AM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
01/14/2009  M0.7 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

0600 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        STEARNS            MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
01/14/2009  M0.9 INCH        CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
01/14/2009  M0.9 INCH        CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
01/14/2009  M0.6 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

0600 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        STEARNS            MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             EAU CLAIRE              44.82N 91.49W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        EAU CLAIRE         WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

&&

KME
Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:35 AM CST, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
835 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0700 AM     SNOW             FARIBAULT               44.30N 93.27W
01/14/2009  M2.0 INCH        RICE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MELROSE                 45.68N 94.81W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MILACA                  45.76N 93.65W
01/14/2009  M0.4 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ROBERTS                 44.99N 92.55W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        ST. CROIX          WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             DASSEL                  45.08N 94.31W
01/14/2009  M0.9 INCH        MEEKER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MORRIS                  45.59N 95.91W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        STEVENS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ZUMBROTA                44.29N 92.67W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        GOODHUE            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W
01/14/2009  M1.5 INCH        KANDIYOHI          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ALBERT LEA              43.66N 93.37W
01/14/2009  M2.2 INCH        FREEBORN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             RICHFIELD               44.88N 93.28W
01/14/2009  M0.6 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             WINNEBAGO               43.77N 94.17W
01/14/2009  M4.0 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0830 AM     SNOW             NORTH ST PAUL           45.01N 93.00W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

KME
Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:44 AM CST, 16 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
844 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0730 AM     SNOW             1 SSE COLD SPRING       45.44N 94.42W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             3 NW LAKE ELMO          45.03N 92.95W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
01/14/2009  M1.5 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             FOREST LAKE             45.28N 92.99W
01/14/2009  M0.3 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             LITCHFIELD              45.12N 94.53W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        MEEKER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             LITTLE FALLS            45.98N 94.36W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        MORRISON           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             LONSDALE                44.48N 93.43W
01/14/2009  M0.3 INCH        RICE               MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             RICE                    45.75N 94.23W
01/14/2009  M0.4 INCH        BENTON             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             HAMMOND                 44.97N 92.44W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        ST. CROIX          WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

KME
Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:47 AM CST, 13 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
847 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0830 AM     SNOW             BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

KME
Local storm report, Jan 14, 8:57 AM CST, 3 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
857 AM CST WED JAN 14 2009

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

0542 AM     SNOW             WINTHROP                44.54N 94.36W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        SIBLEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0542 AM     SNOW             RED WING                44.58N 92.60W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        GOODHUE            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0542 AM     SNOW             REDWOOD FALLS           44.54N 95.11W
01/14/2009  M2.5 INCH        REDWOOD            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0600 AM     SNOW             MINNEAPOLIS             44.96N 93.27W
01/14/2009  M0.6 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

0600 AM     SNOW             EAU CLAIRE              44.82N 91.49W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        EAU CLAIRE         WI   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             ST CLOUD                45.55N 94.17W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        STEARNS            MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             CHANHASSEN              44.86N 93.56W
01/14/2009  M0.9 INCH        CARVER             MN   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

0600 AM     SNOW             HASTINGS                44.73N 92.85W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        DAKOTA             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ALBERT LEA              43.66N 93.37W
01/14/2009  M2.2 INCH        FREEBORN           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             HAMBURG                 44.73N 93.96W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ZUMBROTA                44.29N 92.67W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        GOODHUE            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MORRIS                  45.59N 95.91W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        STEVENS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             DASSEL                  45.08N 94.31W
01/14/2009  M0.9 INCH        MEEKER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             ROBERTS                 44.99N 92.55W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        ST. CROIX          WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MILACA                  45.76N 93.65W
01/14/2009  M0.4 INCH        MILLE LACS         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MELROSE                 45.68N 94.81W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             FARIBAULT               44.30N 93.27W
01/14/2009  M2.0 INCH        RICE               MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             LITCHFIELD              45.12N 94.53W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        MEEKER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             RICE                    45.75N 94.23W
01/14/2009  M0.4 INCH        BENTON             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             KIMBALL                 45.31N 94.30W
01/14/2009  M0.8 INCH        STEARNS            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             LITTLE FALLS            45.98N 94.36W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        MORRISON           MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MORGAN                  44.42N 94.92W
01/14/2009  M2.0 INCH        REDWOOD            MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             WILLMAR                 45.12N 95.05W
01/14/2009  M1.5 INCH        KANDIYOHI          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             1 SSE COLD SPRING       45.44N 94.42W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        STEARNS            MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             FOREST LAKE             45.28N 92.99W
01/14/2009  M0.3 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             3 NW LAKE ELMO          45.03N 92.95W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        WASHINGTON         MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             HAMMOND                 44.97N 92.44W
01/14/2009  M0.2 INCH        ST. CROIX          WI   CO-OP OBSERVER

0730 AM     SNOW             LONSDALE                44.48N 93.43W
01/14/2009  M0.3 INCH        RICE               MN   MESONET

0730 AM     SNOW             MANKATO                 44.17N 93.99W
01/14/2009  M1.5 INCH        BLUE EARTH         MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             BROWNTON                44.73N 94.35W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        MCLEOD             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             RICHFIELD               44.88N 93.28W
01/14/2009  M0.6 INCH        HENNEPIN           MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 AM     SNOW             CHASKA                  44.82N 93.61W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        CARVER             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             WINNEBAGO               43.77N 94.17W
01/14/2009  M4.0 INCH        FARIBAULT          MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM     SNOW             WACONIA                 44.85N 93.79W
01/14/2009  M0.8 INCH        CARVER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

0830 AM     SNOW             NORTH ST PAUL           45.01N 93.00W
01/14/2009  M0.5 INCH        RAMSEY             MN   TRAINED SPOTTER

0830 AM     SNOW             BUFFALO                 45.18N 93.87W
01/14/2009  M1.0 INCH        WRIGHT             MN   CO-OP OBSERVER

&&

KME

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

42 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Chippewa

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Chippewa forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.022, -95.567 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Lac Qui Parle

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Lac Qui Parle forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.996, -96.173 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Pope

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Pope forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.586, -95.444 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Douglas

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Douglas forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.934, -95.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Stevens

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Stevens forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.586, -96.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Swift

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Swift forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.283, -95.681 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Yellow Medicine

When
January 14, 9:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Yellow Medicine forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.716, -95.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Todd

When
January 14, 12:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Todd forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.071, -94.898 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Stearns

When
January 14, 12:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Stearns forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.552, -94.613 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Kandiyohi

When
January 14, 12:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Kandiyohi forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Brown

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Brown forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.242, -94.727 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Martin

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Martin forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.674, -94.551 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Sibley

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Sibley forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.580, -94.232 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Meeker

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Meeker forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.123, -94.527 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Morrison

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Morrison forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.013, -94.268 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Nicollet

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Nicollet forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Redwood

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Redwood forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.404, -95.254 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Renville

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Renville forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.727, -94.947 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Watonwan

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Watonwan forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.978, -94.614 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, McLeod

When
January 14, 3:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
McLeod forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Benton

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Benton forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.699, -93.999 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Blue Earth

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Blue Earth forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.035, -94.067 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Carver

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Carver forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Faribault

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Faribault forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.674, -93.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Freeborn

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Freeborn forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.674, -93.349 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Kanabec

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Kanabec forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.945, -93.293 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Le Sueur

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Le Sueur forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.371, -93.730 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Mille Lacs

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Mille Lacs forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.938, -93.630 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Sherburne

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Sherburne forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.444, -93.775 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.022, -93.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Waseca

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Waseca forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.022, -93.587 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Wright

When
January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Wright forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.174, -93.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Anoka

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Anoka forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.273, -93.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Dakota

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Dakota forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.672, -93.065 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Goodhue

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Goodhue forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.410, -92.723 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Hennepin

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Hennepin forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.005, -93.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Isanti

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Isanti forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.562, -93.295 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Rice

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Rice forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Scott

When
January 14, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Scott forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.649, -93.536 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Chisago

When
January 15, 12:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Chisago forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.503, -92.908 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey

When
January 15, 12:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Ramsey forecast zone
Deaths
2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.017, -93.100 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

Cold/Wind Chill, Washington

When
January 15, 12:00 AM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where
Washington forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.039, -92.884 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low temperatures and brisk winds caused wind chill values to fall below -35 for hours.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey2009-01-1577MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect
Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey2009-01-1570MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill
Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, January 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: 148875, 148876, 148877, 148878, 148879, 148880, 148881, 148882, 148883, 148884, 148866, 148867, 148868, 148869, 148870, 148871, 148872, 148873, 148874, 152847, 148854, 148855, 148856, 148857, 148858, 148859, 148860, 148861, 148862, 148863, 148864, 148865, 148844, 148845, 148846, 148847, 148848, 148849, 148850, 148851, and more.