Several weak weather systems moved across the Upper Midwest the night of December 23rd, and continued through the late morning hours of Friday, December 24th. Most areas only received between 3 and 5 inches in a 12 hour period, however, isolated areas near the Iowa border, and in parts of the Twin Cities Metro area had 6 to 7 inches in less than 12 hours.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS MPX wrote it up.
Several weak weather systems moved across the Upper Midwest the night of December 23rd, and continued through the late morning hours of Friday, December 24th. Most areas only received between 3 and 5 inches in a 12 hour period, however, isolated areas near the Iowa border, and in parts of the Twin Cities Metro area had 6 to 7 inches in less than 12 hours.
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 Dec 23, 6:03 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
603 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
.UPDATE...FOR 00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW
&&
.DISCUSSION.../ISSUED 158 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010/
LITTLE DEVIATION TODAY IN THE GFS/ECMWF WITH THE TRACK OF THE 700
MB LOW PASSING JUST SOUTH OF THE MN RIVER TONIGHT AND FRIDAY
MORNING. THE NAM HAS DRIFTED WEST AND SOUTH WITH THE LOW AND WAS
NOT USED AS PART OF THE FORECAST PACKAGE TODAY. YET ANOTHER
WAA...MID LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC EVENT DEVELOPING TONIGHT AND
PERSISTING THROUGH A GOOD PART OF FRIDAY. THE BEST UPGLIDE AND
ADIABATIC OMEGA ON THE GFS IS MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE MN
RIVER VALLEY WITH MIXING RATIOS ON THE 285K THETA SURFACE NEAR 2
G/KG. THE -15 DEG C OMEGA AND -FN VECTOR DIVERGENCE IS ALSO
COLLOCATED IN THIS SAME AREA WITH THE -12 TO -18 DEG C DENDRITIC
GROWTH ZONE OVER 2300 METERS DEEP. SNOW RATIOS IN THE 15 TO 16:1
RANGE COUPLED WITH QPF IN THE 0.25 TO 0.35 INCH RANGE STILL
YIELDED A FORECAST OF 4 TO 6 INCHES FROM MORRIS AND CANBY ON
SOUTHEAST THROUGH FARIBAULT...ALBERT LEA AND FAIRMONT. THERE IS A
LITTLE MORE EASTWARD PUSH ON THE SNOW AS WELL WITH 2 TO 3 INCHES
NOW FORECAST FROM ALEXANDRIA THROUGH ST CLOUD...THE TWIN CITIES TO
DURAND WI. BASICALLY AN INCH OR LESS NORTHEAST OF THIS LINE. THE
AREAL COVERAGE OF THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS THE
SAME...BUT WAS EXTENDED THROUGH NOON ON FRIDAY FROM YELLOW
MEDICINE THROUGH MARTIN COUNTIES WITH THE 700 MB PASSING THROUGH
DURING THE MORNING. A CONCERN THAT THE EVENING/MIDNIGHT SHIFTS
WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON IS THE PV BOOT THAT WILL PASS ALONG
THE MN/IA BORDER FRIDAY MORNING. THE NOSE OF THE BOOT WILL BE
ENTERING A STRONG FRONTOGENETIC AREA BETWEEN 600-700MB. AT THIS
TIME...THE BEST -FN VECTOR DIVERGENCE IS OVER FAR NORTHERN IA
FRIDAY MORNING. AS WE HAVE SEEN THIS PAST FALL AND EARLY
WINTER...OUR BEST SNOW TOTALS HAVE BEEN ALONG THE NOSE OF THE PV
BOOT. HENCE...SNOW TOTALS FOR THIS EVENT ARE HIGHEST AND JUST
SHORT OF 6 INCHES OVER SOUTH CENTRAL MN.
THE SNOW WILL TAPER TO FLURRIES FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM
NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST WITH A COLDER AND DRIER PERIOD FOR THE
CHRISTMAS WEEKEND. HOWEVER...SOME SNOW SHOWERS MAY IMPACT THE FAR
EASTERN COUNTIES OF THE CWA (WI) DURING THE WEEKEND AS A FEW MINOR
SHORT WAVES DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES IN THE NORTHERLY
FLOW. AT THIS TIME...KEPT THE FORECAST DRY.
WE WILL SEE A CHANGE IN THE FLOW PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A
MILDER PACIFIC FLOW DEVELOPS. DRY WEATHER IS FORECAST INTO
THURSDAY. HOWEVER...FROM THURSDAY INTO THE NEW YEAR...THE
GFS/ECMWF CONTINUE TO FORECAST A HUGE UPPER TROUGH TO PUSH INTO
THE CENTER OF THE COUNTRY WITH A MASSIVE STORM SYSTEM CLOSING OFF
OVER THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY REGION BY NEW YEARS DAYS. IN
FACT TODAYS ECMWF AND GFS ONLY DIFFER BY 1 MB AND LESS THAN 100
MILES ON THE POSITION OF THE SURFACE LOW OVER CENTRAL MN FOR
SATURDAY JAN 1...WHICH IS OVER 200 HOURS OUT! AT ANY RATE...THERE
WILL LIKELY BE A WARMING TREND AS THE LOW MOVES IN WITH
SNOW...FREEZING RAIN AND EVEN SOME RAIN. ANOTHER INTERESTING FACT
WITH THIS POTENTIAL STORM IS SEEN IN THE 850 MB TEMPERATURE
FORECAST. BOTH MODELS SHOW +4 DEG C IN ADVANCE OF THE STORM OVER
THE EASTERN CWA ON FRIDAY THEN LOWERING INTO THE -15 TO -20 DEG C
RANGE BY SATURDAY OVER MN.
&&
.AVIATION.../00Z TAF ISSUANCE/
SNOW WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA
THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT. LIFR VSBYS WILL BE COMMON AT
KAXN AND KRWF TONIGHT...WITH IFR VSBYS EXPECTED AT TIMES FOR KMSP
AND KSTC. THE SNOW WILL EXPAND INTO WI AFTER MIDNIGHT...WHERE IFR
VSBYS WILL EVENTUALLY DEVELOP OVERNIGHT. IFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO
PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD...WITH LIFR AND EVEN VLIFR CIGS
POSSIBLE AT TIMES IN THE MODERATE SNOW BANDS. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED
TO TAPER TO FLURRIES BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z FRIDAY. WINDS WILL BE
LIGHT EASTERLY THROUGH THE PERIOD.
KMSP...ALTHOUGH A FAIRLY MODERATE BAND WAS FALLING ABOUT 40 MILES
EAST/NORTHEAST OF KMSP AT 00Z...THERE IS A DECENT CHANCE SNOW AND
VSBY RESTRICTIONS MAY HOLD OFF UNTIL CLOSER TO 02Z. AFTER SNOW
ONSET...IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH 15Z FRIDAY. IMPROVEMENT
TO MVFR CONDITIONS IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR AFTER 18Z AS SNOW TAPERS TO
FLURRIES. VFR VSBYS WILL LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL AROUND 00Z
SATURDAY...ALTHOUGH CIGS WILL BE SLOWER TO BECOME UNRESTRICTED.
&&
.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST FRIDAY FOR CHIPPEWA-
DOUGLAS-KANDIYOHI-LAC QUI PARLE-MEEKER-POPE-STEARNS-STEVENS-
SWIFT-WRIGHT.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY FOR BLUE EARTH-
CARVER-DAKOTA-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN-GOODHUE-LE SUEUR-MCLEOD-
NICOLLET-RICE-SCOTT-SIBLEY-STEELE-WASECA.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY FOR BROWN-MARTIN-
REDWOOD-RENVILLE-WATONWAN-YELLOW MEDICINE.
WI...NONE.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 631 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010 MNZ041>045-047>070-073>078-082>085-091>093-WIZ014>016-023>028- 241200- 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- 631 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SNOW WILL GENERALLY INCREASE IN INTENSITY AND COVERAGE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE EVENING AND PERSIST THROUGH OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE MINNESOTA OUTLOOK AREA...WITH GENERALLY LIGHT SNOW DEVELOPING ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. A BAND OF 2 TO 6 INCHES WILL ACCUMULATE BY FRIDAY MORNING SOUTH OF A LINE FROM ALEXANDRIA TO ST. CLOUD AND ACROSS THE SOUTHERN METRO AREA. SEE THE LATEST WINTER WEATHER STATEMENT FOR MORE DETAILS: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/DATA/MPX/WSWMPX .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY SNOW WILL CONTINUE FRIDAY MORNING MAINLY ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BRING SNOW TOTALS FOR THIS WINTER WEATHER EVENT FROM 3 TO 6 AND A HALF INCHES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
606 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM SNOW GLENWOOD 45.65N 95.38W
12/23/2010 E3.0 INCH POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0545 PM SNOW PAYNESVILLE 45.38N 94.72W
12/23/2010 E2.0 INCH STEARNS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
&&
MTFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
654 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0652 PM SNOW CYRUS 45.62N 95.74W
12/23/2010 E2.5 INCH POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0653 PM SNOW GILCHRIST 45.46N 95.32W
12/23/2010 E2.5 INCH POPE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
MTFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
655 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM SNOW GLENWOOD 45.65N 95.38W
12/23/2010 E3.0 INCH POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0545 PM SNOW PAYNESVILLE 45.38N 94.72W
12/23/2010 E2.0 INCH STEARNS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0652 PM SNOW CYRUS 45.62N 95.74W
12/23/2010 E2.5 INCH POPE MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0652 PM SNOW MORRIS 45.59N 95.91W
12/23/2010 E1.5 INCH STEVENS MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0653 PM SNOW GILCHRIST 45.46N 95.32W
12/23/2010 E2.5 INCH POPE MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
MTFPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
711 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0711 PM SNOW 5 N LOWRY 45.78N 95.52W
12/23/2010 M3.0 INCH DOUGLAS MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
LSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
832 PM CST THU DEC 23 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0831 PM SNOW 4 SSE SILVER CREEK 45.26N 93.91W
12/23/2010 M1.0 INCH WRIGHT MN TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
LSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Several areas in western Blue Earth County had 6 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in northern Martin County had 6 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in eastern Watonwan County had 6 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in Hennepin County had 5 to 7 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in Dakota County had 6 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in northern Faribault County had 6 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
Several areas in eastern Goodhue County had 7 inches of snowfall in less than 12 hours.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, December 2010
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: 265585, 265589, 265590, 265591, 265586, 265587, 265588.