Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 3 to 5, 2013

Name: Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 3 to 5, 2013
Start: 2013-12-03T04:54
End: 2013-12-05T06:00
Location: Minnesota

December 3 to 5, 2013 · NWS FGF · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 24 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: 24

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 FGF wrote it up.

After a round of about one to nine inches of light snow fell across portions of northwest and west central Minnesota on December 2nd and 3rd, a second round of snow fell on the 3rd through the 4th. This second batch of snow set up along an inverted trough, bringing about 5 to 14 inches of snow to the area. Slightly higher amounts, about 8 to 14 inches, fell along and north of the U. S. Highway 2 corridor. In addition to the snow, some light freezing rain occurred over portions of west central Minnesota. Northerly winds also became quite gusty, producing some blowing and drifting snow with visibilities below a quarter mile at times. Many schools were closed and other activities were cancelled.

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 Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 3, 4:38 AM CST, 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 3, 4:38 AM CST, 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
438 AM CST TUE DEC 3 2013

.SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 430 AM CST TUE DEC 3 2013

WE WILL BE ISSUING A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR THE ENTIRE FORECAST
AREA FROM 21Z TODAY-12Z THU. MODELS ARE COMING INTO BETTER
AGREEMENT FOR 5 TO 9 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL SNOW LATER THIS
AFTERNOON THROUGH WED NIGHT. IN ADDITION...WINDS WILL CAUSE
CONSIDERABLE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW TONIGHT THROUGH WED
NIGHT...WITH NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN THE RED RIVER
VALLEY IN OPEN COUNTRY.

FOR TODAY...EXPECT A BREAK IN ACCUMULATING SNOW THROUGH ABOUT 18Z.
THEREAFTER...LARGE SCALE ASCENT PER QG FIELDS SHOULD MOVE INTO THE
AREA BY 00Z. THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME BLOWING SNOW IN THE NORTH
VALLEY AND DEVILS LAKE BASIN.

FOR TONIGHT...SNOW COULD BECOME MODERATE TO PERHAPS HEAVY AT TIMES
IN A DEVELOPING TROWAL. MOST AREAS SHOULD SEE 1 TO 4 INCHES OF
SNOW OVERNIGHT NEAR INCREASING MID LEVEL CONVERGENCE AND OMEGA. IN
ADDITION...BLOWING SNOW COULD BECOME A PROBLEM IN THE VALLEY WITH
20 TO 30 MPH WINDS AT TIMES CAUSING NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS IN
OPEN COUNTRY WHEN SNOW COMBINES WITH WINDS.

ON WEDNESDAY...EXPECT SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW TO CONTINUE IN THE
VALLEY. AN UPPER LOW WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA AND SHOULD CONTINUE
THE SNOW PRODUCTION NEAR THE SLOW MOVING TROWAL ALOFT...PER GFS
AND ECMWF SOLUTIONS.

.LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)
ISSUED AT 430 AM CST TUE DEC 3 2013

FOR WED NIGHT...SNOW SHOULD GRADUALLY TAPER OFF FROM WEST TO EAST.
EXPECT SNOW TOTALS TO RANGE FROM ABOUT 3 OR 4 INCHES IN TOWNER
COUNTY TO AROUND 1 FOOT NEAR BJI/PKD/WASKISH AREAS. THIS HEAVIER
SNOW BAND COULD SHIFT IN ANY DIRECTION...BUT MOST AREAS SHOULD SEE
AT LEAST 4 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW WITH WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH IN THE
VALLEY CAUSING BLOWING SNOW AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES. IN
ADDITION...DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL FALL TO 30 BELOW WEDNESDAY
NIGHT ALONG AND WEST OF THE VALLEY.

FOR FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT AT
84 HOURS. HOWEVER THE NAM AND GEM WERE THE SLOW SOLUTIONS AND THE
ECMWF THE FAST SOLUTION AND THE GFS A COMPROMISE. THE GFS BECOMES
A FAST SOLUTION AFTER 12Z SAT COMPARED TO THE ECMWF. WILL BLEND
THE ECMWF AND GFS.

ECMWF APPEARS TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH QPF THROUGH MUCH OF THE PERIOD IN
THE NORTHEAST ZONES. ECMWF MUST HAVE OPEN WATER IN THE MODEL FOR
LAKE OF THE WOODS. WILL REMOVE LOW POPS IN THE NORTHEAST ZONES FOR
SAT. WILL TRIM BACK POPS ON SAT NIGHT MUCH OF THE FORECAST AREA.
WILL TRIM BACK POPS NORTHWEST ZONES SUN AND NORTHEAST ZONES REST OF
THE PERIOD.

LITTLE CHANGE TEMPS FROM YESTERDAYS RUN. TEMPS INCREASE A DEGREE FOR
FRI SAT AND SUN AND DECREASED ONE DEGREE FOR MON.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1134 PM CST MON DEC 2 2013

MOST SITES WILL BE IN MVFR RANGE THROUGH EARLY AFTN TUESDAY...WHEN
CIGS WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN SINKING AND NORTHERLY WINDS WILL BEGIN
TO INCREASE AS THE SYSTEM PULLS ACROSS THE PLAINS. HAVE DELAYED
SNOW AT SITES TILL MID TO LATE AFTN. BJI IS THE EXCEPTION...WHICH
COULD SEE SOME LIGHT SNOW AND IFR CIGS OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS AS
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS MORE ABUNDANT IN NORTHERN MN.
&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-
     052>054.

MN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040.

&&

SHORT TERM...DK
LONG TERM...HOPPES/DK
AVIATION...SPEICHER

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 2, 7:13 AM CST, 21 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
713 AM CST MON DEC 2 2013

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027-028-031-032-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-054-031315-
WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-
WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-
EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-
SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-EAST OTTER TAIL-
WADENA-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-
NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-WESTERN WALSH-
713 AM CST MON DEC 2 2013

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY THROUGH TONIGHT...

...WINTER STORM WATCH TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

LIGHT SNOW IS EXPECTED TODAY FOR ALL OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THREE TO 5 INCHES
OF SNOW IS EXPECTED...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF UP TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY...WITH SNOW EXPECTED ALONG WITH INCREASING WINDS.
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY LATE
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE WILL BE
POSSIBLE THROUGH THE EVENT...ALONG WITH DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS
DEVELOPING BY THURSDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL
BE A LIFE THREATENING STORM WITH SNOW...WIND AND BITTERLY COLD
AIR. PREPARE FOR THIS DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER NOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

REPORTS OF SNOW AMOUNTS AND VISIBILITIES ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATED.

MNZ029-030-040-NDZ049-052-053-031315-
WILKIN-WEST OTTER TAIL-GRANT-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-
713 AM CST MON DEC 2 2013

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY...

...WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A MIXTURE OF SNOW...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN THIS MORNING IN THE
SOUTHERN RED RIVER VALLEY WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS DRIVING
CONDITIONS. PRECIPITATION SHOULD CHANGE TO ALL SNOW TONIGHT...WITH
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A DANGEROUS WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...WITH
SNOW EXPECTED ALONG WITH INCREASING WINDS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS
WILL BE POSSIBLE IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY LATE TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS OF 6 INCHES OR MORE WILL BE POSSIBLE
THROUGH THE EVENT...ALONG WITH DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS DEVELOPING BY
THURSDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THE WEEKEND. THIS WILL BE A LIFE
THREATENING STORM WITH SNOW...WIND AND BITTERLY COLD AIR. PREPARE
FOR THIS DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER NOW.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

DK

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Kittson

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Kittson forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.777, -96.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clay

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Becker

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: East Becker forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Marshall

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: East Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Otter Tail

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: East Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Polk

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grant

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.934, -96.012 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hubbard

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Hubbard forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.109, -94.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lake of the Woods

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mahnomen

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mahnomen forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.325, -95.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Norman

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Norman forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, North Beltrami

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: North Beltrami forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, North Clearwater

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: North Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pennington

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Pennington forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.066, -96.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Red Lake

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Red Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.872, -96.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Roseau

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Roseau forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.775, -95.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Beltrami

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: South Beltrami forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Clearwater

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: South Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wadena

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wadena forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.586, -94.969 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Becker

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: West Becker forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Marshall

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: West Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Otter Tail

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: West Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Polk

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: West Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wilkin

When: December 3, 4:54 AM CST to December 5, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wilkin forecast zone
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.357, -96.468 (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 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, December 2013

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: 479717, 479719, 479720, 479721, 479722, 479723, 479724, 479725, 479726, 479727, 479728, 479729, 479730, 479731, 479732, 479733, 479734, 479735, 479736, 479737, 479738, 479739, 479740, 479741.