A small area of intense snowfall resulted in over 6 inches of snow across south central Minnesota from Fairmont, to Mankato to around Faribault Wednesday morning between 3 am and noon. Initially, an area of low pressure developed across the Northern Plains Tuesday evening.
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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.
A small area of intense snowfall resulted in over 6 inches of snow across south central Minnesota from Fairmont, to Mankato to around Faribault Wednesday morning between 3 am and noon.
Initially, an area of low pressure developed across the Northern Plains Tuesday evening. This area of low pressure moved southeast across South Dakota, and into central Iowa by Wednesday morning, and into eastern Missouri by Wednesday evening. Light snow began to develop across southwest and south central Minnesota after midnight, with moderate to locally heavy snowfall by sunrise. Several bands of heavy snow, with rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, occurred during the morning before tapering off to light snow by noon. One intense band of snow occurred from near Mankato to Faribault, where locally 11 inches of snow fell Wednesday morning west of Faribault.
The following are some higher snowfall amounts from this storm:
11.0 inches just west of Faribault.|9.3 inches near Amboy.|8.6 inches near Blue Earth.|8.5 inches near Fairmont. |8.4 inches near Eagle Lake.|8.0 inches near Winnebago. |8.0 inches near Vernon Center. |7.5 inches near Le Center.
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 Nov 25, 11:48 PM CST, 42 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1148 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014
.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 926 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014
EXPANDED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY NORTH A COUPLE ROWS OF
COUNTIES TO INCLUDE AREAS FROM WILLMAR TO ST PAUL AND SOUTH. THE
NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE THE NORTHERN BATCH OF SNOW OVER
NORTH DAKOTA WEAKENING OVERNIGHT AS IT HEADS SOUTHEAST...WITH THE
SOUTH DAKOTA BATCH PUSHING INTO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA OVERNIGHT. AN
INVERTED TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEDNESDAY...WITH THE
NORTHERN BATCH ENERGIZING AFTER SUNRISE ACROSS MOST OF EAST
CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE 21Z SREF HAS SHIFTED NORTH TO COME INTO
LINE WITH THE NAM AND GFS...AND THE HI-RES MODELS OF
HOPWRF...HRRR...AND TO SOME DEGREE THE RAP IN BRINGING THE
BULLS EYE OF HEAVIEST SNOW FROM JUST NORTH OF MANKATO INTO THE FAR
SOUTHWESTERN TWIN CITIES SUBURBS. THIS IS THE AREA WHERE THIS
ENERGIZED BATCH OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO LINGER FOR SOME TIME DURING
THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON LEADING TO AT LEAST A FEW TO
AS MUCH AS 5 INCHES. SNOW WILL QUICKLY DISSIPATE DURING MID
AFTERNOON...WITH A SHARP CUT OFF TO SNOW AMOUNTS TO THE EAST OVER
FAR WESTERN WI.
&&
.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 415 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014
THE MAIN CONCERN IN THE SHORT TERM IS A CLIPPER SYSTEM MOVING
SOUTHEAST FROM THE DAKOTAS TO IOWA TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. THERE
REMAINS QUITE A BIT OF SPREAD IN THE QPF FROM THE VARIOUS
DETERMINISTIC SOLUTIONS TODAY ON HOW FAR EAST SIGNIFICANT
ACCUMULATING SNOW (3+") WILL GO ON WEDNESDAY. ALTHOUGH THE H7 LOW
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLIPPER WILL BASICALLY PASS ACROSS SOUTHWEST
MN LATE TONIGHT...A SECOND SHORT WAVE IS PUSHING ACROSS FAR
NORTHERN MN DURING THIS SAME TIME. THE NAM AND THE GFS HAVE MUCH MORE
QPF SPREADING NORTHEAST AHEAD OF THE NORTHERN STREAM
FEATURE...WHICH IF TRUE...WOULD RESULT IN MUCH MORE SNOW ACROSS
EASTERN MN AND WEST CENTRAL WI THEN CURRENTLY FORECAST...WHICH IS
IN THE 1 TO 2 INCH RANGE. THE GEM AND ECMWF HAVE MORE SEPARATION
IN THE QPF...WITH MUCH OF THE SNOW FOCUSED FROM WEST CENTRAL
THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. ITS
INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE PAST FIVE RUNS OF THE ECMWF HAVE
SHOWN THE MID LEVEL LOW SINKING SLOWLY SOUTHWARD WITH TIME WHICH WOULD
KEEP THE HEAVIEST SNOW TO THE WEST AND SOUTH OF THE TWIN CITIES.
THE 15Z SREF IS BASICALLY IN LINE WITH THIS IDEA...SHOWING THE
HIGHEST PROBABILITIES (60-80 PERCENT) FOR GREATER THAN 0.25 INCHES
OF QPF IN 12 HOURS FROM WEST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA. THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A FINGER OF HIGHER
PROBABILITIES POINTING TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST TWIN CITIES METRO.
HENCE...WITH CONFIDENCE HIGHEST FOR 3+ INCHES OF SNOW LATE TONIGHT
AND WEDNESDAY MORNING FROM WEST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WAS ISSUED FOR THESE AREAS.
WITH SOME HINT THAT THE HEAVIER SNOW COULD GET A LITTLE MORE TO
THE EAST...THE ADVISORY REACHES ACROSS MCLEOD AND SIBLEY COUNTIES.
KEPT THE ADVISORY GOING ALONG THE I-35 CORRIDOR FROM NORTHFIELD TO
ALBERT LEA DURING THE AFTERNOON WHERE SNOW WILL LINGER.
LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT ARE A LITTLE TRICKY WITH THE LOW CLOUDS
TRYING TO DIMINISH SOME THIS EVENING WHILE SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL
FLOW/WAA INCREASES. WENT ON THE LOW SIDE OF GUIDANCE WITH
DEW POINTS ONLY IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS ALONG WITH SOME SNOW
COVER. HIGHS ON WEDNESDAY ONLY IN THE TEENS ACROSS THE WEST WITH
LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S EAST.
.LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY)
ISSUED AT 415 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014
THE LONG TERM CONTINUES THE PUSH PULL WEATHER PATTERN WITH BRIEF
WARM UP/COOL DOWNS. THE INITIAL WAVE EXITS EARLY WEDNESDAY
NIGHT...WITH COOLER HIGH PRESSURE FOLLOWING FOR THANKSGIVING DAY.
HIGH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE TEENS ONCE AGAIN.
THE NEXT WAVE MOVES IN WITH WAA DRIVING EAST ACROSS THE AREA
THANKSGIVING NIGHT AND FRIDAY. A GENERAL 2-3 INCH SNOW IS LIKELY
ALONG AND NORTHEAST OF I-94. THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH ACROSS THE
CWA. DEPENDING ON SUNSHINE...TEMPERATURES COULD WARM THROUGH THE
30S AGAIN...ESPECIALLY IN THE FAR SOUTH. HOWEVER...THERE IS SOME
MODEL TIMING ISSUES...WITH THE GFS FASTER WITH THE NEXT COLD FRONT.
WILL MOVE TOWARDS A SLOWER AND WARMER SOLUTION FOR NOW...WITH SOME
SMALL CHANCE POPS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT. BETTER FORCING AND
BAROCLINIC ZONE DEVELOPS ALONG THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE AREA.
THE PRECIPITATION...IF IT DOES DEVELOP..COULD BE IN THE FORM OF
FREEZING DRIZZLE/LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES. THE GFS IS THE MORE ROBUST MODEL
IN THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE REGION.
ARCTIC HIGH PRESSURE DROPS SOUTH AGAIN OVER THE CWA FOR SATURDAY AND
SATURDAY NIGHT. WE SHOULD SEE CLOUDS CLEAR OUT OF THE AREA DURING
THE DAY SUNDAY...PROVIDING DRIVE HOLIDAY TRAVEL FOR THE AREA. COLD
TEMPERATURES RETURN WITH HIGHS IN THE TEENS BOTH SUNDAY AND
MONDAY...BEFORE THE NEXT UPPER TROUGH SWINGS OVER THE WESTERN CONUS
AND DRIVES WARMER AIR BACK NORTH AND EAST TOWARD THE NORTHERN
PLAINS/WESTERN GREAT LAKES FOR TUESDAY.
&&
.AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY NIGHT)
ISSUED AT 1139 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014
CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED FROM THE LAST SET OF TAFS REGARDING THE
SNOW FOR WEDNESDAY. IT HAS ALREADY BEGUN PUSHING INTO THE RWF AREA
AND WILL TAKE ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO TO REACH AXN. EASTWARD
PROGRESSION WILL SLOW OVERNIGHT...THEN BEGIN TO DEVELOP FURTHER
EAST INTO THE TWIN CITIES METRO AND STC SHORTLY BEFORE DAWN.
INVERTED TROUGH SHOULD CONCENTRATE MUCH OF THE SNOW DURING THE
DAYTIME IN AN AREA FROM STC TO RWF...MKT...AND MSP. SNOW RATES
WILL INCREASE BETWEEN 12-18Z IN THIS AREA WHERE 1/2 TO 1 INCH PER
HOUR RATES ARE POSSIBLE FOR A TIME. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF DURING
THE AFTERNOON FROM WEST TO EAST. ONLY LOOKING FOR A 2 TO 4 HOUR
WINDOW OF LIGHT SNOW ACROSS WRN WI...MAINLY DURING THE MID
AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING.
KMSP...LIGHT SNOW LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BEGIN AROUND 12Z...AND COULD
BECOME MORE INTENSE BETWEEN 14-19Z WHEN SNOWFALL RATES OF 1/2 TO 1
INCH PER HOUR AND IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE. THE SNOW WILL
TAPER OFF MID AFTERNOON WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER MID
EVENING.
/OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/
THU...VFR. NW 4-8 KTS.
FRI...CHC MVFR AND -SN. WINDS SE 5 KTS.
SAT...CHC MVFR. WINDS NORTH 10 KTS.
&&
.MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MN...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST WEDNESDAY FOR
MNZ059-060-062-068>070-076-077-084-085-093.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST WEDNESDAY FOR MNZ054-
056>058-064>067-073>075-082-083-091-092.
WI...NONE.
&&
UPDATE...BORGHOFF
SHORT TERM...RAH
LONG TERM...DWE
AVIATION...BORGHOFFHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN 1005 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014 MNZ054-056>060-062-064>070-073>077-082>085-091>093-270415- LAC QUI PARLE-CHIPPEWA-KANDIYOHI-MEEKER-WRIGHT-HENNEPIN-RAMSEY- YELLOW MEDICINE-RENVILLE-MCLEOD-SIBLEY-CARVER-SCOTT-DAKOTA- REDWOOD-BROWN-NICOLLET-LE SUEUR-RICE-WATONWAN-BLUE EARTH-WASECA- STEELE-MARTIN-FARIBAULT-FREEBORN- 1005 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA...EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA... SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY BEGINS OVERNIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AROUND 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY DAWN ACROSS WESTERN MINNESOTA WITH LITTLE ELSEWHERE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVER EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. WIZ014>016-023>028-270415- POLK-BARRON-RUSK-ST. CROIX-PIERCE-DUNN-PEPIN-CHIPPEWA-EAU CLAIRE- 1005 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST WISCONSIN AND WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. MNZ041>045-047>053-055-061-063-078-270415- DOUGLAS-TODD-MORRISON-MILLE LACS-KANABEC-STEVENS-POPE-STEARNS- BENTON-SHERBURNE-ISANTI-CHISAGO-SWIFT-ANOKA-WASHINGTON-GOODHUE- 1005 PM CST TUE NOV 25 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA...EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT LIGHT SNOW WILL BEGIN LATE TONIGHT. ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH ARE POSSIBLE...WITH UP TO 2 INCHES OVER WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY LIGHT SNOW WILL CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF AN INCH OR TWO ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS AND SNOWFALL OBSERVERS ARE URGED TO REPORT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. BORGHOFF
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Martin County with the heaviest near Fairmont which received 8.5 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Watonwan County with the heaviest near Madelia which received 6.8 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Faribault County with the heaviest near Blue Earth which received 8.6 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or more of snow fell across Blue Earth County. The heaviest occurred near Amboy which measured 9.3 inches by the afternoon.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Nicollet County with the heaviest near North Mankato which received 7.5 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Le Sueur County with the heaviest near Le Center which received 7.5 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Rice County with the heaviest near Faribault which received 11.0 inches.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Steele County.
Several reports of 6 inches or snow fell across Waseca County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, November 2014
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: 544650, 544654, 544648, 544646, 544651, 544649, 544652, 544653, 544655.