A small, but potent low pressure system tracked along the South Dakota/Nebraska border late on January 29th and across southeast Minnesota on the morning of January 30th. As it pushed through the area, it strengthened and produced a narrow band of heavy snow on its north side that bisected east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin.
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.
A small, but potent low pressure system tracked along the South Dakota/Nebraska border late on January 29th and across southeast Minnesota on the morning of January 30th. As it pushed through the area, it strengthened and produced a narrow band of heavy snow on its north side that bisected east central Minnesota and west central Wisconsin. The heavy snow arrived a few hours before the morning commute began and peaked during the commute, producing snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times. This led to severe societal impacts with hundreds of spinouts and commute times that doubled or tripled that of normal. The warning had been issued due to heavy snowfall rates during the morning commute. The snow quickly tapered off during the late morning hours, but areas of blowing snow persisted into the afternoon as northerly winds increased.
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 30, 4:05 AM CST, 1 hour 55 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Several snowfall observers measured 3 to 6 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of Rice Lake had the highest measured report of 6.2 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 3 to 7 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of Holcombe had the highest measured report of 7.0 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 3 to 7 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of Boyceville had the highest measured report of 7.3 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 3 to 6 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of Eau Claire had the highest measured report of 6.0 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 3 to 6 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of River Falls had the highest measured report of 5.5 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 4 to 8 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of East Farmington had the highest measured report of 7.5 inches.
Several snowfall observers measured 5 to 7 inches before the storm moved off to the east during the late morning. The city of Baldwin had the highest measured report of 7.0 inches.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Wisconsin in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Wisconsin, January 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: 486207, 486209, 486210, 486211, 486212, 486213, 486214.