Minnesota, 2018Winter Weather in Minnesota, November 16 to 17, 2018
November 16 to 17, 2018 · NWS FSD · 8 events in 8 counties and zones
Mid-level frontogenesis within the entrance region of a jet streak across northern Wisconsin brought rapid onset to precipitation during the afternoon and evening of November 16. Gradual loss of deep saturation resulted in a trailing area of light freezing rain or freezing drizzle behind the main light snow band.
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 8
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.
Mid-level frontogenesis within the entrance region of a jet streak across northern Wisconsin brought rapid onset to precipitation during the afternoon and evening of November 16. Gradual loss of deep saturation resulted in a trailing area of light freezing rain or freezing drizzle behind the main light snow band.
Winter Weather, Lyon
- When
- November 16, 3:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Lyon forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 1 indirect
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 44.414, -95.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Snowfall quickly totaled 3.0 inches at Marshall and Tracy, and 2.0 inches at Minneota during the late afternoon and evening hours. Precipitation ended as a brief period of freezing drizzle. As temperatures fell rapidly toward sunset, flash freezing of initially melted precipitation resulted in treacherous roadways, causing several minor accidents. A two-car accident west of Balaton during the midday hours of November 18 resulted in minor injuries (indirect) to a 79-year-old female passenger.
Winter Weather, Lincoln
- When
- November 16, 3:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Lincoln forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 44.413, -96.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of moderate snowfall quickly totaled 2.5 inches southeast of Astoria and near Canby, as well as 2.0 inches at Minneota during the late afternoon and early evening. Precipitation ended as a brief period of freezing drizzle which resulted in a light glaze of ice on cleared surfaces by late evening. As temperatures dropped rapidly after snow began, initially melted precipitation due to mild surface conditions experienced flash freezing and produced treacherous roads.
Winter Weather, Pipestone
- When
- November 16, 3:00 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pipestone forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 44.023, -96.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
While only an inch of snow fell at Pipestone and near Edgerton during light to moderate snowfall in the late afternoon and early evening, precipitation changed to a light freezing drizzle by mid-evening. As temperatures fell rapidly, a glaze of ice resulted in treacherous road conditions.
Winter Weather, Cottonwood
- When
- November 16, 4:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Cottonwood forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 44.007, -95.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of moderate snowfall quickly totaled to 3.2 inches at Windom during the late afternoon and evening. Roads quickly became treacherous as temperatures fell rapidly by evening, causing flash freezing of earlier melted snowfall. Several minor accidents were reported.
Winter Weather, Murray
- When
- November 16, 4:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Murray forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 44.022, -95.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of moderate snowfall quickly totaled 2.0 inches at Lake Wilson during the late afternoon and early evening, with precipitation mixing with light freezing drizzle before ending. A glaze of icing occurred as temperatures fell rapidly during the evening, resulting in treacherous roads and several minor accidents.
Winter Weather, Jackson
- When
- November 16, 6:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Jackson forecast zone
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 43.674, -95.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of moderate snowfall totaled quickly to 3.3 inches 2 miles northeast of Lakefield during the evening hours. As temperatures fell quickly during the evening, snowfall which had melted experienced flash freezing and produced treacherous road conditions.
Winter Weather, Nobles
- When
- November 16, 7:00 PM CST to November 17, 12:00 AM CST
- Where
- Nobles forecast zone
- Injuries
- 0 direct, 2 indirect
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 43.674, -95.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Occasionally moderate snowfall quickly totaled 2.0 inches at Worthington during the evening hours. Precipitation ended as a brief period of freezing drizzle late evening. As temperatures fell rapidly, flash freezing of initially melted precipitation resulted in treacherous roadways, causing several minor accidents. A driver lost control on icy roads and entered the median around 0245CST November 17, resulting in a minor injury (indirect) to a 30-year-old female passenger. A single-car rollover accident north of Bigelow around 0530CST November 17 resulted in minor injuries (indirect) to a 27-year-old female driver.
Winter Weather, Rock
- When
- November 16, 11:00 PM CST to November 17, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Rock forecast zone
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 43.675, -96.253 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Periods of late evening freezing drizzle resulted in a light glaze on roadways.
- Winter Weather
- Snow, sleet or freezing rain below warning levels that still caused disruption, damage or casualties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 16 to 17, 20181 death · 4 injured · 5 events
- Heavy Snow in North Dakota, November 16, 20183 injured · $250,000 · 5 events
- Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Wyoming, November 16 to 17, 20189 events
- Winter Weather in Iowa, November 16 to 17, 20188 events
- Heavy Snow in Maine, November 16 to 17, 20186 events
- Heavy Snow in Maine, November 16, 20184 events
- Winter Storm and High Wind in Montana, November 16, 201850 kt wind · 4 events
- Coastal Flood in Connecticut, November 16, 20182 events
- Heavy Snow in Nebraska, November 16 to 17, 20182 events
- Coastal Flood in New York, November 16, 20181 event
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 16, 20181 event
- Winter Storm in Montana, November 16 to 17, 20181 event
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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 788478, 788479, 788483, 788480, 788481, 788484, 788485, 788486.