Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 1, 2019

Name: Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 1, 2019
Start: 2019-12-01T00:00
End: 2019-12-01T09:00
Location: Minnesota

December 1, 2019 · NWS FGF · 18 events in 18 counties and zones

This storm began on November 30th. A fairly atypical hybrid surface low tracked across northern Nebraska into central Iowa from Saturday, November 30th into early Sunday, December 1st.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 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: 18

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.

This storm began on November 30th. A fairly atypical hybrid surface low tracked across northern Nebraska into central Iowa from Saturday, November 30th into early Sunday, December 1st. For most of the event, temperatures held in the upper 20s to lower 30s, with steady east-northeast winds. This cross valley flow tends to limit stronger wind gusts. Initially, there was a little mixed precipitation, but it quickly turned over to snow. As winds turned more northerly during the early morning hours of December 1st, temperatures fell and winds finally became more gusty. However, by that time, the snow was tapering off. Most areas picked up 6 to 12 inches of snow. Because wind speeds never got that gusty during the event, roads were never closed. However, travel was not recommended in some areas.

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 Nov 30, 9:29 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 30, 9:29 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
929 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

.UPDATE...
Issued at 927 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

Flow aloft was split across North America with an upper ridge over
central Canada and upper low over the Central Plains. Water vapor
loop indicated upper low was over the IA/NE border and was moving to
the east southeast.

Area radars showed plenty of moisture upstream. However there was
a break in precip over northern MN and was moving to the west.

GFS/RAP cross sections indicated a dry layer will move in around 850
hpa from the north after midnight and will sweep south through the
forecast area by Sun afternoon. Dry air from the north should
shut down the snowfall.

Ensemble mean from the HREF showed decreasing snow from the north
after midnight and is in reasonable agreement with operational
models with drier air moving in around 850 hpa layer.

Current warnings and advisories are good and no changes are
expected.

UPDATE Issued at 656 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

Water vapor loop indicated an upper low located over eastern NE and
was moving to the east. Area radars indicated snow continues to move
in from the east at about 20 knots. Bands on radar continue to shift
to the west. Fewer/weaker returns along the International border.
Winds have increased a bit in the southwest zones. Increased winds a
bit overnight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Sunday night)
Issued at 346 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

Main impacts through Sunday will remain focused on moderate to heavy
snowfall associated with a powerful winter storm causing major
travel impacts across much of the Northern Plains.

The latest water vapor imagery shows a powerful low pressure system
tracking east through the Central Plains. Mid level dry air is
brushing along the southern extent of the Red River Valley,
occasionally entraining into the region and allowing for brief
wintry mix but mostly not impeding snowfall amounts (except for near
Grant County MN). However, dry air aloft did impede the freezing
drizzle to snow transition longer than expected this morning, which
will likely impact snowfall totals quite a bit across the region.
Have reduced snowfall totals along and north of US Hwy 2 and in
portions of west central MN to account for this.

Across southeast and east central ND and west central MN, TROWAL
moisture continues to stream westward into the region. A combination
of this moisture with mid level Fgen, steep mid level lapse rates,
and elevated instability has allowed for convective snowfall banding
developing across northern and eastern MN this afternoon. This is
expected to gradually weaken as the instability axis tracks further
eastward away from the forecast area this evening, but the
deformation zone on the NW side of the system will gradually track
east into eastern ND and eventually the northwest quarter of MN.
This will be the main source of additional heavy snowfall overnight
tonight, where the greatest amounts are expected over west central
MN (generally along and southeast of a line from Bemidji to Fargo to
Milnor ND).

Sustained NE winds at 15-25 mph with occasional higher gusts will
bring some areas of blowing snow through this evening, but expect
the main visibility reductions to occur as a result of heavy
snowfall rates.

The latest model runs suggest snow will begin to clear out of the
area faster than previously anticipated but will hold on to
headlines through noon Sunday for now and see how impacts progress.
Snow is expected to taper off north of US Hwy 2 and Hwy 200 by
sunrise Sunday and for the southern valley and west central MN by
late Sunday morning. Lingering breezy north winds may cause some
patchy blowing snow impacts Sunday morning, but generally expect
improving conditions as the day progresses.

.LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday)
Issued at 346 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

Long term impacts are mostly how cold it will get Sunday night and
then if any weak clipper brings precipitation.

Sunday night and Monday...The upper low departs Sunday night, with
surface high pressure building in and decreasing clouds. Think that
the center of the surface high will be to our south, so we will not
get as much radiative cooling as possible with south winds. However,
with fresh snow across most of the region think some spots could get
down to near the zero mark, especially in the southeast where winds
pick up later. The cold will be fairly short lived with some warm
air advection ahead of the next shortwave, allowing temps to get
into the 20s to low 30s. Most of the ensemble members keep us dry as
the shortwave passes through, although a couple including the
operational ECMWF have some mixed precipitation moving through.
Pattern is pretty progressive, so will lean towards the mean and
keep things dry but will have to monitor.

Tuesday through Thursday...Northwesterly flow aloft with some weak
shortwaves moving through. Temperatures should be slightly above
seasonal averages through mid-week but the reinforcing shortwave
will bring a cold front on Thursday and knock readings back down
into the 20s for highs.

Friday and Saturday...After a fairly quiet and seasonable Friday,
there is some divergence in the spread of solutions by Saturday,
with a few solutions showing flow becoming southwesterly again. Will
keep some low POPs that the blended solution gives us.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Sunday evening)
Issued at 554 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

IFR conditions were across much of the area. Some MVFR conditions
were located over parts of west central MN and near BDE. Expect
mostly IFR conditions for tonight. The IFR conditions are expected
to shift south and east on Sun.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for NDZ016-024-
     026>030-038-039-049-052>054.

     Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for NDZ006>008-014-
     015.

MN...Winter Storm Warning until noon CST Sunday for MNZ001>003-
     007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040.

     Winter Weather Advisory until noon CST Sunday for MNZ004>006.

&&

UPDATE...JH
SHORT TERM...BP
LONG TERM...JR
AVIATION...JH

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 30, 3:53 PM CST, 8 hours 7 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
353 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

MNZ002-003-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ038-039-049-052-053-012200-
Norman-Clay-Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-
East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
353 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Heavy snowfall and areas of blowing snow will cause reductions in
visibility and bring very difficult to near impossible travel
conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches are
possible with wind gusts up to 35 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Snowfall and strong winds will come to an end through mid day
Sunday. Poor travel conditions Sunday morning will improve by
Sunday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall and visibility reports are appreciated.

MNZ001-007>009-013>017-NDZ016-024-026>030-054-012200-
West Polk-West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-
Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-
Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-
Western Walsh County-
353 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Heavy snowfall and areas of blowing snow will cause reductions in
visibility and bring very difficult travel conditions. Additional
snow accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are possible with wind gusts
up to 35 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Snowfall and strong winds will come to an end through mid day
Sunday. Poor travel conditions Sunday morning will improve by
Sunday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall and visibility reports are appreciated.

MNZ004>006-NDZ006>008-014-015-012200-
Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-
Ramsey-
353 PM CST Sat Nov 30 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Additional snowfall accumulations of up to 2 inches and patches
of blowing snow may cause reduced visibility and difficult travel
conditions.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Snowfall and strong winds will come to an end through mid day
Sunday. Poor travel conditions Sunday morning will improve by
Sunday afternoon.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall and visibility reports are appreciated.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Nov 30, 9:37 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
937 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0930 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GRAND FORKS             47.92N 97.07W
11/30/2019  M7.0 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            MEASURED AT THE OFFICE.

&&

Local storm report, Nov 30, 9:43 PM CST, 2 hours 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
943 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     HEAVY SNOW       THIEF RIVER FALLS       48.11N 96.18W
11/30/2019  E6.0 INCH        PENNINGTON         MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATE OF NEAR 6 INCHES OR MORE IN TOWN.

&&

Local storm report, Nov 30, 9:46 PM CST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
946 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     HEAVY SNOW       CROOKSTON               47.77N 96.61W
11/30/2019  E7.0 INCH        POLK               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED BY A DEPUTY.

0940 PM     HEAVY SNOW       FERTILE                 47.53N 96.29W
11/30/2019  E6.0 INCH        POLK               MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED BY A DEPUTY.

0945 PM     SNOW             BRECKENRIDGE            46.26N 96.59W
11/30/2019  E4.0 INCH        WILKIN             MN   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            ESTIMATED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

&&

Local storm report, Nov 30, 10:35 PM CST, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1035 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WALCOTT                 46.55N 96.94W
11/30/2019  M10.0 INCH       RICHLAND           ND   PUBLIC

            MEASURED IN DRIVEWAY AND POSTED VIA SOCIAL
            MEDIA.

&&

Local storm report, Nov 30, 10:54 PM CST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1054 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 PM     HEAVY SNOW       HANKINSON               46.07N 96.89W
11/30/2019  M8.0 INCH        RICHLAND           ND   PUBLIC

            MEASURED IN TOWN.

&&

Local storm report, Nov 30, 11:00 PM CST, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1100 PM CST SAT NOV 30 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1000 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NORTHWOOD               47.74N 97.57W
11/30/2019  M7.5 INCH        GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO OF A MEASUREMENT ON TOP
            OF A TRASH CAN.

&&

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, West Polk

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: West Polk forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Norman

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Norman forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pennington

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Pennington forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.066, -96.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Red Lake

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Red Lake forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.872, -96.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Polk

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, North Clearwater

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: North Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Beltrami

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: South Beltrami forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mahnomen

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mahnomen forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.325, -95.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, South Clearwater

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: South Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Clay

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Becker

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: West Becker forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Becker

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: East Becker forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Hubbard

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Hubbard forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.109, -94.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wilkin

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Wilkin forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.357, -96.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, West Otter Tail

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: West Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, East Otter Tail

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: East Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wadena

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Wadena forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.586, -94.969 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Grant

When: December 1, 12:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 45.934, -96.012 (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 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, December 2019

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: 859684, 859685, 859686, 859687, 859688, 859689, 859690, 859691, 859692, 859693, 859694, 859695, 859696, 859697, 859698, 859699, 859700, 859701.