Heavy Snow in Minnesota, May 8 to 9, 2019

Name: Heavy Snow in Minnesota, May 8 to 9, 2019
Start: 2019-05-08T15:00
End: 2019-05-09T08:00
Location: Minnesota

May 8 to 9, 2019 · NWS DLH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 DLH wrote it up.

An area of low pressure moved from eastern Kansas into southwestern Wisconsin May 8 into May 9. An area of snow along an inverted trough from the low spread across northeast Minnesota the night of the 8th. With this system arriving overnight, the warm May sun did not play a role in keeping snowfall accumulations down and snow was able to rapidly accumulate. However, most of the snow then melted during the day on the 9th with only an inch remaining on the ground by the next morning. Snowfall totals of 8 to 12 inches were seen in the Twin Ports area with the Gary New Duluth area seeing 12 inches, Wales receiving 11.5 inches and the NWS office seeing 10.6 inches of accumulation.

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 Duluth, MN wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 8, 2:26 PM CST, 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 8, 2:26 PM CST, 34 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Duluth MN
326 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 326 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

A strong low pressure system will cross Wisconsin tonight into
Thursday and due to its track is expected to bring significant
snowfall accumulations to portions of the Northland. It's really
difficult to find a model that does not give several inches of
snowfall to the area: NAM12, HREF, HRRR, GFS, Euro, you name it,
the only exceptions are a few members of the WPC super ensemble
give lower values, but overall all signs point to an impactful
snow event in early May. The ingredients are there: moisture,
cold, and forcing - even the solar component will be ruled out as
this system largely does its thing in the nocturnal hours. There
are a few caveats to watch for, one being the rain/snow line and
it's northward progression which will be come more apparent in the
upcoming hours. Already seeing some mPING reports of a rain snow
mix near Brainerd. The second caveat is that temperatures are
starting out a little warmer than I would like to see, but dry air
will cause those to wet bulb to values in the low to mid 30s at
which you can still receive snowfall due to the colder air aloft.
Precipitation rates will also help with dynamic cooling to further
pull the profile to the cold side. Thermodynamic profiles show a
deep, deep saturated layer with plenty of ice to initiate snowfall
which will likely overcome any surface temperatures that may be
relatively warm. Surface temperatures on Lake Superior are only
36F which should not amount to much "safety" in keeping snow
confined to "away from the lake" areas though there still may be a
small buffer directly adjacent to the lake that is spared. The
heaviest snowfall rates should fall before midnight in most
locations. For all of these reasons, raised a winter storm warning
to highlight the potential significance of this storm and to
bring attention to the impacts associated with such a late season
storm with the main one being: power outages.

The snow moves out of the area on Thursday morning from west to
east.

.LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 326 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

Weak high pressure will build across the region Thursday night
and Friday with a period of quiet conditions expected.
Temperatures will remain below normal for the end of the week with
lows in the upper 20s to low 30s. Highs on Friday will reach 50
degrees near Grand Marais and the upper 50s in central and north-
central Minnesota. An area of low pressure will pivot from the
Canadian Prairies to the northern Great Lakes Friday night through
Sunday. Temperatures will be warm enough for rain. There is a
chance of thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening across much
of the Northland. Quiet and dry weather returns Monday before
another clipper moves through the region late Monday night and
Tuesday. Confidence in the timing of that system is low given
considering the spread in deterministic solutions.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday afternoon)
Issued at 103 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

A low pressure system will move from southwest Iowa to near Green
Bay, WI by 18Z Thursday. Precipitation will spread northward into
the terminals this afternoon or this evening. I have the lowest
confidence in precipitation occurring at INL, but seems likely
everywhere else. Precipitation will likely change to all snow
tonight at DLH but may remain a mix at BRD/HIB/HYR. Winds will be
gusty later this afternoon and overnight as the pressure gradient
tightens. Ceilings and visibilities will trend into the MVFR/IFR
range overnight during the period when precipitation is most
intense. The system will lift out of the terminals Thursday
morning with conditions gradually improving.

&&

.MARINE...
Issued at 326 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

A storm system centered over northwest Missouri this morning will
move northeastward to southern Wisconsin by Thursday morning to
western Quebec by Friday morning. This trajectory places western
Lake Superior to the north of the system with a tightening
pressure gradient expected today and tonight. Strong northeast
winds will develop by this afternoon and continue overnight. Gale-
force gusts to 35 knots are likely over much of western Lake
Superior. A Gale Warning is in effect for areas near the Twin
Ports and will extend up the north shore to Taconite Harbor and
east to include the south shore zones at 03Z. Waves will build to
5 to 10 feet by 12Z Thursday morning. Wind and waves will
gradually subside through the day Thursday. Weak high pressure
will move through the area Thursday night and Friday with winds of
10 knots or less.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DLH  32  46  32  56 / 100  90  10  10
INL  35  52  30  57 /  20  10  10   0
BRD  34  52  32  60 /  90  30   0   0
HYR  34  44  32  57 / 100  90  10  10
ASX  33  43  33  56 / 100  90  10  10

&&

.DLH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WI...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT
     Thursday for WIZ003-004-006>008.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT
     Thursday for WIZ001-002.

MN...Winter Weather Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT
     Thursday for MNZ011-019-026-035-036-038.

     Winter Storm Warning from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT
     Thursday for MNZ012-020-021-037.

LS...Small Craft Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for LSZ121-142-
     143-146>148.

     Gale Warning from 10 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Thursday for
     LSZ121-142-143-146>148.

     Gale Warning until 10 AM CDT Thursday for LSZ144-145.

     Small Craft Advisory until 4 PM CDT Thursday for LSZ140-141.

&&

SHORT TERM...Wolfe
LONG TERM...Huyck
AVIATION...Huyck
MARINE...Huyck

Hazardous weather outlook, May 8, 2:40 PM CST, 20 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Duluth MN
340 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

MNZ010>012-018>021-025-026-033>038-WIZ001>004-006>009-091130-
Koochiching-North St. Louis-Northern Cook/Northern Lake-
North Itasca-Central St. Louis-Southern Lake/North Shore-
Southern Cook/North Shore-North Cass-South Itasca-South Cass-
Crow Wing-Northern Aitkin-South Aitkin-Carlton/South St. Louis-
Pine-Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland-Iron-Burnett-Washburn-Sawyer-Price-
340 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight

Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories are in effect
for much of the Northland for significant snowfall accumulations
tonight into Thursday morning. Generally 4 to 8 inches of snowfall
is expected in the warned area, with locally higher amounts
possible. Snow totals elsewhere will range from a dusting up to 4
inches. Expect slippery travel, reduced visibilities, and power
outages.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Snow will taper off Thursday morning. Roads may remain slippery
through the morning hours.

Isolated thunderstorms are possible Saturday afternoon and
evening as another area of low pressure moves through the region.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow spotters are requested to report their snowfall measurements
and tonight to the National Weather Service.

LSZ121-140>148-091130-
Bayfield to Oak Point WI-Grand Portage to Grand Marais MN-
Grand Marais to Taconite Harbor MN-
Taconite Harbor to Silver Bay Harbor MN-
Silver Bay Harbor to Two Harbors MN-Two Harbors to Duluth MN-
Duluth MN to Port Wing WI-Port Wing to Sand Island WI-
Sand Island to Bayfield WI-Oak Point to Saxon Harbor WI-
340 PM CDT Wed May 8 2019

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of the Nearshore
waters of western Lake Superior.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and Tonight

Strong northeast winds will develop tonight with gusts between 25
and 35 knots expected. A combination of Small Craft Advisories
and Gale Warnings are in effect for the nearshore waters of
western Lake Superior.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Strong northeast winds will continue Thursday morning. Winds will
gradually back northerly and eventually northwesterly during the
day and wind speeds will diminish. Small Craft Advisories remain
in effect for portions of the north shore and additional
advisories will likely be needed after the Gale Warnings expire.

Quiet weather returns Thursday night and Friday and hazardous
weather is not expected through the remainder of the period.

Wolfe/Huyck

More information may be obtained at the following web address:
http://www.weather.gov/duluth (all lower case)

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Southern St. Louis / Carlton

When: May 8, 3:00 PM CST to May 9, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Southern St. Louis / Carlton forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 47.091, -92.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When: May 8, 4:00 PM CST to May 9, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Northern Cook / Northern Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.670, -90.975 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Southern Lake

When: May 8, 4:00 PM CST to May 9, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Southern Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 47.557, -91.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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, May 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: 828897, 828895, 828896.