A strong low pressure system developed east of the Rockies in Colorado and then moved through the Great Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley from the evening of March 30th through the evening of March 31st. This system produced heavy snow across west central Minnesota, along with wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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 ABR wrote it up.
A strong low pressure system developed east of the Rockies in Colorado and then moved through the Great Plains and into the Upper Mississippi Valley from the evening of March 30th through the evening of March 31st. This system produced heavy snow across west central Minnesota, along with wind gusts of 35 to 45 mph. Some of the heaviest amounts include 9 inches a mile north-northeast of Browns Valley and 8 inches 2 miles northwest of Big Stone City. Significant blowing and drifting snow resulted.
Impacts included numerous school closures, impassable or closed roads, many stranded vehicles and vehicle accidents, and power outages. In addition, this heavy snow further set the stage for significant spring flooding.
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 Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 30, 5:12 PM CST, 20 hours 48 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
A COOP observer measured 8 inches of snow 2 miles northwest of Big Stone City.
A COOP observer measured 9 inches of snow in Browns Valley.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, March 2023
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: 1088393, 1088394.