Minnesota WeatherTalk

Good Riddance to February: Suffice to say February was a memorable month. It was the snowiest February in history for many cities in our region, as well as very cold. On a statewide basis, February of 2019 will be the 2nd wettest in history (trailing only 1922 which had a lot of rain), and tied for 11th coldest in history with 1910.

Some of the communities with long-term climate records that reported their snowiest ever month of February included:
Austin 32.5”
Worthington 35.9”
Minnesota City 45.7”
Grand Meadow 35.2”
Faribault 38.4”
Waseca 30.3”
Winnebago 32.4”
Rushford 38.0”
Theilman 45.5”
Zumbrota 39.0”
Wabasha 41.6”
Marshall 37.9”
Redwood Falls 35.8”
Tract 35.0”
MSP 39.0” (also 4th snowiest month in history)
Owatonna 52.5” (a new statewide record for the month of February)
Rochester 40.0”
St Cloud 27.6”
Duluth 36.4”
Two Harbors 7NW 40.6”
Kabatogama 34.2”
New Ulm 37.3”
Eau Claire, WI 53.7”

During the month 152 daily snowfall records were tied or broken within the Minnesota clima…

Snowiest February Continues: “The best cross country skiing conditions ever for the month of February” is a common expression this month, at least across many parts of the state including the Twin Cities.

In addition to the 120 daily snowfall records set or tied this month in the Minnesota climate station network, Wednesday of this week (February 20th) brought yet another record-setting snowfall to at least 25 climate stations in Minnesota, including 11.3 inches at New Ulm.

So far over a dozen climate stations in Minnesota have reported total February snowfall of 30 inches or more, with a station near Mankato reporting 40.2 inches so far this month. Only 7 Minnesota climate stations have ever reported over 40 inches of February snowfall. With nearly a week to go in the month, some climate stations may approach the all-time February snowfall record of 51 inches set at Pigeon River Bridge (Cook County) in 1939.

Many climate stations have already reported the snowiest February in their …

Snowy February Continues: Many climate observers have reported measurable snowfalls on over half of the days so far this month. Over 45 climate stations have reported 20 or more inches of snow so far, on a pace to be the snowiest February in state history. Just north of Two Harbors they have received over 30 inches for the month. In addition, over 120 daily snowfall records have been set this month in the Minnesota climate network, including 8.0 inches at Hokah and La Crescent on the 12th.

Some climate stations have already reported their snowiest month of February in history. Some of these stations include:
Eau Claire, WI 28.7 inches
Hastings 26.7 inches
Lake city 25.0 inches
Theilman 23.7 inches
Leech Lake 24.5 inches
Minnesota City 22.5 inches
Wabasha 22.1 inches

NOAA-National Weather Service reports that the Twin Cities with 22.2 inches of snowfall in February ranks 4th most historically. MSP reported new daily record snowfalls on February 7th (5.9”), February 10th (5.9”), a…

Cold and Snowy February in 2019: The cold temperature trend from the second half of January has re-established itself around the state in February, but this time coupled with widespread significant snowfalls (the first of which came over February 4-5). For many climate stations in the state this month is already the snowiest of the winter season so far, with reports of 10 to 20 inches in many places. Cloquet and Moose Lake reported over 10 inches alone on February 7th, while MSP reported a new record amount for the date of 5.7 inches. Many parts of the state were under a Blizzard Warning for February 7th.

All of the models point to a continuation of the cold and snow for much of the month. Historically, February is the snowiest month of the snow season only about a tenth of all years, so this is kind of rare. The last time February was the snowiest month was the winter of 2015-2016. We all know that March and April can bring over 20 inches of snow, so it is perhaps too early t…