Updraft: March 21, 2008 Archive

Narrow band of heavy snow

Posted at 7:57 AM on March 21, 2008 by Craig Edwards (1 Comments)

Early reports from field observations at daybreak suggest a narrow band of heavy snow from west to east across central Minnesota from about Montevideo to Chanhassen. Local radar indicates snowfall likely to continue, heavy at times through the south metro through mid morning.
Twin Cities Radar

Update on snowfall

CE

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widening band of heavy snow

Posted at 9:02 AM on March 21, 2008 by Craig Edwards

A surface low pressure near Des Moines is moving steadily east, but the back edge of the snow remains near Montevideo at mid morning. Snow will begin to taper off and end from west to east. Several inches of fresh snow can be expected in southeast Minnesota, with a total of more than eight inches from Waconia to Red Wing.

Twin Cities Radar

Temperatures are near the thawing point where the heaviest snow is falling, so there may be some melting as the snow falls. Please drive with caution.

Chanhassen reported more than three quarters of an inch of moisture with this heavy wet snow.

Latest Information on winter weather
CE

Snow tapering off

Posted at 2:20 PM on March 21, 2008 by Paul Huttner

Our spring snow event will taper from west to east this evening. The heavy snow bands are shifting gradually into Wisconsin as the storm begins to pull off to the east.

The heaviest snow band set up from near the Minnesota River where Granite Falls got 6 inches of new snow, through Olivia, Hutchinson and right into the southwest metro where Waconia piled up 9.5" The heaviest snow totals come in from Red Wing 10" and Donnelly with11."

Lesser amounts fell in the north metro and areas to the north. Forest Lake reports 1.3" North St. Paul 1.5" and Andover 2"

Here's a more complete listing of area snow totals.

Twin Cities NWS snow totals

A few snow showers will linger into the weekend as weak upper air disturbances ride southward from Canada.

While you may not appreciate having to shovel your walkway or pay the plow guy one more time, this heavy wet spring snow is a bonus for lake and river levels as we move into spring and melt it off over the coming week.

Like all March snows, this one will melt away soon. We'll see 40's and a shot at 50 later next week!

PH