Whitest Christmas in 14 years?

7 snowstorms in 6 weeks. That's the recipe for a white Christmas in Minnesota in the epic weather year of 2010.

Our latest storm has dumped another shot of snow on Minnesota, and a bonus coating of glaze ice to boot.

As of Tuesday morning there's a cool 14" of snow on the ground (snow depth) at Twin Cities Airport. If we maintain that number into Saturday (Christmas Day) it will be the "whitest Christmas" in 14 years. The last time we had this much snow on the ground on Christmas Day was 1996...with 18 inches.

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The whitest Christmas ever in the metro was 20" in 1983.

The historical chances of a white Christmas are about 72% in the metro. It's closer to 100% near Ely and in northeast Minnesota, and about 55% around Pipestone in southwest Minnesota.

USA-Extensive snow cover:

It looks like a white Christmas for much of the nation this year. As of today 46% of the lower 48 states is covered by snow according to data from NOHRSC.

It's interesting to note that the USA snow cover map looks very similar to last year at this time in terms of overall coverage. One notable exception is the lack of snow cover in the northeast USA, including Boston and New York City.

Latest storm dumps more snow:

Monday's quick hitting storm swept through southern Minnesota with a fury, and still lingers in the north today. It did make for a pretty interesting "Snow & Ice Bowl 2010" for the Vikings last night. Playing outdoors in that was weather probably the most interesting part of the game for Vikings fans. (But that opening touchdown drive was pretty sweet! If that's the last touchdown drive we get to remember Brett Favre by in Minnesota, it works for me.)

Here are some snow totals from around the state from our most recent snowstorm.

Twin Cities NWS:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

950 PM CST MON DEC 20 2010

...INITIAL SNOWFALL TOTALS FROM THE DECEMBER 20TH WINTER

STORM...

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET

CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE

FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME

------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------

7.50 ELLENDALE MN STEELE 0607 PM

7.50 MADELIA MN WATONWAN 0345 PM

7.00 1 ESE OWATONNA MN STEELE 0500 PM

7.00 NNW ST CLAIR MN BLUE EARTH 0328 PM

6.30 SACRED HEART MN RENVILLE 0828 PM

6.30 OWATONNA MN STEELE 0700 PM

6.10 2 W PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0600 PM

6.00 FARIBAULT MN RICE 0901 PM

6.00 GLENCOE MN MCLEOD 0802 PM

6.00 NEW MARKET MN SCOTT 0554 PM

6.00 ST JAMES MN WATONWAN 0510 PM

6.00 NORTH MANKATO MN NICOLLET 0435 PM

6.00 JANESVILLE MN WASECA 0300 PM

5.70 5 S FARMINGTON MN DAKOTA 0730 PM

5.50 1 SE NORTHFIELD MN RICE 0645 PM

5.20 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0540 PM

5.00 1 SSW DELANO MN WRIGHT 0645 PM

5.00 LAKEVILLE MN DAKOTA 0630 PM

5.00 3 SSW BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0620 PM

5.00 CREDIT RIVER MN SCOTT 0600 PM

5.00 1 ESE CHASKA MN CARVER 0600 PM

5.00 ST MICHAEL MN WRIGHT 0551 PM

4.60 MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0600 PM

MINNEAPOLIS - ST. PAUL INTL AIRPORT

4.60 1 E BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0549 PM

4.50 GOODHUE MN GOODHUE 0805 PM

4.50 INVER GROVE HEIGHTS MN DAKOTA 0716 PM

4.50 BELGRADE MN STEARNS 0630 PM

4.50 FARMINGTON MN DAKOTA 0607 PM

4.50 WINTHROP MN SIBLEY 0357 PM

4.40 LONG LAKE MN HENNEPIN 0600 PM

4.40 5 SW ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0541 PM

4.30 RED WING MN GOODHUE 0844 PM

4.30 BURNSVILLE MN DAKOTA 0745 PM

4.20 BLOOMINGTON MN HENNEPIN 0940 PM

4.20 ANNANDALE MN WRIGHT 0531 PM

4.00 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0915 PM

4.00 SAVAGE MN SCOTT 0710 PM

4.00 PLYMOUTH MN HENNEPIN 0622 PM

4.00 1 SSW OAK PARK MN ANOKA 0520 PM

3.90 FRIDLEY MN ANOKA 0725 PM

3.90 2 N WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0540 PM

3.70 EDINA MN HENNEPIN 0620 PM

3.70 MURDOCK MN SWIFT 0450 PM

3.60 RICHFIELD MN HENNEPIN 0836 PM

3.30 SAUK RAPIDS MN BENTON 0515 PM

3.30 1 W EAGAN MN DAKOTA 0408 PM

3.00 HASTINGS MN DAKOTA 0736 PM

3.00 STILLWATER MN WASHINGTON 0722 PM

3.00 2 SSW CAMBRIDGE MN ISANTI 0630 PM

2.80 MAHTOMEDI MN WASHINGTON 0707 PM

2.70 ANDOVER MN ANOKA 0716 PM

2.70 LONG PRAIRIE MN TODD 0557 PM

2.50 FOREST LAKE MN WASHINGTON 0643 PM

2.00 8 S HILLMAN MN MORRISON 0559 PM

1.00 12 N BRUCE WI RUSK 0940 PM

1.00 2 S RICE LAKE WI BARRON 0551 PM

ICE REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME

------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------

0.10 MONTICELLO MN WRIGHT 0732 PM

Duluth NWS:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

753 AM CST TUE DEC 21 2010

THE FOLLOWING ARE SNOW REPORTS FROM THE STORM THAT HAS AFFECTED THE

NORTHLAND ON DEC 20 AND 21. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL

AMOUNT AND SOME OF THESE VALUES WILL CHANGE AS THE SNOW WINDS DOWN.

GREAT APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO OUR NETWORK OF SNOW SPOTTERS AND

OBSERVERS THROUGHOUT THE NORTHLAND.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME

------ ----------------------- -- -------------- -------

9.60 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0600 AM

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE

8.00 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0457 AM

NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR COLLEGE

8.00 9 NE HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0415 AM

TOWN OF SEELEY, WI. SAWYER COUNTY.

7.50 PARK FALLS WI PRICE 0712 AM

7.50 1 W CLAM LAKE WI BAYFIELD 0614 AM

7.50 BAYFIELD WI BAYFIELD 0558 AM

7.20 BENNETT WI DOUGLAS 0552 AM

7.00 7 NW TWO HARBORS MN LAKE 0700 AM

7.00 HAWTHORNE WI DOUGLAS 0614 AM

6.90 4 W WASHBURN WI BAYFIELD 0643 AM

6.80 MAPLE WI DOUGLAS 0750 AM

6.60 BUTTERNUT WI ASHLAND 0449 AM

6.50 CULVER MN ST. LOUIS 0626 AM

6.50 POPLAR WI DOUGLAS 0429 AM

6.10 6 NE CLOVERLAND WI DOUGLAS 0705 AM

MOUTH OF THE BRULE

6.00 N GRAND RAPIDS MN ITASCA 0415 AM

5.50 SILVER BAY MN LAKE 0700 AM

5.50 CORNUCOPIA WI BAYFIELD 0640 AM

5.00 2 W HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0637 AM

5.00 MOOSE LAKE MN CARLTON 0740 AM

4.70 HOLYOKE MN CARLTON 0549 AM

4.20 COTTON MN ST. LOUIS 0703 AM

4.20 NASHWAUK MN ITASCA 0532 AM

4.00 CHISHOLM MN ST. LOUIS 0642 AM

SNOW DEPTH IS 16 INCHES

4.00 1 W WENTWORTH WI DOUGLAS 0640 AM

AMNICON RIVER VALLEY

4.00 12 SE SUPERIOR WI DOUGLAS 0640 AM

4.00 GILE WI IRON 0629 AM

4.00 5 N PILLAGER MN CASS 0626 AM

3.80 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0629 AM

3.50 FREDENBERG MN ST. LOUIS 0643 AM

ISLAND LAKE

3.30 SARONA WI WASHBURN 0547 AM

3.00 WEBB LAKE WI BURNETT 0415 AM

2.80 DANBURY WI BURNETT 0534 AM

2.00 EMBARRASS MN ST. LOUIS 0620 AM

La Crosse (Rochester) NWS:

Rochester has tied a record today for the most snow on the ground ever recorded! Here are the details.

RECORD EVENT REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LA CROSSE WI

637 AM CST TUE DEC 21 2010

...ALL TIME SNOW DEPTH RECORD TIED AT ROCHESTER MN...

ON DECEMBER 21ST...THE OFFICIAL SNOW OBSERVER NEAR ROCHESTER

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REPORTED 29 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND.

THIS TIED JANUARY 25 1982 FOR THE MOST SNOW EVER ON THE GROUND.

DAILY SNOW DEPTH RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1908.

-La Crosse (& SE MN) area totals form Monday's storm:

Red River Valley NWS totals here.

Sioux Falls NWS totals here.

Next system: A big maybe for metro

The next chance for snow comes Thursday. It looks like the brunt of the storm will slide through southwest Minnesota and Iowa, with the Twin Cities on the edge of snowfall. We'll need to let the models resolve the northward extent of snow with this system, but plan on snow if you are travelling south or southwest Thursday.

Enjoy the milder temps until then!

PH