Storm continues: 3″ to 6″+ Metro; heavier snow north

Update 10:45am:

5" snowfall now at Huttner Weather Lab in Deephaven in west metro. Snow beginning to taper in intensity a bit in much of the metro.

Expect another 1" to 2" before snow fades later today.

Here are some updated snowfall totals:

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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

1003 AM CDT WED MAR 23 2011

..SNOWFALL TOTALS FOR WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND SOUTHERN

MINNESOTA...RECEIVED AS OF 10 AM THIS MORNING...

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH

LOCATION.

SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT

INCHES LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME

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

11.00 5 N ISLE MN MILLE LACS 0752 AM

10.80 12 N BRUCE WI RUSK 0729 AM

10.30 LITTLE FALLS MN MORRISON 0630 AM

10.00 RICE LAKE WI BARRON 0900 AM

9.50 HUTCHINSON MN MCLEOD 0825 AM

9.20 JIM FALLS WI CHIPPEWA 0700 AM

9.00 RUSH CITY MN CHISAGO 0846 AM

9.00 CARLOS MN DOUGLAS 0530 AM

8.80 CLAYTON WI POLK 0842 AM

8.50 ANDOVER MN ANOKA 0900 AM

8.50 MENOMONIE WI DUNN 0900 AM

8.50 MORA MN KANABEC 0700 AM

8.20 BOWLUS MN MORRISON 0724 AM

8.00 WATSON MN CHIPPEWA 0900 AM

8.00 HOLCOMBE WI CHIPPEWA 0811 AM

8.00 LEAF VALLEY MN DOUGLAS 0806 AM

7.60 1 N CAMERON WI BARRON 0556 AM

7.50 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0640 AM

7.50 SAUK RAPIDS MN BENTON 0630 AM

7.00 ISANTI MN ISANTI 0937 AM

7.00 MELROSE MN STEARNS 0800 AM

7.00 2 N GLEN FLORA WI RUSK 0700 AM

7.00 NORTH BRANCH MN CHISAGO 1012 AM

6.00 ONAMIA MN MILLE LACS 0842 AM

6.00 BLOOMER WI CHIPPEWA 0804 AM

6.00 3 E EAST FARMINGTON WI POLK 0630 AM

5.50 2 N WILLMAR MN KANDIYOHI 0600 AM

5.30 ST STEPHEN MN STEARNS 0722 AM

5.20 MURDOCK MN SWIFT 0745 AM

5.20 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0730 AM

5.00 DELANO MN WRIGHT 0900 AM

5.00 5 NE FOREST WI ST. CROIX 0428 AM

4.60 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0655 AM

4.50 ALBANY MN STEARNS 0407 AM

4.10 LONG PRAIRIE MN TODD 0600 AM

4.00 PLYMOUTH MN HENNEPIN 0824 AM

4.00 WATERTOWN MN CARVER 0730 AM

4.00 4 SSE SILVER CREEK MN WRIGHT 0723 AM

3.80 FRIDLEY MN ANOKA 0800 AM

3.80 LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0750 AM

3.40 2 SSE GREENFIELD MN HENNEPIN 0700 AM

2.80 NEW HOPE MN HENNEPIN 0806 AM

2.60 WACONIA MN CARVER 0600 AM

2.60 EAU CLAIRE WI EAU CLAIRE 0527 AM

2.30 ROBERTS WI ST. CROIX 0800 AM

2.20 AUGUSTA WI EAU CLAIRE 0839 AM

2.00 GAYLORD MN SIBLEY 0825 AM

2.00 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0745 AM

2.00 MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0655 AM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

927 AM CDT WED MAR 23 2011

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

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

12.00 8 S HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0830 AM

12.00 STONE LAKE WI WASHBURN 0746 AM

10.00 PINE CENTER MN CROW WING 0713 AM

9.00 1 SW HINCKLEY MN PINE 0600 AM

STILL SNOWING

8.80 5 S BRUNO MN PINE 0900 AM

8.70 7 NW BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0924 AM

8.50 PHILLIPS WI PRICE 0842 AM

8.50 3 N PINE CITY MN PINE 0810 AM

8.50 4 N GRANTSBURG WI BURNETT 0701 AM

8.20 SARONA WI WASHBURN 0646 AM

8.00 5 E LEADER MN CASS 0848 AM

8.00 4 E HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0804 AM

8.00 BUTTERNUT WI ASHLAND 0804 AM

CORRECTION FROM EARLY REPORT.

8.00 SPOONER WI WASHBURN 0400 AM

REPORT FROM WASHBURN COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

7.80 GULL LAKE MN CASS 0924 AM

7.50 WEBB LAKE WI BURNETT 0842 AM

7.50 FORT RIPLEY MN CROW WING 0823 AM

STORM TOTAL SO FAR. STILL SNOWING.

7.20 CLAM LAKE WI ASHLAND 0739 AM

7.00 1 E FINLAYSON MN PINE 0919 AM

6.50 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0608 AM

6.00 SANDSTONE MN PINE 0646 AM

5.00 MOOSE LAKE MN CARLTON 0526 AM

MEASURED BY A SAWYER COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

EMPLOYEE FROM HOME

3.50 3 NE NISSWA MN CROW WING 0836 AM

3.50 BENNETT WI DOUGLAS 0805 AM

3.50 12 N ISLE MN AITKIN 0800 AM

3.00 WRENSHALL MN CARLTON 0844 AM

2.30 HOLYOKE MN CARLTON 0805 AM

2.00 MERCER WI IRON 0747 AM

1.50 SOUTH RANGE WI DOUGLAS 0828 AM

0.30 DULUTH MN ST. LOUIS 0828 AM

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND

1031 AM CDT WED MAR 23 2011

..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...

..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....

..REMARKS..

0700 AM HEAVY SNOW LAKE ITASCA 47.25N 95.21W

03/23/2011 M6.0 INCH CLEARWATER MN CO-OP OBSERVER

0800 AM HEAVY SNOW VERGAS 46.66N 95.80W

03/23/2011 M7.0 INCH OTTER TAIL MN PUBLIC

0800 AM HEAVY SNOW HILLSBORO 47.40N 97.06W

03/23/2011 M16.0 INCH TRAILL ND PUBLIC

0800 AM HEAVY SNOW 6 NE HATTON 47.70N 97.37W

03/23/2011 M12.0 INCH GRAND FORKS ND PUBLIC

Update 9:30am:

Band of heavy snow now rotating into south metro. 2" in past 90 minutes at Weather Lab in Deephaven with moderate to heavy snow. Big fat high quality "stellar dendrites" now coming down and piling up fast.

Weather Lab total now 4" in Deephaven.

Did I put the deck dining table out too soon this year?

"Bosco the weather cat" checks out the snow.

**original post 8:36am**

You gotta hand it to our winter-spring hybrid storm, it's got staying power.

(Click to enlarge)

Snowfall continues in most on central and southern Minnesota today, with a little ice along the I-90 corridor.

Another day in weather paradise. Car off ramp on I-35 at I-494

-Latest Twin Cities radar loop

-MNDOT Traffic cams & info

Here are some snowfall totals as of this morning.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN

812 AM CDT WED MAR 23 2011

...SOME OVERNIGHT SNOW FALL TOTALS FOR WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN AND

SOUTHERN MINNESOTA...RECEIVED SINCE 430 AM THIS MORNING...

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

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

11.00 5 N ISLE MN MILLE LACS 0752 AM

10.80 12 N BRUCE WI RUSK 0729 AM

10.30 LITTLE FALLS MN MORRISON 0630 AM

9.20 JIM FALLS WI CHIPPEWA 0700 AM

9.00 CARLOS MN DOUGLAS 0530 AM

8.20 BOWLUS MN MORRISON 0724 AM

8.00 HOLCOMBE WI CHIPPEWA 0811 AM

8.00 LEAF VALLEY MN DOUGLAS 0806 AM

7.60 1 N CAMERON WI BARRON 0556 AM

7.50 LITCHFIELD MN MEEKER 0640 AM

7.50 SAUK RAPIDS MN BENTON 0630 AM

6.00 BLOOMER WI CHIPPEWA 0804 AM

6.00 3 E EAST FARMINGTON WI POLK 0630 AM

5.30 ST STEPHEN MN STEARNS 0722 AM

5.20 MURDOCK MN SWIFT 0745 AM

5.20 ST CLOUD SCSU MN STEARNS 0730 AM

5.00 5 NE FOREST WI ST. CROIX 0428 AM

4.60 ST CLOUD MN STEARNS 0655 AM

4.50 2 N MENOMONIE WI DUNN 0654 AM

4.10 LONG PRAIRIE MN TODD 0600 AM

4.00 WATERTOWN MN CARVER 0730 AM

4.00 4 SSE SILVER CREEK MN WRIGHT 0723 AM

3.80 FRIDLEY MN ANOKA 0800 AM

3.80 LESTER PRAIRIE MN MCLEOD 0750 AM

3.40 2 SSE GREENFIELD MN HENNEPIN 0700 AM

3.00 REDWOOD FALLS MN REDWOOD 0527 AM

2.60 WACONIA MN CARVER 0600 AM

2.60 EAU CLAIRE WI EAU CLAIRE 0527 AM

2.00 MORGAN MN REDWOOD 0745 AM

2.00 MINNEAPOLIS MN HENNEPIN 0655 AM

2.00 KIMBALL MN STEARNS 0600 AM

1.80 CHASKA MN CARVER 0715 AM

1.60 CHANHASSEN MN CARVER 0655 AM

1.50 DURAND WI PEPIN 0700 AM

1.40 5 SW ST PAUL MN RAMSEY 0722 AM

0.80 2 W PRIOR LAKE MN SCOTT 0806 AM

0.60 JORDAN MN SCOTT 0527 AM

A late shift with this system brought the heavier snow band south a little sooner into parts of the metro, thus raising forecast snowfall totals for the Twin Cities into the 3" to 6"+ range.

The heavy snow band is still laying out as expected, generally along and north of the I-94 corridor from Fargo to Alex, Brainerd. Little Falls, St. Cloud, Milaca, and Hinckley to Rice Lake. 6" to 12"+ can be expected in these areas.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

816 AM CDT WED MAR 23 2011

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

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

12.00 STONE LAKE WI WASHBURN 0746 AM

10.00 PINE CENTER MN CROW WING 0713 AM

9.00 1 SW HINCKLEY MN PINE 0600 AM

STILL SNOWING

8.50 3 N PINE CITY MN PINE 0810 AM

8.50 4 N GRANTSBURG WI BURNETT 0701 AM

8.20 SARONA WI WASHBURN 0646 AM

8.00 4 E HAYWARD WI SAWYER 0804 AM

8.00 BUTTERNUT WI ASHLAND 0804 AM

CORRECTION FROM EARLY REPORT.

8.00 SPOONER WI WASHBURN 0400 AM

REPORT FROM WASHBURN COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

7.20 CLAM LAKE WI ASHLAND 0739 AM

6.50 3 N BRAINERD MN CROW WING 0608 AM

6.00 SANDSTONE MN PINE 0646 AM

5.00 MOOSE LAKE MN CARLTON 0526 AM

MEASURED BY A SAWYER COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE

EMPLOYEE FROM HOME

3.50 BENNETT WI DOUGLAS 0805 AM

3.50 12 N ISLE MN AITKIN 0800 AM

2.30 HOLYOKE MN CARLTON 0805 AM

2.00 MERCER WI IRON 0747 AM

-Latest snowfall totals from Duluth NWS

Expect snowfall of varying intensity through this afternoon before the storm begins to wind down by tonight.

Travel conditions will remain difficult through today and into tonight.

Poor model performance?

Overall the forecast models have handled this storm relatively well, with one exception. The models have had trouble with potential snowfall totals for the Twin Cities.

Here's what the models got right:

-The timing and widespread nature of rainfall Tuesday.

-The notion of heavy rainfall 1"+ totals Tuesday.

-The placement of the heaviest snow band in between the metro and Duluth.

-The snow totals of 6" to 12"+ within the heavy snow band.

The models had trouble with the changeover from rain to snow in the metro, and cranked out some (hopefully!) wildly high snowfall totals for MSP Airport.

The GFS was cranking out 20.3" of snowfall at MSP Tuesday PM. That number came down to 5.6" overnight.

The NAM was cranking out 14.4" Tuesday night.

Numerical forecast models often have trouble with storms during seasonal transitions. This was a true "seat of the pants" forecast for the metro.

Quiet weather ahead:

After the siege of heavy rainfall and snow this week, it looks like we may catch a break Thursday and into the weekend.

A large area of chilly Canadian high pressure will likely steer a weekend storm south of Minnesota, and keep us dry for the most part. To be watched.

Flood updates:

-Lest we take our eye off the ball for too long, here are the latest flood updates.

Warm up ahead??

Next week looks cool... and more importantly mostly dry at this point. There are signs that a major warm up could move in late next week, and into the weekend of April 2nd & 3rd. It looks like 50s could return in about 10 days.

Spring may be around the corner...and down the street just a little bit.

Stay tuned!

PH