Golden Snow Shovel: Isanti stacks up 19 inches, 60s return this weekend

Okay winter, we surrender.

  • Isanti [Isanti Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports SNOW of 19.00 INCH at 12:58 AM CDT

  • North Branch [Chisago Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports SNOW of 17.50 INCH at 6:25 AM CDT --

  • Nowthen [Anoka Co, MN] PUBLIC reports SNOW of 17.00 INCH at 10:24 PM CDT -

  • Cambridge [Isanti Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports SNOW of 16.00 INCH at 6:25 AM CDT

  • 5 NE Forest Lake [Chisago Co, MN] CO-OP OBSERVER reports SNOW of 14.00 INCH at 7:00 AM CDT -- STORM TOTAL

  • 1 NW Rogers [Hennepin Co, MN] TRAINED SPOTTER reports SNOW of 12.70 INCH at 8:00 PM CDT --

Here's the latest (and hopefully final) snowfall map of the extended heavy spring snow season.

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1417 snow map
Twin Cities NWS

Drought denter?

The good news about all that snow and rain that fell south of the rain-snow line? With now unfrozen ground underneath, some of that moisture may soak into parched soils.

Here's today's latest Drought Monitor map.

1417 dm20140415_MN_trd
USDA/ University of Nebraska Lincoln

Soaking it up?

Communities south of the rain-snow line soaked up between .5 and 1 inch of rain Wednesday.

Here's a look at soils temps, which have been running above freezing with frost out of the ground in recent days at the University of Minnesota Research Station in Waseca.

1417 was-soil
University of Minnesota

Ice out!

No doubt the rain and coming mild temps will speed up lake ice out across southern Minnesota. Some of the smaller metro lakes are already ice free.

Here's that latest ice out map from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 

1417 ice out
Minnesota DNR

 

Wanted: Warming trend

Here's a map that might do your heart good. It looks like the next wave of milder air is coming in a little stronger than anticipated. That should mean temps soaring into the 60s as early as Saturday and Easter Sunday, with 70 degrees possible early next week.

The next low pressure wave brings a chance for rain and some thunder Saturday.

1417 kky
Weatherspark

Active next two weeks?

Our major pattern shift to a milder (and wetter) flow looks to last through next week.

1417 kky2
Weatherspark

The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Global Forecast System crank up another potent (but much warmer) low next Wednesday and Thursday.

1417 gfs
NOAA via IPS Meteostar

The medium range GFS suggests a series of strong low pressure systems every three to five days that could bring an active pattern with potentially heavy rains, thunder and a potential severe risk during the next two weeks. The longer range GFS hints at over 4 inches of rain in the next 16 days.

Enjoy the milder air ahead. It looks like this spring could transition into an active flash flood/severe weather season in the next few weeks.

Stay tuned!