It is no April Fool’s Day joke. We were smacked hard by snow and blizzard conditions overnight across central and southern Minnesota.
With officially 8.5 inches at MSP where records are kept, we have now received 89.7 inches this winter. The Twin Cities has now jumped to number three in all-time seasonal snowfalls. Only 1981-82 (95 inches) and 1983-84 (98.6 inches) are higher.
Top Five Snowiest Winters in the Twin Cities 1884-2011 (Courtesy of the Minnesota DNR)
1. 1983-84 ....... 98.6
2. 1981-82 ....... 95.0
3. 2022-23 …. 89.7
4. 1950-51 ....... 88.9
5. 2010-11 ....... 86.6
WCCO Chief Meteorologist Paul Douglas told Steve Simpson this morning what he saw for totals across the region.
“There was a big variation in snowfall amounts across the area,” says Douglas. “Plymouth coming in at 7.8 inches of snow. South Saint Paul picked up about seven. Close to downtown Saint Paul, about 6.5 inches. 9.2 inches in Fridley. 9.6 inches in Falcon Heights. There was 8.4 out in Montrose, in Wright County.”
It lead to some very difficult driving conditions, especially with the high winds that come with a blizzard. Troopers with Minnesota State Patrol were busy during the storm. They report that between 4:30 Friday afternoon and 7:30 Saturday morning, they responded statewide to 275 crashes, 532 spinouts and 15 jackknifed semis.
The heavy, wet snow caused issues beyond the roads. Former WCCO meteorologist Mike Lynch shared photos of his home in Apple Valley, where a tree was taken down right in front of his garage.
As for our upcoming weather, there is a chance of another bought with snow Tuesday and Wednesday, although Douglas thinks as of now, it looks mostly like rain for the Twin Cities with snow staying mainly north.
“I hope this is it. I think this is it, but who knows? Sometimes it snows in April, right? I wish this was an April fool's day joke. But no such luck. That said, I see a lot of fifties by mid-April. Hang in there. Milder days ahead.”