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Overview

A late season winter storm brought sleet and heavy snow to parts of the Upper Mississippi River Valley Monday, March 15th 2021. The sleet and snow moved in from the southwest early that morning, gradually spreading across the area through the day. Early on the snow had to contend with dry air across Wisconsin which delayed the onset east of the river.  It transitioned over to all snow as well.

The storm system was also in a weakening trend as it was exiting. As the snow band lifted northeast, patchy freezing drizzle developed behind it, but accumulations were fairly light and minor.

The bulk of the snow fell west of the Mississippi river, with an enhanced northwest-southeast running band resulting in 6 to 10 inches across parts of southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. There were some gusty winds, but the heavy nature of the snow limited blowing and drifting.

Rochester, MN recorded 7.9 inches of snow, breaking the previous daily record of 2.1 inches from 1998.

 

hourly radar
Hourly radar for Monday, March 15, 2021
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