Overview
A prolonged period of heavy snow buried most of the Northland under several inches, and in some cases, around two feet of snow! The snow was driven by a large area of low pressure that slowly progressed from the central Great Plains, over Nebraska, Iowa, and towards the southern Great Lakes region November 30 through December 1, 2019. A persistent, and very strong, easterly flow on the northern side of the low pressure system, helped to generate not only some lake enhanced snow off Lake Superior, but wind gusts between 35 to 45 mph that led to blizzard conditions along the North Shore, including Duluth. Visibilities less than or equal to one quarter of a mile were observed for several hours in Duluth, with numerous vehicles becoming stuck in snow drifts.
In all, 21.7 inches of snow fell in Duluth over the two-day span, which actually broke into the top-10 highest two-day snowfall total in recorded history for Duluth. This particular winter storm placed 9th on that list.
To the right: multiple vehicles stuck in snow drifts along MN Hwy 33 in Cloquet (courtesy of Cloquet Police Dept.).
COVERAGE OF THE BLIZZARD:
Duluth News Tribune: Blizzard Timeline: Stories from Before, During, and After the Storm
MPR News: Duluth, Northeast Minnesota, Dig Out from Nearly Two Feet of Snow
Perfect Duluth Day: Thanksgiving Weekend Snowout 2019
MN DNR: The 2019 Thanksgiving Weekend Winter Storm
Snowfall Maps
Reports from Across the Northland (click image to enlarge)
Closer View to the Twin Ports (click image to enlarge)
Snowfall Map from the National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC) (click to enlarge)
Photos & Video
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Duluth Heights (Carla Lysher) |
Birch Hill (Forrest Bates) |
Esko, MN |
McGregor |
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Silver Bay (24" Reported) |
View of Blizzard From NWS Duluth |
~21" of Snow in Duluth |
Vehicles Stuck along MN Hwy 33 in Cloquet |
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3 miles NE of Twig |
Morgan Park, Duluth |
Nisswa, MN (17" Reported) |
Rice Lake, MN |
Radar and Environment
Radar Imagery
| A radar loop of this event will be posted on this page soon. In the meantime, you can view the radar loop at this webpage. |
Environment
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250 mb Map, Valid on November 30, 2019 at 6 AM This shows a broad upper-level trough, based around the Four Corners region. Flow in excess of 130 knots indicates some very strong dynamics aloft to support such a potent system. |
250 mb Map, Valid on November 30, 2019 at 6 PM By this time, the trough continues progressing eastward, with a deepening upper-level low centered over southeast South Dakota. By this time, heavy snow was reported in Duluth and along the South Shore of Lake Superior. |
500 mb Map, Valid on November 30, 2019 at 6 AM Very strong flow in excess of 100 knots was observed along the base of the trough, with a deep low pressure center over western Nebraska. |
500 mb Map, Valid on November 30, 2019 at 6 PM The 500 mb low pressure continued to decrease, indicating rapid intensification. Little movement was seen in the low position, only now over the South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska border. Heavy snow was ongoing in Duluth at this time. |
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Surface Analysis of the Low Pressure System A Colorado Low formed, and then underwent rapid cyclogenesis, as well as slowed down over Nebraska and Iowa. Ultimately, the low reached a central pressure of 987 mb, along with a very tight pressure gradient along the northern periphery to help support blizzard conditions downwind of Lake Superior. |
Weather Prediction Center's Weather Weather Severity Index Valid during the early afternoon hours of November 29, 2019. This shows the expected magnitude of impacts to society due to winter weather. The WSSI product did a pretty good job depicting Major Impacts for a large portion of our region, with a few areas of Extreme Impacts in Duluth, as well as the Bayfield Peninsula, where travel was virtually impossible for a time! |
Weather Prediction Center's WSSI Map. Valid for the morning hours of November 30, 2019, the day the event began. You can see the Extreme Impacts around the Twin Ports and Bayfield Peninsula have expanded from the previous map, which better captured the impacts of this event. |
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Snowfall Reports
Here is a list of snowfall reports (from highest to lowest):
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Duluth MN 448 PM CST Sun Dec 1 2019 ...SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM 11/30/2019 to 12/1/2019... Location Amount Time/Date Lat/Lon 2 NNW Washburn 31.0 in 1157 AM 12/01 46.70N/90.91W 4 ENE Cornucopia 26.0 in 0800 AM 12/01 46.88N/91.02W 4 SSE Herbster 24.0 in 0835 AM 12/01 46.78N/91.24W Duluth 8.0 NE 23.5 in 0912 AM 12/01 46.88N/92.01W 5 S Herbster 23.0 in 0238 PM 12/01 46.77N/91.24W Duluth 7.9 SW 22.0 in 0900 AM 12/01 46.70N/92.23W NWS Duluth 21.7 in 1200 PM 12/01 46.84N/92.21W 3 NE Holyoke 21.6 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.49N/92.34W Blueberry 21.5 in 1049 AM 12/01 46.58N/91.68W 8 N Castle Danger 21.0 in 0245 PM 12/01 47.24N/91.53W 7 NNW Two Harbors 20.8 in 0326 PM 12/01 47.12N/91.71W Gary New Duluth 20.0 in 1035 AM 12/01 46.68N/92.21W Madeline Island 20.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.78N/90.77W 3 N Mahtowa 19.9 in 1222 PM 12/01 46.61N/92.64W 2 NNE Cloquet 19.5 in 0915 AM 12/01 46.74N/92.45W 5 SSE Libby 18.2 in 0942 AM 12/01 46.71N/93.29W 1 WSW Maple 18.2 in 0311 PM 12/01 46.58N/91.74W Saginaw 18.0 in 1002 AM 12/01 46.86N/92.44W Ashland 17.9 in 0151 PM 12/01 46.58N/90.88W Poplar 17.8 in 0206 PM 12/01 46.59N/91.79W 2 NNW Mellen 17.5 in 1243 PM 12/01 46.35N/90.67W Solon Springs 1.2 W 17.2 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.35N/91.84W Duluth 1.4 NNW 17.0 in 0800 AM 12/01 46.80N/92.11W 6 ENE Rice Lake 17.0 in 0753 AM 12/01 46.94N/92.01W 3 E Sand Bay 17.0 in 0730 AM 12/01 46.93N/90.82W Gile 16.6 in 1122 AM 12/01 46.43N/90.22W Spooner 10.6 WNW 16.4 in 0830 AM 12/01 45.88N/92.10W Duluth 3.0 NE 16.2 in 0600 AM 12/01 46.82N/92.06W Poplar 2.0 E 16.2 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.58N/91.75W Grand View 16.0 in 0220 PM 12/01 46.37N/91.11W 1 NNW Lake Nebagamon 16.0 in 0711 AM 12/01 46.51N/91.70W Breezy Point 15.2 in 0105 PM 12/01 46.60N/94.22W Moose Lake 15.2 in 0102 PM 12/01 46.45N/92.77W Duluth 15.4 NNW 15.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.99N/92.24W Oulu 15.0 in 1100 AM 12/01 46.63N/91.53W 7 ESE Superior 15.0 in 0130 PM 12/01 46.66N/91.90W Two Harbors 2.1 NW 15.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 47.05N/91.71W 3 E Wright 15.0 in 0600 AM 12/01 46.68N/92.95W 4 N Amnicon Falls S.P. 14.8 in 0950 AM 12/01 46.66N/91.90W Kettle River 14.8 in 0145 PM 12/01 46.49N/92.88W 4 WSW Northwoods Beach 14.5 in 0340 PM 12/01 45.89N/91.48W 7 WSW Pine River 14.5 in 0142 PM 12/01 46.69N/94.54W 2 NE Duluth 14.0 in 0324 PM 12/01 46.80N/92.08W 1 N Superior 14.0 in 0307 PM 12/01 46.73N/92.09W Moose Lake 13.5 in 0610 AM 12/01 46.45N/92.77W 1 N Motley 13.5 in 1205 PM 12/01 46.35N/94.65W 4 NNW New Post 13.5 in 0300 PM 12/01 45.95N/91.22W 4 WSW Northwoods Beach 13.3 in 1020 AM 12/01 45.90N/91.48W Oakland 9.0 ENE 13.3 in 0700 AM 12/01 45.95N/92.22W Brainerd 1.4 NNW 13.1 in 0900 AM 12/01 46.37N/94.21W Hinckley 13.0 in 0913 AM 12/01 46.02N/92.94W 6 SE Saint Mathias 13.0 in 1245 PM 12/01 46.17N/94.15W Two Harbors 13.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 47.02N/91.66W 2 ENE Barrows 12.5 in 0748 AM 12/01 46.32N/94.21W 3 N Brainerd 12.5 in 1130 AM 12/01 46.40N/94.19W 2 SW Hinckley 12.0 in 0125 PM 12/01 46.00N/92.96W Pine River 12.0 in 1004 AM 12/01 46.72N/94.40W 1 W Two Harbors 12.0 in 1023 AM 12/01 47.03N/91.70W Butternut 3 N 11.5 in 0600 AM 12/01 46.05N/90.53W Pence 0.1 E 11.5 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.42N/90.27W 6 SE Saint Mathias 11.5 in 0830 AM 12/01 46.17N/94.15W 2.0 SE Spooner 11.5 in 0800 AM 12/01 45.80N/91.87W 4 N Hayward 11.2 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.07N/91.48W 4 N Hayward 11.2 in 0712 AM 12/01 46.07N/91.48W Brimson 11.1 in 0832 AM 12/01 47.28N/91.87W 4 SE Britt 11.0 in 0947 AM 12/01 47.59N/92.51W Bigfork 10.5 in 0830 AM 12/01 47.75N/93.65W Mercer 7.0 NNE 10.5 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.27N/90.03W 1 W Silver Bay 10.2 in 0937 AM 12/01 47.29N/91.30W Clam Lake 4W 10.0 in 0745 AM 12/01 46.17N/90.98W 3 E Payne 10.0 in 0840 AM 12/01 47.10N/92.53W 1 WNW Chisholm 9.5 in 0745 AM 12/01 47.49N/92.89W Canyon 4.6 NNE 9.5 in 0800 AM 12/01 47.10N/92.42W Hayward 9.2 NNE 9.5 in 0600 AM 12/01 46.13N/91.41W Keewatin 0.2 SSE 9.3 in 0800 AM 12/01 47.40N/93.08W Cohasset 7.6 NNW 9.2 in 0800 AM 12/01 47.34N/93.70W 12 N Isle 9.2 in 0800 AM 12/01 46.32N/93.50W Phillips 1.3 S 9.2 in 0600 AM 12/01 45.68N/90.40W Hayward 9.7 NE 9.0 in 0800 AM 12/01 46.12N/91.35W 7 WSW Pine River 9.0 in 0750 AM 12/01 46.69N/94.54W Brainerd 7.7 SSE 8.8 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.25N/94.15W 1 NW Chisholm 8.8 in 0740 AM 12/01 47.50N/92.89W 3 W Phillips 8.8 in 0750 AM 12/01 45.70N/90.46W Phillips 0.4 SSW 8.5 in 0700 AM 12/01 45.69N/90.40W Grand Rapids 6.2 SSW 8.4 in 0600 AM 12/01 47.14N/93.57W Babbitt 8.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 47.71N/91.95W Celina 2 E 8.0 in 1000 AM 12/01 47.87N/93.03W Cotton 5.7 ESE 8.0 in 0800 AM 12/01 47.15N/92.36W 6 ESE Phillips 8.0 in 0851 AM 12/01 45.65N/90.29W Cass Lake 7.4 in 0800 AM 12/01 47.38N/94.61W Bovey 15.9 N 7.2 in 0700 AM 12/01 47.53N/93.40W 1 S Ely 7.0 in 0816 AM 12/01 47.89N/91.85W Ely 7.0 in 0240 PM 12/01 47.90N/91.86W Northome 7.0 in 0755 AM 12/01 47.87N/94.27W Grantsburg 0.6 SSW 6.5 in 0800 AM 12/01 45.77N/92.69W 6 SE La Prairie 6.5 in 1115 AM 12/01 47.16N/93.42W 4 NE Nisswa 6.5 in 0843 AM 12/01 46.54N/94.25W 3 NE Nisswa 6.5 in 0700 AM 12/01 46.50N/94.27W 8 NNW Coleraine 6.0 in 0816 AM 12/01 47.41N/93.49W 1 WSW Ely 6.0 in 0812 AM 12/01 47.90N/91.86W Grand Rapids 6.1 N 6.0 in 0700 AM 12/01 47.31N/93.55W Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. We thank all volunteer weather observers for their dedication. Not all data listed are considered official. Snow totals listed above may not all be storm total amounts.
Forecasts
Here is a look at the progression of our forecasts, as well as notable social media content from this storm:
Facebook Live video at 1130 AM Friday, November 29, 2019: https://www.facebook.com/100067209588257/videos/2557804344254948
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