April 13-15, 2018, Winter Storm Review

Overview

Winter gave the Northland a firm reminder this past weekend that it was not ready to give way to spring. This was an unusually strong mid-April snowstorm. The culprit area of low pressure tracked pretty far away, slowly moving from the Central Plains to south of the Great Lakes before lifting into eastern Canada. Yet, it brought heavy snow as far north and west as northeast MN and northwest WI. Snow first spread in force Saturday (April 14th) afternoon into northwest WI and east-central MN from the southwest. The snow then spread into the rest of the Northland Saturday night into Sunday. The snow continued much of Sunday, then slowly diminished Sunday night into Monday. There was lingering lake effect snow along the South Shore into early Tuesday.

This storm generated strong northeast winds over Lake Superior. Park Point in Duluth had frequent gusts to 50 mph Friday night and Saturday. The freighter Algoma Spirit sheltered behind Sand Island (the western-most Apostle Island) during the storm Saturday and measured frequent wind gusts to 60 knots (69 mph, nearly hurricane-force). The Devil's Island observation site measured wind gusts to 59 mph. The winds generated large waves of at least up to 15 feet over Lake Superior and along the South Shore to the Duluth and Superior area. There was some flooding near the ship canal and Lift Bridge in Duluth from the waves, and the waves were high enough to hit the bridge deck. Since it was cold outside, the waves and spray created a lot of icing along the Lake Superior shore.

The strong winds across the Northland, especially close to and downwind of Lake Superior, caused blizzard conditions with the falling snow. Highway 2 in Ashland was closed for a time.

Other Storm Summaries:

Freezing spray from huge waves coated the Lake Superior lake front in Duluth.

Photo By Carol Christenson

Snow/Ice
Photos & Video
Storm Reports

Snow/Ice

Here is a map that shows that snowfall from the April storm.
Click image for a larger view.

Photos & Video:

Enjoy the pictures. Thank you to all the folks who sent us photos. More photos will be posted so check back.

Send us YOUR photos to nws.duluth@noaa.gov


Lake Superior Stoney Point Surfers Photo by Rick Schroeder	Duluth Ship Canal Photo by Carol Christenson	Waves at Brighton Beach, Duluth Photo by Sam Brueggeman	Lake Superior waves crashing a 30 foot high cliff along the North Shore Photo by Peter Harris


An icy view of Split Rock Lighthouse Photo by Ryan Viney	Birch Bay Photo by Carrie Anderson	Grand Marais, MN Photo by Ericka J. Iverson	Lighthouse at Duluth Ship Canal Photo by Carol Christenson


Seagulls and waves near Two Harbors Photo by Anna Fellegy	Silver Bay Photo by Anna Fellegy	South of Brainerd, MN Photo by Terri Amos Baur	Seven Bridges Road, Duluth Photo by Steve Savageau

Storm Reports

Here is a listing of storm snowfall totals:

INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 21.9    1 WSW MAPLE              WI  DOUGLAS          0700 AM
 18.0    3 N BUTTERNUT            WI  ASHLAND          0559 AM
 16.5    1 S PHILLIPS             WI  PRICE            0700 AM
 16.0    SAXON 1WSW               WI  IRON             0700 AM
 16.0    LAKE NEBAGAMON           WI  DOUGLAS          0930 AM
 15.7    ASHLAND                  WI  ASHLAND          0700 AM
 14.8    1 NW MANITOWISH          WI  IRON             0730 AM
 14.2    MADELINE ISLAND          WI  ASHLAND          0737 AM
 14.0    5 WSW BUTTERNUT          WI  PRICE            0630 AM
 14.0    2 NW WASHBURN            WI  BAYFIELD         0731 AM
 14.0    MCKINLEY                 MN  ST. LOUIS        0815 AM
 14.0    4 N FLOODWOOD            MN  ST. LOUIS        0830 AM
 13.6    PHILLIPS                 WI  PRICE            0700 AM
 13.4    DULUTH NWS               MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
 13.0    4.1 ENE CORNUCOPIA       WI  BAYFIELD         0700 AM
 13.0    1 SW BAYFIELD            WI  BAYFIELD         0700 AM
 13.0    SPRINGBROOK              WI  WASHBURN         0842 AM
 12.9    PENCE                    WI  IRON             0700 AM
 12.6    1 N MOQUAH               WI  BAYFIELD         0600 AM
 12.5    BAYFIELD 9N              WI  BAYFIELD         0600 AM
 12.3    3 E WRIGHT               MN  CARLTON          0600 AM
 12.0    3 W CLAM LAKE            WI  BAYFIELD         0655 AM
 12.0    4 S EARL                 WI  WASHBURN         0700 AM
 12.0    2 NW GARY NEW DULUTH     MN  ST. LOUIS        0900 AM
 11.8    3 W PHILLIPS             WI  PRICE            0830 AM
 11.5    4 WSW SEELEY             WI  SAWYER           0630 AM
 11.4    2 N SHAW                 MN  ST. LOUIS        0800 AM
 11.0    MELRUDE                  MN  ST. LOUIS        0600 AM
 11.0    5 NE BUTTERNUT           WI  ASHLAND          0752 AM
 11.0    1 S FLOODWOOD            MN  ST. LOUIS        0755 AM
 11.0    14 W ISABELLA            MN  LAKE             0900 AM
 10.8    ISLAND LAKE              MN  ST. LOUIS        0900 AM
 10.5    3 E PAYNE                MN  ST. LOUIS        0502 AM
 10.5    2 W HAYWARD              WI  SAWYER           0632 AM
 10.4    6 NE HERTEL              WI  BURNETT          0700 AM
 10.3    SARONA                   WI  WASHBURN         0700 AM
 10.0    HURLEY                   WI  IRON             0800 AM
 10.0    WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON          0800 AM
  9.7    UPSON                    WI  IRON             0600 PM
  9.7    CHISHOLM                 MN  ST. LOUIS        0630 AM
  9.7    3 NW NORTHWOODS BEACH    WI  SAWYER           0700 AM
  9.6    7 W COUDERAY             WI  SAWYER           0400 PM
  9.0    BABBITT                  MN  ST. LOUIS        0515 AM
  9.0    2 E LITTLE SWAN          MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  9.0    HOVLAND                  MN  COOK             0700 AM
  8.8    2 S SIREN                WI  BURNETT          0700 AM
  8.8    1 NNE DULUTH             MN  ST. LOUIS        0800 AM
  8.7    1 NE ESKO                MN  CARLTON          0700 PM
  8.7    WINTON                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  8.3    BABBIT                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0643 AM
  8.3    5 NE ARNOLD              MN  ST. LOUIS        0710 AM
  8.3    GORDON                   WI  DOUGLAS          0800 AM
  8.0    EMBARRASS                MN  ST. LOUIS        0600 AM
  8.0    2 WNW STONE LAKE         WI  WASHBURN         0700 AM
  8.0    ELY                      MN  ST. LOUIS        0829 AM
  8.0    1 SSE AURORA             MN  ST. LOUIS        1000 AM
  7.1    1 NNW FORT RIPLEY        MN  CROW WING        0700 AM
  7.0    SPIRIT                   WI  PRICE            0400 AM
  7.0    1 S COTTON               MN  ST. LOUIS        0754 AM
  7.0    7 NW CHISHOLM            MN  ST. LOUIS        0755 AM
  7.0    2 W LEONIDAS             MN  ST. LOUIS        0800 AM
  7.0    1 ENE HOYT LAKES         MN  ST. LOUIS        1146 AM
  6.9    12 N ISLE                MN  AITKIN           0800 AM
  6.8    1 WSW TAMARACK           MN  AITKIN           0630 AM
  6.7    7 N MCGREGOR             MN  AITKIN           0700 AM
  6.5    1 NW TWO HARBORS         MN  LAKE             0745 AM
  6.2    WOLF RIDGE               MN  LAKE             0700 AM
  6.0    WRENSHALL                MN  CARLTON          0500 PM
  6.0    SUPERIOR, WI             WI  CARLTON          1200 AM
  6.0    3E ORR                   MN  ST. LOUIS        0600 AM
  6.0    ORR                      MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  6.0    11 N NASHWAUK            MN  ITASCA           0700 AM
  6.0    2 WNW HOVLAND            MN  COOK             0700 AM
  6.0    CELINA 2E                MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  6.0    25 E ELY                 MN  LAKE             0800 AM
  6.0    LIBBY                    MN  AITKIN           0800 AM
  6.0    7 SE SEA GULL LAKE       MN  COOK             0806 AM
  5.8    SILVER BAY               MN  LAKE             0700 AM
  5.5    BRAINERD                 MN  CROW WING        0700 AM
  5.4    BIGFORK 8S               MN  ITASCA           0800 AM
  5.1    6 SSW GRAND RAPIDS       MN  ITASCA           0600 AM
  5.0    7 W HOVLAND              MN  COOK             0740 AM
  5.0    PENGILLY                 MN  ITASCA           0800 AM
  5.0    3 S COHASSET             MN  ITASCA           0804 AM
  5.0    BRIMSON                  MN  ST. LOUIS        1000 AM
  4.5    4 NE COHASSET            MN  ITASCA           0700 AM
  4.3    5 SSE GUNN               MN  ITASCA           0814 AM
  4.1    KELLY LAKE               MN  ST. LOUIS        0750 AM
  4.0    2 SW LESTER PARK         MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 AM
  4.0    1 WNW KABETOGAMA         MN  ST. LOUIS        0800 AM
  3.9    USDA FORESTRY SCIENCE L  MN  ITASCA           1200 AM
  3.7    4 ESE CASINO             MN  CASS             0645 AM
  3.6    1 SSW COLERAINE          MN  ITASCA           0900 AM
  3.0    GUNFLINT LAKE            MN  COOK             0700 AM
  3.0    POKEGAMA LK DAM          MN  ITASCA           0800 AM
  3.0    LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH      MN  ITASCA           0800 AM
  3.0    WALKER COMMUNITY CENTER  MN  CASS             0931 AM
  2.6    BRIMSON 2S               MN  ST. LOUIS        0700 PM
  1.9    INTERNATIONAL FALLS      MN  KOOCHICHING      0655 AM
  0.9    TWO HARBORS              MN  LAKE             0200 PM
  0.9    CASS LAKE                MN  CASS             0800 AM

And here is a list of the highest wind gusts:

Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Duluth MN
954 AM CDT Mon Apr 16 2018

...STRONGEST WINDS FROM THIS PAST WEEKEND...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date       Lat/Lon
---------------------------  ------    -------------   -------------
Devils Island                59 MPH    0400 PM 04/15   47.08N/90.73W
Sky Harbor Airport           54 MPH    0815 AM 04/14   46.72N/92.04W
2 SW Proctor                 54 MPH    0915 AM 04/14   46.72N/92.25W
1 E Duluth                   51 MPH    0654 AM 04/14   46.78N/92.09W
1 NE Duluth                  51 MPH    0500 PM 04/14   46.80N/92.10W
Bayfield                     50 MPH    1010 AM 04/15   46.81N/90.81W
4 ENE Two Harbors            49 MPH    0541 AM 04/15   47.07N/91.59W
Ashland Airport              49 MPH    0452 AM 04/14   46.55N/90.92W
Silver Bay Marine            48 MPH    0340 AM 04/15   47.28N/91.26W
Duluth RWIS                  48 MPH    0330 AM 04/15   46.77N/92.11W
Duluth Airport               48 MPH    0124 PM 04/14   46.84N/92.21W
Superior Airport             47 MPH    0435 PM 04/14   46.69N/92.09W
Cloquet Airport              47 MPH    0255 PM 04/14   46.70N/92.50W
7 WNW Minong                 47 MPH    0403 PM 04/14   46.14N/91.98W
Two Harbors                  44 MPH    0235 AM 04/15   47.05N/91.75W
10 NW Loretta                43 MPH    1000 PM 04/15   46.00N/91.00W
1 W Bayfield                 42 MPH    0523 PM 04/15   46.81N/90.85W
2 WNW Duluth                 41 MPH    0235 AM 04/14   46.79N/92.16W
2 SW Moose Lake              41 MPH    0208 PM 04/14   46.42N/92.80W
Hinckley Airport             41 MPH    0255 PM 04/15   46.02N/92.89W
Hayward Airport              41 MPH    0105 PM 04/14   46.03N/91.44W
Brainerd Airport             41 MPH    0103 PM 04/14   46.40N/94.13W
Silver Bay                   40 MPH    0335 AM 04/15   47.25N/91.42W
Moose Lake Airport           40 MPH    0235 PM 04/14   46.42N/92.81W
Siren                        39 MPH    0255 PM 04/14   45.82N/92.37W
2 W Woodrow                  39 MPH    0106 PM 04/14   46.40N/94.13W
3 WNW Twig                   39 MPH    1011 AM 04/14   46.92N/92.41W
1 E Odanah                   39 MPH    0944 AM 04/15   46.60N/90.66W
Aitkin Airport               38 MPH    0455 AM 04/14   46.55N/93.68W
Bay Of Grand Marais          38 MPH    1058 AM 04/15   47.75N/90.34W
Phillips                     38 MPH    0355 PM 04/14   45.71N/90.42W
Rice Lake N.W.R.             37 MPH    0852 AM 04/14   46.54N/93.29W
1 ENE La Pointe              37 MPH    0235 PM 04/15   46.79N/90.76W
1 ESE Esko                   37 MPH    0330 PM 04/14   46.70N/92.34W
2 SE Bayfield                37 MPH    0744 AM 04/14   46.78N/90.79W
3 NE Randall                 36 MPH    0206 PM 04/14   45.74N/92.80W
6 ESE Cloverdale             36 MPH    0715 AM 04/14   45.97N/92.62W
5 NW Sand Bay                36 MPH    1121 AM 04/15   47.00N/90.94W
McGregor Airport             35 MPH    0117 PM 04/14   46.62N/93.31W
3 ENE South Range            35 MPH    0544 AM 04/15   46.64N/91.92W
1 SW Saginaw                 35 MPH    1108 AM 04/14   46.84N/92.46W
11 SSE Brule                 33 MPH    0406 PM 04/14   46.40N/91.50W
Grand Marais Airport         33 MPH    1055 AM 04/15   47.75N/90.34W
5 E Hibbing                  33 MPH    0507 PM 04/15   47.39N/92.83W
Eveleth-Virginia Airport     33 MPH    0155 PM 04/14   47.42N/92.50W
12 ENE Fifield               32 MPH    0847 AM 04/14   45.93N/90.18W
2 S Chisholm                 32 MPH    0430 PM 04/15   47.45N/92.89W
Fernberg RAWS                32 MPH    0213 PM 04/14   47.95N/91.50W
5 WSW Spirit                 32 MPH    1245 PM 04/14   45.40N/90.20W
2 ENE Duluth                 32 MPH    0352 PM 04/14   46.80N/92.07W
Pine River Airport           31 MPH    0245 PM 04/14   46.73N/94.38W
5 SE Breezy Point            31 MPH    0203 PM 04/14   46.55N/94.17W
2 NNW Cotton                 31 MPH    0345 PM 04/14   47.21N/92.49W
Dads Corner                  31 MPH    1205 PM 04/14   46.34N/93.26W
Chisholm-Hibbing Airport     31 MPH    0433 PM 04/15   47.39N/92.84W
1 SW Breezy Point            31 MPH    0307 PM 04/14   46.58N/94.24W
Ashland                      30 MPH    1149 AM 04/14   46.58N/90.88W
4 S Emily                    30 MPH    0140 PM 04/14   46.69N/93.95W
Robinson                     30 MPH    1115 AM 04/15   47.85N/92.05W
Glidden RAWS                 30 MPH    0400 PM 04/14   46.14N/90.59W
2 NE Duluth                  30 MPH    0313 AM 04/15   46.81N/92.08W
3 E Namekagon                29 MPH    0502 AM 04/15   46.20N/90.97W
2 W Schley                   29 MPH    0335 PM 04/14   47.37N/94.48W
4 W Grand Portage            29 MPH    0144 AM 04/15   47.95N/89.78W
5 S Ely                      29 MPH    0104 PM 04/14   47.83N/91.84W
Makinen                      29 MPH    0358 PM 04/15   47.36N/92.36W
Grand Portage                29 MPH    1159 PM 04/14   47.97N/89.69W
1 SSW Jacobson               29 MPH    0331 PM 04/14   46.98N/93.27W
Ely Airport                  29 MPH    0635 PM 04/14   47.82N/91.83W
1 W Superior                 28 MPH    0900 AM 04/13   46.70N/92.10W
Hayward RAWS                 27 MPH    0403 PM 04/14   46.02N/91.45W
Northome RWIS                27 MPH    0600 PM 04/15   47.60N/94.13W
3 ENE Margie                 27 MPH    0603 PM 04/15   48.13N/93.88W
1 W Isabella                 26 MPH    0104 PM 04/14   47.62N/91.38W
International Falls          26 MPH    0455 PM 04/14   48.57N/93.40W
Cook                         26 MPH    0415 PM 04/15   47.82N/92.69W
Grand Rapids Airport         26 MPH    0556 PM 04/15   47.22N/93.52W
Bigfork                      26 MPH    0453 PM 04/14   47.78N/93.65W
8 S Castle Danger            25 MPH    1000 AM 04/13   47.00N/91.50W
5 E Seagull Lake             25 MPH    0504 PM 04/15   48.12N/90.84W
Grand Portage RWIS           25 MPH    0240 PM 04/15   47.98N/89.68W
1 WSW Maple                  25 MPH    0433 PM 04/15   46.58N/91.75W
1 S Hill City                25 MPH    0407 PM 04/14   46.96N/93.60W
Walker Airport               25 MPH    0335 PM 04/14   47.16N/94.65W
Skibo RAWS                   25 MPH    0422 PM 04/14   47.49N/91.99W

Sites with maximum wind speeds of less than 25 miles per hour have
been removed from this listing. Observations are collected from a
variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures.

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