Summary of the December 8th, 2019 Snow Event

Photos & Video

Saum, MN Snow Measurement (Courtesy of Randi Rose)	Shelvin, MN Snow Measurement (Courtesy of Sharron Harwood)	U.S. Highway 2 East of Crookston (Courtesy of MNDOT)	Binford, ND Area (Courtesy of NDDOT)

In Front of the Grand Forks NWS Office (NWS Employee)	Fergus Falls, MN Snow Measurement (Courtesy of Kari Swanson Andrews)	South Grand Forks Reduced Visibility (Courtesy of Anonymous Observer)	Reduced Visibility From Grand Forks (Courtesy of Anonymous Observer)

Radar

Radar Loop from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 

Radar Loop from 9:00 p.m. on December 8th to 3:00 a.m. on December 9th

Snowfall Reports

...PRELIMINARY SNOWFALL REPORTS AS OF 11 AM 12/09/19...

Location                     Amount    Time/Date       Provider
1 SE Nimrod                  6.5 in    0546 AM 12/09   Public
Bemidji MN 4.8 NNE           6.2 in    0700 AM 12/09   COCORAHS
1.4 N Detroit Lakes          6.0 in    0700 AM 12/09   COOP
Grand Forks                  6.0 in    0600 AM 12/09   Official NWS
5 NE Wilton                  5.8 in    0915 AM 12/09   Public
2 NNW Shevlin                5.5 in    0833 AM 12/09   Public
Thompson                     5.5 in    0615 AM 12/09   Public
1 SE Devils Lake             5.5 in    0910 PM 12/08   Public
Thompson                     5.0 in    1030 PM 12/08   Public
Durbin ND 5.4 WNW            4.8 in    0700 AM 12/09   COCORAHS
4 NW Saum                    4.7 in    0830 AM 12/09   Public
Hendrum                      4.5 in    0821 AM 12/09   Public
New York Mills               4.5 in    0730 AM 12/09   COOP
3 W Badoura                  4.0 in    0930 AM 12/09   Public
Michigan                     4.0 in    0700 AM 12/09   UCOOP
1 W Menahga                  4.0 in    0551 AM 12/09   Public
Sebeka MN                    3.9 in    0700 AM 12/09   UCOOP
Harwood                      3.8 in    1007 AM 12/09   Public
Battle Lake MN 2.0 S         3.5 in    0700 AM 12/09   COCORAHS
3 SSE Grand Forks            3.4 in    0800 PM 12/08   NWS Employee
4 S Warren                   3.3 in    1011 AM 12/09   Public
Luverne                      3.3 in    1144 PM 12/08   Trained Spotter
4 ESE Richville              3.2 in    1111 AM 12/09   Public
Fosston                      3.2 in    0707 AM 12/09   Public
Rothsay MN                   3.0 in    0730 AM 12/09   COOP
Lidgerwood ND                3.0 in    0700 AM 12/09   COOP
Grandin ND 7.1 ENE           2.9 in    0700 AM 12/09   COCORAHS
Fargo                        2.8 in    0538 AM 12/09   Broadcast Media
Lisbon                       2.4 in    0700 AM 12/09   COOP
Fargo                        2.2 in    0606 AM 12/09   CO-OP Observer
Moorhead                     2.2 in    0600 AM 12/09   Broadcast Media
Warren                       2.0 in    0800 AM 12/09   COOP
Lankin ND 6 E                2.0 in    0700 AM 12/09   UCOOP
Stephen                      2.0 in    0537 AM 12/09   Public
5 E Mayville                 2.0 in    0945 PM 12/08   NWS Employee
Breckenridge 4 NE            1.8 in    0700 AM 12/09   COOP
Langdon                      1.5 in    0800 AM 12/09   COOP
Pembina                      1.0 in    0700 AM 12/09   COOP

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Snowfall Total Map

Much of the area received more than 4 inches of snow with certain areas receiving upwards of 6+ inches. 

Observed Storm Total Snow Amounts

Environment

Synoptically, forcing for the winter event can be seen at different levels and with different characteristics. At the top level (300mb), a positively tilted shortwave trough progressed from the Pacific Northwest towards the area with divergence out ahead. At the 500mb level, a similar isobaric pattern can be seen with a thermal trough nearly in sync with the 500mb trough. At the 700mb level, deeply cold temperatures can be seen with the isotherms, along with saturation that is indicative of the broad lift in the mid levels. At the 850mb level, a sharp temperature gradient sets up across North Dakota and Minnesota with deepening of the low off to the east. This sharp thermal gradient, along with the deepening of the low, show the gusty winds that accompanied the high snowfall rates. For the dendritic layer RH/omega, lifting is also shown with the increasing saturation and negative omega, which indicates positive forcing for the winter system. At the surface, the northwest flow pattern can continually be seen with an arctic high building behind the system with the very cold arctic air. 

300mb Heights, Winds, and Divergence	500mb Heights, Winds, and Temperatures	700mb Heights, Winds, and 700-500mb RH

850mb Heights, Temperatures, Dewpoints, and Winds	Dendritic Layer RH and Omega	Surface Pressure, Winds, Temperatures, and Dewpoints

Atmospheric soundings for December 8th are shown below for Aberdeen, Minneapolis, and Bismarck. Despite the very cold temperatures, high levels of saturation are seen at the lower levels. The Bismarck and Aberdeen soundings both started out drier in the mid to upper levels, becoming saturated by later in the day with a temperature inversion later in the day. This inversion resulted from the passage of the surface cold front. Despite moisture content being fairly low, the air was saturated across the region, which aided in snow making.

6 a.m. Aberdeen, SD Atmospheric Sounding	6 a.m. Minneapolis, MN Atmospheric Sounding	6 a.m. Bismarck, ND Atmospheric Sounding

6 p.m. Aberdeen, SD Atmospheric Sounding	6 p.m. Minneapolis, MN Atmospheric Sounding	6 p.m. Bismarck, ND Atmospheric Sounding