April 11, 2008 Snow Event Summary

Overview

The winter of 07-08 flexed its muscle once again with a powerful April snowstorm and blizzard. A strong low pressure area developed over Kansas and moved northeastward into Iowa. By the afternoon of April 11, the center of the storm was over northeast Iowa. Blizzard Warnings were posted for Northeast Minnesota along Lake Superior, in far southwest Minnesota and parts of west central Minnesota.

There was plenty of moisture for the storm to work with and reports of an inch of melted precipitation were common over southern and central Minnesota. North and west of a line from Redwood Falls to the Twin Cities the precipitation was mostly in the form of snow. As of 9am April 11th, the heaviest snow total found so far was 14.6 inches in Madison located in lac Qui Parle County. By the afternoon of April 11, conditions gradually impoved and the blizzard warnings were dropped.

Another outstanding aspect, other than the heavy snow, was the wind. Very strong easterly winds herald the advance of the main storm. The 6pm balloon launch at the National Weather Service in Chanhassen recorded a wind speed of 87 mph was measured at 3,900 ft above ground level. During the peak of the blizzard in Duluth the winds gusted up to 62 mph during the peak of the blizzard on April 11. Farther south, strong easterly winds caused the ice on Lake Pepin began to build up on shore and create ice piles.

Snow Totals

Radar
Storm Total Snowfall Reports

Radar:

Storm Total Snowfall Reports

...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FROM APRIL 10-11...

THE FOLLOWING ARE FINAL SNOW AMOUNTS FOR THE APRIL 10-11
SNOWFALL EVENT AS MEASURED BY NWS COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS
AND STORM SPOTTERS.

NORTH DAKOTA                                    SNOW
LOCATION (COUNTY):                            FALL (IN)

FAIRMOUNT (RICHLAND)..........................13.0
COOPERSTOWN (GRIGGS)..........................7.0-8.0
2.5S/4.5E WIMBLEDON (BARNES)..................6.0
ENDERLIN (RANSOM).............................6.0
FINLEY (STEELE)...............................4.0-6.0
LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................5.5
ASOS @ GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)...........4.2
MAYVILLE (TRAILL).............................4.0
HANNAFORD (GRIGGS)............................4.0
GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................3.6
ALICE (CASS)..................................3.0
FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................2.3
ASOS @ FARGO AIRPORT (CASS)...................2.1
VALLEY CITY (BARNES)..........................2.0
FORMAN (SARGENT)..............................2.0
HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................2.0
LISBON (RANSOM)...............................1.0-2.0

MINNESOTA                                      SNOW
LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)..................10.5
ITASCA U OF M (CLEARWATER)...................10.5
BEMIDJI (BELTRAMI)............................8.0
WADENA (WADENA)...............................7.0
SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................6.5
PARK RAPIDS (HUBBARD).........................6.0
BRECKENRIDGE (WILKIN).........................4.5
5 S CLEARBROOK (CLEARWATER)...................4.0
ELBOW LAKE (GRANT)............................4.0
WASKISH (BELTRAMI)............................3.5
PHELPS MILL (OTTER TAIL)......................3.0
FRAZEE (BECKER)...............................3.0
DALTON 3S (OTTER TAIL)........................2.6
PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................2.5
SABIN (CLAY)..................................2.0
RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................2.0
20 E MAHNOMEN (MAHNOMEN)......................2.0
RED LAKE (BELTRAMI)...........................2.0
RED LAKE FALLS (RED LAKE).....................1.5
GONVICK (CLEARWATER)..........................2.0
HALSTAD (NORMAN)..............................1.0
GRYGLA DNR (MARSHALL).........................1.0
VIKING (MARSHALL).............................TRACE

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