“Spring” snowfall records tumble; Wednesday slop storm; 60F “mirage” next week?

Spring of our Discontent

It's getting so bad even migratory birds are tempted to turn back south.

This spring is seriously turning into a mental health challenge for most Minnesotans.

"Reluctant" doesn't even begin to describe this "spring" in Minnesota anymore.

Missing, tardy or AWOL is more like it?

The latest barrage of heavy wet snow up north virtually assures (potentially major) flooding on the Red River Valley this spring.

And Duluth reports a new all time snowfall record for February through April.

Any good news in the forecast?

Maybe. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I'm just not sure if it's a mirage yet.

In this Updraft we'll look for some sunny silver linings in the forecast, preview another slop storm ahead and squint to the horizon to see if forecast model suggestions of 60F are yet another mirage, or the real thing this time.

10.8" snowfall report in Fargo this morning

I-94 closed from Fargo the the Montana state line!

68.8" Duluth snowfall since February - snowiest Feb-Apr on record

6.8" snowiest April in 11 years at MSP Airport (since 20.2" in 2001-'02)

10 days in a row with rain and or snow at MSP Airport

-7.3F temps vs. average at MSP Airport so far in April

Rays of sunshine possible later today and Tuesday!

Ice choked Duluth Harbor this morning.

Image: Lake Superior Maritime Museum Webcam

Silver Linings?

I know.

Mining silver linings in The Dreary, Depressing Spring of 2013 seems futile.

But it really could be worse, and it is worse in northern Minnesota and North Dakota today compared to the metro.

Snow continues to swirl around the center of low pressure east of Fargo this morning.

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I can't remember ever seeing this. I-94 closed in all of North Dakota? In April?

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND

1030 PM CDT SUN APR 14 2013

...INTERSTATE 94 STILL CLOSED FROM FARGO TO THE MONTANA LINE...

THE NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION...ALONG WITH TH NORTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY PATROL...HAVE CLOSED INTERSTATE 94 IN NORTH DAKOTA FROM FARGO TO THE MONTANA BORDER.

INTERSTATE 29 HOWEVER HAS RE-OPENED FROM FARGO TO GRAND FORKS.

Fargo is digging out from yet another 10.8" of heavy wet snow, and another 1.15" of liquid "Snow Water Equivalent" (SWE) on top of 4" to 8" that will run into...and over the banks of the Red River Valley this spring.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND

659 AM CDT MON APR 15 2013

0657 AM HEAVY SNOW M10.8 INCH FARGO CASS ND BROADCAST MEDIA

1.15 LIQUID EQUIVALENT VALLEY NEWS LIVE STUDIO IN SOUTH

FARGO

The latest storm almost assures major flooding for much of the Red this spring. It will take a minor meteorological miracle to escape major, perhaps even record flooding on the Red.

Endless North Shore Winter:

In Duluth, the late season snow blitz is now unprecedented.

Snowiest February - April Period at Duluth

With the 4.1 inches of snow that fell on April 14th, Duluth has broke a record for the snowiest February through April period in recorded history. The snow total from February 1st through April 14th is 68.8 inches. This breaks the old record of 68.5 inches in 1950.

Two Harbors sports another 5" to 9" of wet snow this morning. The weight of the snow has taken some trees down according to local storm reports.

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN

656 AM CDT MON APR 15 2013

0651 AM SNOW M9.0 INCH 5 N TWO HARBORS TRAINED SPOTTER

TWO TREES DOWN.

The storm will gradually wind down up north today.

Metro: Brighter... then more slop ahead

There are a few rays of hope in the metro forecast. Some breaks in the clouds may offer a few sunny peeks today, with a better chance of some sunshine tomorrow.

The next nuisance April slop storm arrives Wednesday. A wintery mix should trend to all rain in the metro...but more "plowable" snow is on the way north of the Twin Cities.

Light at the end of the tunnel: Springtime or mirage?

We've seen this movie before.

The "medium range" models tease with 60F 1-2 weeks out, then just like Lucy they pull the football away from Charlie Brown at the last second.

Again Sunday the GFS (and to some degree Euro) cranked out the notion of much warmer temps late next week...60s and even 70s. The latest... overnight model runs backed off that idea, and favor a more gradual warm up next week.

There are some signs the AO and overall upper air pattern may shift late next week and offer some hope for a sustained warm up. As my dad used to say when I wasn't likely to get what I asked for. We'll see.

Stay tuned as we track this week's weather, and keep a hopeful but cautions eye cast toward a potential warm up next week.

PH