Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Snowiest season on record for Brainerd, Chanhassen; Duluth's close

Blizzard and flood warnings across Minnesota

Season snowfall records
Season snowfall records
Duluth National Weather Service office

The winter of 2022-23 is seemingly endless this year.

Our weekend snow blitz has pushed season snowfall totals into record or near-record territory at several locations in Minnesota. As you can see in the image above, Brainerd, Minn., and Bayfield, Wis., have set records for the snowiest season.

It’s now the second-snowiest season on record in Duluth, and it will likely hit No. 1 with more snow ahead for northern Minnesota Thursday.

In the Twin Cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has now logged 90.3 inches of snow this season. That’s still the third highest season snowfall on record. But Chanhassen has recorded 101.7 inches. That’s the snowiest season on record at the Twin Cities National Weather Service office, dating back to 1995.

Blizzard warnings

Blizzard warnings continue around parts of Lake Superior as the storm pulls out. Six inches of snow has been reported around Grand Marais.

Southern Cook- Including the city of Grand Marais

1014 AM CDT Mon Apr 17 2023

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Blizzard conditions. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 5 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

* WHERE...Southern Cook County. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The snow should be wet and heavy.

Most of the Twin Cities got off lucky with Sunday’s snowfall. I measured 7 inches here in the far southwest Twin Cities.

Snow at the Weather Lab
Snow at the Weather Lab on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Paul Huttner | MPR News

Copious amounts of snow fell just to Minnesota’s east in Wisconsin. Many 10 to 20-inch totals fell just east of La Crosse to Black River Falls. Northfield, Wis., just southeast of Eau Claire, recorded 22 inches of snow!

Flood warnings

Flood warnings continue for many area rivers this week. The St. Croix River at Stillwater is projected to reach major flood stage next weekend.

St. Croix River at Stillwater
St. Croix River at Stillwater
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The current forecast would be the seventh highest crest on record.

St. Croix River at Stillwater record crests
St. Croix River at Stillwater record crests
NOAA

The Mississippi, Red, and Crow rivers are among those forecast to reach major flood stage in the coming week. You can check river levels here.

Cool week ahead

The average high and low for the Twin Cities this week is 57 and 38 degrees. Tuesday brings sunshine and less wind with highs in the lower 50s with a few 40s north.

Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
Forecast high temperatures Tuesday
NOAA

A band of thunderstorms looks likely Wednesday morning, then another widespread rain and snow system arrives Thursday. That’s a bad recipe for flooding as rivers continue to rise this week.

We’re not catching a break in this relentlessly wet weather pattern this week. And it’s severe weather awareness week in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Stay tuned.