Heavy snow brings area much needed moisture

In like a lamb out like a lion. March has reversed the saying that often applies to the month’s weather.
At the start of last week, the area was looking like it might set a record for the least snowfall during a snowfall season that can run from late October into the last days of April. It was also looking at the potential for a record warm March.
Just 12.5 inches of snow had fallen by March 20, 4.1 inches less than the record least amount of snow for a winter season of 16.6 set during the winter of 2004-2005.  Now that old snowfall record is safe. In fact, the snowfall of the winter of 2023-2024 is not going to anywhere near a record. Thursday’s snowstorm brought 6 inches of snow and half an inch of moisture. It was the first measurable precipitation to fall the month. It increased March’s snowfall total to 18.5 inches, a tie with the winter of 2010-2011 for fourth place. But to the west, a winter storm was gathering with forecasts of 12 to 20 inches of snow issued for western Minnesota.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Between 10 and 14 inches of snow was forecast along with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph.
Snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour were likely, with 2 inches per hour possible, it said. Winds will be out of the east at 25 to 35 mph, which will lead to very low visibility, the NWS warned.

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