Thursday, May 2, 2013

Recapping Winter Storm “Mayday”

A historic late season snow storm is wrapping up across Minnesota.  It was an impressive storm for any time of the winter, but unbelievable for May.  Records were shattered as the storm dumped some of the highest snow totals ever recorded in the month of May anywhere in the state.  The state record for daily snow during May is one foot.  Many locations in southeast Minnesota set daily snowfall records for May 2nd.

Snow was triggered by cold air funneled in from the north and west behind a cold front, and enhanced along the jet stream flowing north to south across the state.  The heavy, wet, narrow band of snow snapped trees and power lines.  Had the snow band shifted 50 miles to the northwest, a greater portion of the Twin Cities would have shared in the brunt of the storm.  It was a challenging storm to predict snow totals as it is May after all, and the models were indicating the snow band would set up somewhere near or on top of the Twin Cities metro where 3 million people could be impacted.

May1_2_2013snowlocal

The highest reported amount was 18 inches in Blooming Prairie.  An interesting note with this total is that it is not considered an official source, so it probably will not be included in the state record books.  According to the National Weather Service, “Only meteorological observations from weather stations that are recognized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as official (including Climate Reference Network, Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network, Historical Precipitation Network, Surface Observation Network and Cooperative Observation Network stations) are considered for state records.”  Therefore, Dodge Center will likely go into the record books as the state record at 15.4 inches once it is confirmed by the State Climatology Office.  Here is a look at some other totals from across the area:

Report Time (UTC) Location County ST Mag. (Inches) Source
Thu May 2 16:45:00 CDT 2013 Blooming Prairie Steele MN 18.0 emergency mngr
Thu May 2 12:30:00 CDT 2013 2 E Owatonna Steele MN 15.5 public
Thu May 2 14:57:00 CDT 2013 2 NW Rochester Olmsted MN 15.5 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 1 WNW Dodge Center Dodge MN 15.4 coop observer
Thu May 2 19:40:00 CDT 2013 Zumbrota Goodhue MN 15.1 trained spotter
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 SW Ellendale Steele MN 15.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 SW Ellendale Steele MN 15.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 16:45:00 CDT 2013 OAK Center Wabasha MN 15.0 public
Thu May 2 13:37:00 CDT 2013 Kasson Dodge MN 14.5 public
Thu May 2 14:50:00 CDT 2013 7 WSW Hayfield Dodge MN 14.0 public
Thu May 2 14:53:00 CDT 2013 2 N Oronoco Olmsted MN 14.0 public
Thu May 2 21:10:00 CDT 2013 1 S Maple Springs Wabasha MN 14.0 public
Fri May 3 00:12:00 CDT 2013 Grand Meadow Mower MN 14.0 public
Fri May 3 00:43:00 CDT 2013 4 W Simpson Olmsted MN 13.9 public
Thu May 2 12:52:00 CDT 2013 Kasson Dodge MN 13.5 public
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 4 SE RED Wing Goodhue MN 13.5 cocorahs
Thu May 2 16:30:00 CDT 2013 Pine Island Goodhue MN 13.5 public
Thu May 2 18:49:00 CDT 2013 Rochester Airport Olmsted MN 13.5 coop
Thu May 2 21:48:00 CDT 2013 Oronoco Olmsted MN 13.2 public
Thu May 2 09:45:00 CDT 2013 Owatonna Steele MN 13.0 trained spotter
Thu May 2 10:00:00 CDT 2013 4 SE RED Wing Goodhue MN 13.0 public
Thu May 2 12:17:00 CDT 2013 Kasson Dodge MN 13.0 public
Thu May 2 15:20:00 CDT 2013 2 NE Berne Dodge MN 13.0 public
Thu May 2 16:30:00 CDT 2013 SE RED Wing Goodhue MN 13.0 public
Thu May 2 17:00:00 CDT 2013 Rochester Olmsted MN 13.0 broadcast media
Thu May 2 18:06:00 CDT 2013 Claremont Dodge MN 13.0 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 2 SSE Claremont Dodge MN 12.8 cocorahs
Thu May 2 11:38:00 CDT 2013 2 NE Berne Dodge MN 12.5 public
Thu May 2 12:13:00 CDT 2013 2 SSE Claremont Dodge MN 12.5 public
Thu May 2 13:30:00 CDT 2013 3 NNW Nerstrand Rice MN 12.5 nws employee
Thu May 2 15:40:00 CDT 2013 1 S Maple Springs Wabasha MN 12.5 public
Thu May 2 16:55:00 CDT 2013 1 NW Rochester Olmsted MN 12.3 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 4 W Simpson Olmsted MN 12.1 coop observer
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 3 NE Stockholm Wright MN 12.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 Stockholm Wright MN 12.0 co-op observer
Thu May 2 10:53:00 CDT 2013 Conger Freeborn MN 11.5 public
Thu May 2 15:26:00 CDT 2013 Oronoco Olmsted MN 11.5 public
Thu May 2 16:11:00 CDT 2013 Eyota Olmsted MN 11.5 public
Thu May 2 18:04:00 CDT 2013 3 N Saint Charles Winona MN 11.5 public
Thu May 2 15:00:00 CDT 2013 4 WSW Ringe Olmsted MN 11.3 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 4 E Nerstrand Goodhue MN 11.2 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:30:00 CDT 2013 E Owatonna Steele MN 11.1 cocorahs
Thu May 2 12:29:00 CDT 2013 Wells Faribault MN 11.0 public
Thu May 2 21:07:00 CDT 2013 3 SW Wykoff Fillmore MN 11.0 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 3 W Rochester Olmsted MN 10.8 cocorahs
Thu May 2 12:30:00 CDT 2013 4 SSW Zumbro Falls Wabasha MN 10.5 cocorahs
Thu May 2 19:01:00 CDT 2013 1 ENE Austin Mower MN 10.5 broadcast media
Thu May 2 10:29:00 CDT 2013 Albert LEA Freeborn MN 10.0 trained spotter
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 1 S Austin Mower MN 10.0 coop observer
Thu May 2 12:29:00 CDT 2013 Waseca Waseca MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 12:29:00 CDT 2013 Bricelyn Faribault MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 12:40:00 CDT 2013 2 SW Austin Mower MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 12:57:00 CDT 2013 RED Wing Goodhue MN 10.0 trained spotter
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 Wells Faribault MN 10.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:38:00 CDT 2013 1 NW Rochester Olmsted MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 13:55:00 CDT 2013 2SW Austin Mower MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 13:56:00 CDT 2013 Brownsdale Mower MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 14:28:00 CDT 2013 1 W Oronoco Olmsted MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 16:00:00 CDT 2013 4 SW Elba Winona MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 16:35:00 CDT 2013 Plainview Wabasha MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 16:44:00 CDT 2013 1 SSE Hammond Wabasha MN 10.0 public
Thu May 2 13:20:00 CDT 2013 3 NE Salem Corners Olmsted MN       9.8 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 2 SW Genoa Olmsted MN       9.6 coop observer
Thu May 2 14:31:00 CDT 2013 1 SE Rochester Olmsted MN       9.5 broadcast media
Thu May 2 10:45:00 CDT 2013 RED Wing Goodhue MN       9.3 trained spotter
Thu May 2 13:38:00 CDT 2013 Oronoco Olmsted MN       9.1 public
Thu May 2 08:32:00 CDT 2013 2 NE Berne Dodge MN       9.0 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 2 SE Mantorville Dodge MN       9.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 Waseca Waseca MN       9.0 co-op observer
Thu May 2 13:08:00 CDT 2013 OAK Center Wabasha MN       9.0 public
Thu May 2 14:29:00 CDT 2013 5 NNW Genoa Olmsted MN       9.0 public
Thu May 2 16:43:00 CDT 2013 5 S Kellogg Wabasha MN 9.0 public
Thu May 2 15:22:00 CDT 2013 1 SSE Adams Mower MN 8.5 public
Thu May 2 10:10:00 CDT 2013 Hastings Dakota MN 8.4 trained spotter
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 Zumbrota Goodhue MN 8.4 co-op observer
Thu May 2 10:54:00 CDT 2013 5 S Farmington Dakota MN 8.3 trained spotter
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 3 SSE Hampton Dakota MN 8.2 cocorahs
Thu May 2 13:13:00 CDT 2013 Cannon Falls Goodhue MN 8.2 co-op observer
Thu May 2 06:50:00 CDT 2013 Owatonna Steele MN 8.0 trained spotter
Thu May 2 10:10:00 CDT 2013 2 SE Cottage Grove Washington MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 4 N Stewartville Olmsted MN 8.0 asos
Thu May 2 12:02:00 CDT 2013 4 W Simpson Olmsted MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 13:58:00 CDT 2013 5N ST Charles Winona MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 17:24:00 CDT 2013 1 ENE Spring Valley Fillmore MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 18:17:00 CDT 2013 Lewiston Winona MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 22:13:00 CDT 2013 Chatfield Fillmore MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 22:13:00 CDT 2013 Spring Valley Fillmore MN 8.0 public
Thu May 2 16:30:00 CDT 2013 Hastings Dakota MN 7.8 public
Thu May 2 11:47:00 CDT 2013 Oronoco Olmsted MN 7.7 public
Thu May 2 08:00:00 CDT 2013 5 N Kenyon Goodhue MN 7.5 trained spotter
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 2 N Viola Olmsted MN 7.4 coop observer
Thu May 2 23:40:00 CDT 2013 Lanesboro Fillmore MN 7.3 public
Thu May 2 09:42:00 CDT 2013 RED Wing Goodhue MN 7.2 trained spotter
Thu May 2 21:26:00 CDT 2013 1 ESE Peterson Fillmore MN 7.2 public
Thu May 2 09:54:00 CDT 2013 Mantorville Dodge MN 7.0 law enforcement
Thu May 2 11:30:00 CDT 2013 4 W Simpson Olmsted MN 7.0 public
Thu May 2 11:31:00 CDT 2013 4 W Simpson Olmsted MN 7.0 public
Thu May 2 11:37:00 CDT 2013 Austin Mower MN 7.0 law enforcement
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 Albert LEA Freeborn MN 7.0 co-op observer
Thu May 2 13:30:00 CDT 2013 Northfield Rice MN 6.8 trained spotter
Thu May 2 08:23:00 CDT 2013 Hastings Dakota MN 6.7 trained spotter
Thu May 2 11:46:00 CDT 2013 1 W Rochester Olmsted MN 6.5 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 3 E Spring Valley Fillmore MN 6.5 coop observer
Thu May 2 12:30:00 CDT 2013 1 SSE Theilman Wabasha MN 6.2 coop observer
Thu May 2 08:26:00 CDT 2013 Zumbrota Goodhue MN 6.0 co-op observer
Thu May 2 10:44:00 CDT 2013 Northfield Rice MN 6.0 public
Thu May 2 11:00:00 CDT 2013 3 NE Rochester Olmsted MN 6.0 cocorahs
Thu May 2 11:27:00 CDT 2013 Rochester Olmsted MN 6.0 public
Thu May 2 13:00:00 CDT 2013 1 S Lake City Wabasha MN 6.0 coop observer
Thu May 2 22:13:00 CDT 2013 Preston Fillmore MN 6.0 public
Thu May 2 12:00:00 CDT 2013 1 N Wabasha Wabasha MN 5.6 coop observer
Thu May 2 07:15:00 CDT 2013 1 N Hastings Washington MN 5.5 public
Thu May 2 17:35:00 CDT 2013 3 WNW Kellogg Wabasha MN 5.2 public
Thu May 2 05:30:00 CDT 2013 Owatonna Steele MN 5.0 trained spotter
Thu May 2 10:45:00 CDT 2013 4 SE Douglas Olmsted MN 5.0 broadcast media
Thu May 2 11:00:00 CDT 2013 Grand Meadow Mower MN 5.0 coop observer
Thu May 2 11:03:00 CDT 2013 Grand Meadow Mower MN 5.0 coop observer
Thu May 2 12:56:00 CDT 2013 Spring Valley Fillmore MN 5.0 public
Thu May 2 18:01:00 CDT 2013 1 ESE Peterson Fillmore
MN 5.0 public

Ever wanted to see 15 inches of snow accumulate in just a couple minutes?  This video time lapse from Owatonna created by Kyle Schanus captures it.

Maybe we will finally turn the page in May and actually have a spring?  With the way 2013 has gone, anything can happen.  It truly has been a bizarre year already.  It seems over the last five years or so, the weather has bounced around from extremes and many records have been easily broken.  The snow and cold has kept severe thunderstorms to a minimum in the state, with just a handful of warnings so far.  We could be looking at a record low number of tornadoes statewide after having the highest total ever just three years ago.  A lot of comparisons have been made to 1965.  With all this precipitation, rivers are on the rise.  Could we be dealing with major flooding soon?  One thing is certain, the odds of seeing a May 6th tornado outbreak are pretty slim.

RS