A strong winter storm moved through the upper Midwest over the weekend, providing the Northland with its first widespread snowfall of the winter season. Heavy snow combined with strong winds to create blizzard conditions near Lake Superior, and near blizzard conditions elsewhere. The storm was preceded by mild weather, with temperatures in the 30s and 40s. A period of rain and freezing rain fell on Saturday evening (the 13th) across central and eastern Minnesota from Brainerd through Hinckley.
Eight to 15 inches of snow fell across northeast Minnesota, with the highest amounts in the Iron Range, north to the Canadian border. Lesser amounts of 8 inches fell in the Brainerd Lakes region, towards Hinckley, and also in the tip of the Arrowhead. Some specific totals include 10 inches at Duluth and Remer, 12 inches at Chisholm, and 14 inches near Bigfork.
Snowfall was heaviest across the region on Sunday afternoon (the 14th), accumulating 1 to 2 inches per hour. Winds gusting over 50 mph were common in Duluth, causing blizzard conditions with near zero visibility for several hours. The strong northeast winds caused large waves nearly 15 feet high at the Duluth ship entry. These waves damaged part of the Duluth Lakewalk. Bitterly cold wind chills in the 40s to near 50 below zero followed the storm.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN AITKIN, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN CASS, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS / CARLTON, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 08:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Blizzard conditions lasted for several hours, beginning around the noon hour on Sunday.

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN COOK, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in SOUTHERN ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHERN ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHERN COOK / NORTHERN LAKE, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHERN ITASCA, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHERN AITKIN, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in NORTHERN CASS, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CROW WING, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in KOOCHICHING, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in PINE, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 19:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Winter Storm in CENTRAL ST. LOUIS, MINNESOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 15-DEC-08 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter