After being hit by heavy snow December 18 and 19, southeast Minnesota was impacted by another winter storm December 20 through 21. Highest snowfall amounts were generally 4 to 7 inches, with specific reports of 7.6 inches at Preston (Fillmore County), 7.0 inches near Rochester International Airport (Olmsted County) and 6.3 inches at Grand Meadow (Mower County).
Northwest winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph in the wake of an arctic cold front produced near white-out conditions, along with 2 to 4 foot drifts. In addition to the wind and snow, sharply falling temperatures resulted in bitterly cold wind chills of 20 below to 40 below, which lingered into December 22.
Due to several in a series of snow-producing systems, December 2008 would turn out to be the third snowiest December on record in Rochester, with a total of 28.6 inches. The all-time December snowfall record in Rochester remained at 35.3 inches, which was established in 2000.

Winter Storm in MOWER, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 07:45:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 08:25:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in WABASHA, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 08:45:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 09:15:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 10:00:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Winter Storm in DODGE, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 07:45:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Cold/Wind Chill in HOUSTON, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Cold/Wind Chill in OLMSTED, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values included -43F in the city of Rochester and -40F at the Rochester International Airport.

Cold/Wind Chill in WABASHA, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values included -39F at Kellogg.

Cold/Wind Chill in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values included -40F at Preston and -39F at Canton.

Cold/Wind Chill in MOWER, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values hit -47F at Grand Meadow and -38F at Austin.

Cold/Wind Chill in WINONA, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Lowest wind chill values included -37F at Winona State University and -31F at the Winona Municipal Airport.

Cold/Wind Chill in DODGE, MINNESOTA
From 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 to 22-DEC-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Wind chills dropped to -41F in the West Concord area and -39F at Dodge Center.

Winter Storm in FILLMORE, MINNESOTA
From 20-DEC-08 09:30:00 to 21-DEC-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Preston had 7.6 inches of snow.