A fairly long snowfall event, with individual intense snowfall bands that created pockets of snowfall rates of three to four inches per hour, occurred across southern and central Minnesota on February 26.
Snowfall began during the early morning across far western Minnesota where it quickly became heavy in portions of west central Minnesota near Alexandria, Morris and Glenwood where snowfall rates increased prior to 9 am. The town of Morris had already received six inches of snow approximately 6 hours after the initial winter storm warning was issued.
As the system moved eastward, dry easterly flow kept eastern Minnesota fairly dry until a very intense, mesoscale induced vorticity maximum caused a small area of high snowfall rates across southern Minnesota. Thunder was reported in this highly intense snowstorm that track across southern Minnesota from near St. James, northeast toward Faribault, Owatonna, Northfield and Red Wing.
In addition to the snowfall, areas along the Minnesota, Iowa border received some sleet and freezing rain. However, no icing problems were reported. As the first snowfall event started to decrease by the afternoon, the upper level system started to develop light snow across western Minnesota, which eventually moved across central and east central Minnesota before departing the region before midnight.
Locally 6 to 10 inches fell across central and southern Minnesota, as well as west central Wisconsin. The heaviest snow fell along the intense band of thundersnow where locally three to five inches fell in about two hours (Noon to 3 pm, or from St. James to Red Wing, Minnesota). The highest totals are as follows: 11 inches at Carlos in Douglas County, 9.6 inches west of Donnelly in Stevens County, and 9.0 inches in New Market in southern Scott County.  A large area of five to seven inches fell across the Twin Cities metro area.

Winter Storm in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 10:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Morrison County around noon, with light snow continuing through the evening. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the evening.

Winter Storm in RICE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Rice County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of five to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Le Sueur County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in MCLEOD, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across McLeod County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in TODD, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 10:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Todd County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of eight to ten inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the evening.

Winter Storm in WASHINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Washington County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of four to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Scott County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in KANDIYOHI, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Kandiyohi County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in RAMSEY, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Ramsey County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of four to six inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in BENTON, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Benton County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of three to six inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the evening.

Winter Storm in MILLE LACS, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 09:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Mille Lacs County before noon, with light snow continuing through the evening. Total snowfall amounts of four to six inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the evening.

Winter Storm in GOODHUE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Goodhue County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of five to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in RENVILLE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Renville County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 06:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Swift County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in CARVER, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Carver County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of four to six inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in WRIGHT, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Wright County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in HENNEPIN, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Hennepin County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of four to six inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 10:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Pope County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 08:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Redwood County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 08:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Brown County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 10:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Douglas County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of seven to 11 inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in DAKOTA, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 15:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of light to moderate snow fell across Dakota County during the afternoon, before tapering off in the evening. Total snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in SIBLEY, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Sibley County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 06:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Stevens County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the evening.

Winter Storm in NICOLLET, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Nicollet County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 07:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Lac Qui Parle County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 08:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Yellow Medicine County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county before tapering off during the late afternoon.

Winter Storm in MEEKER, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Meeker County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of six to eight inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in SHERBURNE, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Sherburne County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of around six inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in STEARNS, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 12:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Stearns County during the afternoon, before tapering off toward sunset. Total snowfall amounts of five to seven inches occurred across the county.

Winter Storm in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 26-FEB-09 08:00:00 to 26-FEB-09 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Bands of heavy snow fell across Chippewa County before noon, with light snow continuing through the afternoon. Total snowfall amounts of five to six inches occurred across Chippewa county before tapering off during the afternoon.