Prolonged snowfall produced heavy accumulations of 1 to 2 feet in southwest Minnesota. The snowfall took place from two days before to the day after Christmas. The snowfall was accompanied by increasing north to northwest winds which caused areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow from Christmas Day through the night of December 27th. The heavy snow and drifting in the winter storm, along the the areas of very low visibilities, made travel impossible for much of the time.

Winter Storm in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 16:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 12 to 16 inches. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Storm in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 14 to 20 inches, including 16.5 inches at the town of Pipestone. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Storm in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 14 to 20 inches. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Weather in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.

Winter Weather in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.

Winter Weather in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times. A vehicle driven by a 69 year old Lake Shetek woman slid off a road near her home on the night of December 27th. The woman was later found dead by a snowplow driver some distance from the vehicle, and ii was determined that she died after attempting to walk to a highway from her vehicle.

Winter Storm in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 18 to 24 inches, including 22.5 inches near Worthington. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce. The roof of a large cattle feed bard near Adrian collapsed on Christmas day, killing over 50 cattle and injuring others, but causing no human fatalities or injuries.

Winter Storm in JACKSON, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 15:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 16 to 22 inches. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Weather in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.

Winter Storm in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 16:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 12 to 18 inches, including 16 inches at Marshall. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Storm in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 16:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 16 to 22 inches, including 21 inches at Windom. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Storm in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 23-DEC-09 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Heavy snow over 3 days produced accumulations of 16 to 24 inches, including 22.5 inches at Luverne. Increasing north to northwest winds reached sustained speeds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 35 mph. This produced areas of visibilities below a quarter mile in blowing snow from Christmas day to the start of the next day, in addition to drifting the heavy snowfall. Most roads were blocked and travel was brought to a standstill, as was the limited holiday commerce.

Winter Weather in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.

Winter Weather in JACKSON, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.

Winter Weather in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 26-DEC-09 12:00:00 to 28-DEC-09 06:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Very slowly subsiding northwest winds remained strong enough to cause significant drifting snow and areas of very low visibilities in blowing snow through the night of December 27th. Travel remained difficult and hazardous, and wind chills were around zero at times.