The first in a two part winter storm produced locally 4 to 7 inches of snowfall across portions of west central Minnesota during the late morning of Thursday, December 30th, through the early morning of Friday, December 31st. The first part of this winter storm had a large area of warm air aloft and allowed for mainly light rain, mixed with snow and sleet, before the colder air moved across the area late in the morning. Strong north to northwest winds developed on the back side of this system creating blizzard conditions during the evening and early morning hours, before the system moved off to the northeast.

Winter Storm in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 11:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Estimated snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches combined with northwest winds of 20 to 40 mph to create low visibilities and wind chills in the teens to twenties below zero.

Winter Storm in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Estimated snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches combined with northwest winds of 20 to 45 mph to create low visibilities and wind chills in the teens to twenties below zero.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches combined with northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph to create low visibilities and wind chills in the teens to twenties below zero. Interstate 94 was closed from Alexandria to the North Dakota border due to the dangerous winter conditions.

Blizzard in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Increasing north to northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, combined with new snowfall, to create blizzard conditions across western Douglas County.

Blizzard in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Increasing north to northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, combined with new snowfall, to create blizzard conditions across western Lac Qui Parle County.

Winter Storm in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Snowfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches combined with northwest winds of 20 to 45 mph to create low visibilities and wind chills in the teens to twenties below zero.

Blizzard in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Increasing north to northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, combined with new snowfall, to create blizzard conditions across Stevens County.

Blizzard in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Increasing north to northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, combined with new snowfall, to create blizzard conditions across western Swift County.

Blizzard in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-10 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Increasing north to northwest winds of 25 to 45 mph, combined with new snowfall, to create blizzard conditions across western Yellow Medicine County.

Winter Storm in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-10 10:00:00 to 30-DEC-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Estimated snowfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches combined with northwest winds of 20 to 45 mph to create low visibilities and wind chills in the teens to twenties below zero.