A storm system intensified across the northern Great Lakes and caused an area of snow to develop across portions of western and southern Minnesota during the mid morning hours of January 25th.
Although snowfall amounts were light and generally ranged from one to two inches, previous snowfall on the 24th that wasn't associated with this storm system, combined with the newly fallen snow to produce white-out conditions as wind gusts increased to over 40 mph.  This system was so strong that it produced a wind gust of 58 mph at Morris, and wind damage near Bertha in Todd County.
Specifically, wind speeds increased from the northwest at 25 to 40 mph by mid-morning of the 25th, with a few gusts in excess of 50 mph in the favored areas in western and southern Minnesota.  These wind speeds caused surface visibilities to decrease to less than one quarter mile for several hours during the height of the storm.
Although wind speeds continued during the afternoon and early evening hours, surface visibilities improved significantly after 6 pm. However, numerous roads were closed due to severe blowing and drifting.

Winter Storm in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Albert Lea AWOS had strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Blizzard in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 08:30:00 to 25-JAN-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Morris AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 830 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile.

Blizzard in MARTIN, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Fairmont AWOS recorded wind speeds over 35 mph during the late morning hours of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 11 am, and continued through the late afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile.  Wind speeds gusted over 55 mph across western portions of Martin County based on a local highway sensor.

Blizzard in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Redwood Falls ASOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. Wind gusts over 50 mph were common in the southwest portion of the county.

Blizzard in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 10:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Montevideo AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 10 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile after 3 pm.

Winter Storm in MEEKER, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Litchfield AWOS had strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Winter Storm in SIBLEY, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph occurred across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Blizzard in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 10:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Madison AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 10 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile after 3 pm.

Winter Storm in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: ASOS

Alexandria ASOS reported strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Blizzard in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 10:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Both Canby and Granite Falls AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 10 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile after 3 pm.

High Wind in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:56:00 to 25-JAN-10 09:56:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Morris AWOS recorded a wind gust of 58 mph.

Blizzard in WATONWAN, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

St. James AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late  afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile.

Winter Storm in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph occurred across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Winter Storm in MCLEOD, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Hutchison AWOS had strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Blizzard in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 08:30:00 to 25-JAN-10 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Glenwood AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 830 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. The blizzard conditions were observed for mainly the southwest half of the county.

Blizzard in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Both Appleton and Benton AWOS reported wind speeds over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the early afternoon hours before rising above 1/2 mile after 530 pm.

Winter Storm in STEELE, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Faribault AWOS had strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Winter Storm in WASECA, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Waseca AWOS had strong winds of 20 to 40 mph, with gusts of 45 mph across the county for several hours, however, visibilities did not drop below one half mile.  Near blizzard conditions were observed in open country where driving was not advised. Snowfall amounts were light and under one inch.

Blizzard in RENVILLE, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th. Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. Wind gusts over 50 mph were common in the western part of the county.

High Wind in TODD, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 10:48:00 to 25-JAN-10 10:48:00 (CST-6)
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.50K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A trained spotter reported that the front awning of a local gas station near Bertha was blown down due to high winds.

Blizzard in KANDIYOHI, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Light snow began across Kandiyohi County during the early morning hours of January 25th.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th. As the surface winds increased, surface visibilities decreased to less than one quarter mile.  Surface visibilities increased above 1/2 mile by the late afternoon as wind speeds slowly subsided.

Blizzard in NICOLLET, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late  afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. The blizzard conditions were observed for mainly the southwest half of the county.

Blizzard in BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. The blizzard conditions were mainly felt across the southwest half of the county.

Blizzard in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile.

Blizzard in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 25-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 25-JAN-10 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

The Minnesota Department of Transportation road reports were combined with supplemental surface observations to indicate that wind speeds increased to over 35 mph during the morning of January 25th.  Surface visibilities decreased to less than 1/4 of a mile by 9 am, and continued through the late  afternoon hours before rising above 1 mile. True blizzard conditions were mainly felt in the western part of Faribault County where wind gusts were over 50 mph.