A strong winter storm developed across the northern Rockies Wednesday morning January 6th, then dropped east-southeast across the northern Plains and upper Midwest by Thursday morning.
Initially, a dry arctic air mass allowed for snowfall to be light and fluffy across the region, with snowfall ratios of 15/20-1.  Once the system intensified, strong northerly winds developed Wednesday evening and caused considerable blowing and drifting snow across the area.  Although snowfall totals range from three to six inches, this storm caused low wind chill values of 20 to 35 below, white-out conditions, and several major roads to be closed during the height of the storm.
This system slowly moved east of the region, allowing for the blowing snow to finally subside.  However, very low wind chills continued along with significant drifting snow across highways, and county roads through portions of western and south central Minnesota.
The following are some of the heavier snowfall totals from this storm.
6.9 inches in Fairmont, or Martin County
6.9 inches in Winnebago, or Faribault County.
6 inches in Dawson, or in Lac Qui Parle County.
6 inches in Welcome, or Martin County.
5 inches in Granite Falls, or Yellow Medicine County.
5 inches north of Boyd in Lac Qui Parle County.

Winter Storm in MARTIN, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 12:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across Martin County the afternoon of January 6th.  Snowfall amounts ranged from four to six inches, with locally higher amounts near Fairmont.  In addition to the snowfall, wind speeds increased significantly overnight and caused area roadways to be snow covered and impassable.

Winter Storm in REDWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across western Redwood County by the late morning and early afternoon hours of January 6th.  A few inches of snow had fallen by nightfall with wind speeds increasing to over 30 mph by midnight.  Significant blowing and drifting snow develop overnight and caused area roadways to be snow covered and blocked.

Winter Storm in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 12:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across Brown County the afternoon of January 6th.  Although only a few inches of snow fell across the county by the morning of the 7th, wind speeds increased to over 30 mph.  These increasing wind speeds combined with the light snow to cause area roadways to be snow covered and impassable.

Winter Storm in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across western Swift County near Appleton the morning of the 6th.  A few inches of snow already fell in western Swift County by noon with several more inches by nightfall.  Wind speed increased significantly overnight with gusts over 35 to 40 mph by morning.  These wind speeds along with several inches of snow, caused area roads to be snow covered and closed due to significant blowing and drifting.

Winter Storm in WATONWAN, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 12:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across Watonwan County the afternoon of January 6th.  Several inches of fell across the county by the morning of the 7th, with wind speeds increasing to over 30 mph.  These wind speeds combined with snowfall amounts of three to five inches, caused significant blowing and drifting snow, which closed several roads across the county.

Winter Storm in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 06:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across western Lac Qui Parle County the morning of January 6th.  Several inches of snow had already fallen in the western part of the county by noon with more light snow during the afternoon and evening. By the evening, wind speeds increased significantly and caused area roadways to be snow covered and blocked due to blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 06:30:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow developed across western Chippewa County the morning of January 6th.  Around two inches of snow had already fallen by noon with more snow during the afternoon and evening. By the late evening, wind speeds increased significantly and caused area roadways to be snow covered and blocked due to blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in YELLOW MEDICINE, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 06:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Light snow developed across western Yellow Medicine County the morning of January 6th.  Several inches of snow had already fallen in the western part of the county by noon with more light snow during the afternoon and evening. By the evening, wind speeds increased significantly and caused area roadways to be snow covered and blocked due to blowing and drifting snow.

Winter Storm in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 15:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Light snow developed across Faribault County the afternoon of January 6th.  Snowfall amounts by the morning of January 7th ranged from a few inches in the eastern part of the county, to nearly 7 inches around Winnebago.  As wind speeds increased to over 30 mph, area roadways became snow covered and impassable the morning of the 7th.

Winter Storm in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 06-JAN-10 09:00:00 to 07-JAN-10 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Light snow began in Stevens County during the mid morning hours of January 6th.  Although snowfall was not heavy and amounts were less than three inches, strong winds developed overnight of the 6th and caused considerable blowing and drifting snow.