A well advertised winter storm that dropped a narrow area of 12-16 inches of snow across south central, and into southeast Minnesota, moved from Colorado, into the Upper Midwest from Thursday evening, February 23rd, through Friday evening, February 24th. This storm system was advertised almost seven days in advance to be a potent winter storm that had the potential of a foot or more of snow.
Different scenarios of where the heaviest snow would fall, even as soon as 12 hours before the storm developed, made this event extremely hard to predict. Once the snow bands developed across far southern Minnesota the evening of Thursday, February 23rd, the forecast narrowed the snow line farther southeast across southern Minnesota. Eventually, a foot of snow fell from Waseca, east-northeast to Owatonna, and Red Wing, and eventually into west central Wisconsin. This system produced two rounds of snow. First, a band of snow developed across far southern Minnesota, and moved slowly northward toward Mankato, to Faribault and Red Wing by midnight. Thundersnow was reported at the Albert Lea airport Thursday evening, with a few hours of heavy wet snow.
The snow line moved as far north as the far southeast part of the Twin Cities metro area near Elko and Northfield, east to Cannon Falls. This band of snow continued until Friday morning before moving northeast across northern Wisconsin. A secondary band of snow developed Friday morning and continued through the afternoon as the upper level part of the storm moved across the Upper Midwest. Eventually, 12-16 inches of snow fell from Waseca, northeast to Owatonna, Kenyon and Goodhue. Surrounding this area, 6 to 12 inches fell from Fairmont, northeast to Faribault and Red Wing, south to the Iowa border.
Some of the higher totals included; Kenyon at 16 inches, Owatonna and Goodhue at 14 inches, and Mapleton and Waseca at 13 inches.

Winter Storm in BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 19:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 6 to 13 inches of snow that fell late Thursday afternoon, through Friday morning. The heaviest totals were near Mapleton which received 13 inches.

Winter Storm in FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 17:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 6 to 9 inches of snow that fell Thursday afternoon, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were near Winnebago which received 9 inches.

Winter Storm in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 17:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 9 to 13 inches of snow that fell Thursday afternoon, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were near Albert Lea which received 13 inches.

Winter Storm in GOODHUE, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 19:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 12 to 16 inches of snow that fell Thursday evening, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were near Kenyon which received 16 inches.

Winter Storm in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 20:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 13:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 2 to 9 inches of snow that fell Thursday evening, through Friday morning. The heaviest totals were near the far southeast corner of the county which received 9 inches. Only a light dusting occurred in the far northwest part of the county.

Winter Storm in MARTIN, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 17:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 6 to 8 inches of snow that fell Thursday afternoon, through Friday morning. The heaviest totals were near Welcome which received 8 inches.

Winter Storm in RICE, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 19:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 4 to 12 inches of snow that fell Thursday evening, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were southeast of Faribault which received 12 inches. Only an inch or two fell in the northern part of the county.

Winter Storm in STEELE, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 12 to 14 inches of snow that fell late Thursday afternoon, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were near Owatonna which received 14 inches.

Winter Storm in WASECA, MINNESOTA
From 23-FEB-17 18:00:00 to 24-FEB-17 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Local observers and trained spotters reported between 10 to 13 inches of snow that fell late Thursday afternoon, through Friday afternoon. The heaviest totals were near Waseca which received 13 inches.