An Arctic cold front slowly moved southward across the Upper Midwest from Sunday evening, December 30th, to the afternoon of Monday, December 31st. Along this front, a few bands of snow developed from west central, through central and northeast Minnesota during the early morning of Monday, December 31st. A few areas received up to 4 to 6 inches during this period, with some freezing precipitation during the onset Sunday evening near Madison, Appleton, and Morris. Most of the snow fell from 9 PM CST Sunday through 6 AM CST Sunday morning. However, areas of blowing snow intensified Sunday morning in west central Minnesota, with gusts of 30 to 45 mph. This created whiteout conditions in some areas, especially in open country. The Minnesota Department of Transportation had several counties in west central Minnesota under a Travel Not Advised status as the storm intensified and caused roads to become hazardous.
Although widespread blowing snow diminished Monday afternoon, skies cleared and temperatures dropped below zero, so wind chill values fell to dangerous levels as wind speeds remained in the 25 to 35 mph range. Slowly toward midnight, winds subsided but temperatures continued to drop.

Winter Storm in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-18 17:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Several weather sensors in Lac Qui Parle County showed freezing precipitation develop in the late afternoon of Sunday, December 30th. This area of precipitation changed over to light snow before midnight as the Arctic front moved south of the area. After midnight, wind speed increased to 25 to 35 mph, with occasional gusts of 40 to 45 mph to produced widespread blowing snow. The snow ending after in the morning, but the winds continued, and produced very hazardous driving conditions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with No Travel Advised due to the white out conditions.

Winter Storm in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several weather sensors in western Chippewa County showed freezing precipitation develop in the early evening of Sunday, December 30th. This area of precipitation changed over to light snow toward midnight as the Arctic front moved south of the area. After 6 am, wind speed increased to 25 to 35 mph, with occasional gusts of 40 to 45 mph to produced widespread blowing snow. The snow ending after in the morning, but the winds continued, and produced very hazardous driving conditions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with No Travel Advised due to the white out conditions. Most of the impacted weather occurred in the western 1/4 of the county.

Winter Storm in POPE, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-18 21:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several weather sensors in Pope County showed freezing precipitation develop in the evening of Sunday, December 30th. This area of precipitation changed over to light snow before midnight as the Arctic front moved south of the area. After 6 AM, wind speed increased to 20 to 25 mph, with occasional gusts of 35 mph to produced areas of blowing snow. The snow ending after in the morning, but the winds continued, and produced very hazardous driving conditions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with No Travel Advised due to the white out conditions.

Winter Storm in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-18 21:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several weather sensors in western Swift County showed freezing precipitation develop in the early evening of Sunday, December 30th. This area of precipitation changed over to light snow toward midnight as the Arctic front moved south of the area. After 6 am, wind speed increased to 25 to 35 mph, with occasional gusts of 40 to 45 mph to produced widespread blowing snow. The snow ending after in the morning, but the winds continued, and produced very hazardous driving conditions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with No Travel Advised due to the white out conditions. Most of the impacted weather occurred in the western 1/2 of the county.

Winter Storm in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 30-DEC-18 21:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several weather sensors in Stevens County showed freezing precipitation develop in the early evening of Sunday, December 30th. This area of precipitation changed over to light snow toward midnight as the Arctic front moved south of the area. After 6 am, wind speed increased to 25 to 35 mph, with occasional gusts of 40 to 45 mph to produced widespread blowing snow. The snow ending after in the morning, but the winds continued, and produced very hazardous driving conditions. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with No Travel Advised due to the white out conditions.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in CHIPPEWA, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind chill values dropped to -35 F for several hours in the evening of Monday, December 31st. As temperatures dropped into the single digits below zero, and wind speeds averaged around 30 mph, wind chill values averaged around -35F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in LAC QUI PARLE, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind chill values dropped to -35 F for several hours in the evening of Monday, December 31st. As temperatures dropped into the single digits below zero, and wind speeds averaged around 30 mph, wind chill values averaged around -35F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in STEVENS, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind chill values dropped to -35 F for several hours in the evening of Monday, December 31st. As temperatures dropped into the single digits below zero, and wind speeds averaged around 30 mph, wind chill values averaged around -35F.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SWIFT, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 18:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Wind chill values dropped to -35 F for several hours in the evening of Monday, December 31st. As temperatures dropped into the single digits below zero, and wind speeds averaged around 30 mph, wind chill values averaged around -35F.

Winter Weather in DOUGLAS, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 00:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Department of Highways

Several weather sensors in Douglas County showed a brief period of light to moderate snowfall during the early morning of Monday, December, 3st. Snowfall amounts averaged around 4 to 5 inches before it tapered off in the morning. However, during the morning, wind speed increased to 20 to 30 mph and produced areas of blowing snow, but mainly in open country. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with Completed Snow Covered as the storm intensified.

Winter Weather in MORRISON, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 02:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several weather observers measured between 4 and 5 inches of snow that fell early Monday morning, December 31st. However, during the morning, wind speed increased to 20 to 30 mph and produced areas of blowing snow, but mainly in open country. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with Completed Snow Covered as the storm intensified.

Winter Weather in TODD, MINNESOTA
From 31-DEC-18 02:00:00 to 31-DEC-18 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several weather observers measured between 4 and 5 inches of snow that fell early Monday morning, December 31st. However, during the morning, wind speed increased to 20 to 30 mph and produced areas of blowing snow, but mainly in open country. The Minnesota Department of Transportation updated their web site with Completed Snow Covered as the storm intensified.