The most significant winter storm during January started as a surge of warm advection, followed by a strong trough through the southern Rockies on Friday, January 17. A period of moderate to heavy snowfall swept across the area, accompanied by southerly winds gusting to 35 to 45 mph. Snowfall then tapered off to a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle into the evening hours, before changing back to snow. By late evening and early in the overnight, winds transitioned to northwest and increased to 35 to 45 mph, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph common as low pressure intensified across Iowa. Strong winds persisted most of Saturday as the area of low pressure moved slowly toward the western Great Lakes. Most areas received between 4 and 8 inches of snowfall as well as a glaze of ice, with just shy of a quarter inch of ice in the Sioux City area.

Blizzard in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 59 mph at Luverne and 48 mph near Beaver Creek. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 7.0 inches at Hills.

Blizzard in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 09:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts around midday January 18 reaching 46 mph 5 miles south of Hendricks and 44 mph near Lake Benton. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 3.7 inches 8 miles southeast of Hendricks. At 1647CST January 18, a vehicle lost control on snow-covered U.S. Highway 75 just south of the intersection with Township Road 46 and rolled onto its roof, resulting in an (indirect) injury to the driver.

Blizzard in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during the morning of January 18 reaching 41 mph at Pipestone. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 8.7 inches at Pipestone and 7.7 inches at Edgerton.

Blizzard in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during midday on January 18 reaching 44 mph at Slayton. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Lake Wilson.

Blizzard in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 09:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts around midday January 18 reaching 47 mph at Marshall. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Tracy, 5.5 inches at Marshall and 5.0 inches at Minneota.

Blizzard in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 07:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during midday on January 18 reaching 48 mph at Worthington and 44 mph near Rushmore. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 6.0 inches at Worthington.

Blizzard in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 09:00:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during midday on January 18 reaching 46 mph near Jeffers and 44 mph at Windom. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 4.6 inches at Windom.

Blizzard in JACKSON, MINNESOTA
From 17-JAN-20 08:30:00 to 18-JAN-20 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

A period of heavy snowfall with winds gusting to 30 to 40 mph moved through during the morning and early afternoon of January 17, before tapering to several hours of freezing drizzle.  Ice accumulations were generally a glaze to a tenth of an inch, before precipitation changed back to snow in the evening.  Winds then picked up from the northwest, with peak wind gusts during midday on January 18 reaching 45 mph at Jackson and 41 mph near Lakefield. Combined with snowfall and previous snow, winds produced numerous hours with visibility of around one-quarter mile or less, with travel not recommended. Total snowfall reached 7.2 inches at Jackson and 7.0 inches 2 miles northeast of Lakefield.