During the evening of Sunday, March 14th, a very large storm system began to move out into the plains with a broad circulation across most of the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest. The surface low was centered across Kansas with several weaker shortwaves moving around the broad circulation through Monday night, March 15th. Initially, very dry air below 15,000 feet was noted from Sunday evening and Monday morning soundings at the Chanhassen NWS. This kept most of the precipitation from reaching the ground until the atmosphere started to saturate from the continuous feed of mid-level moisture.
Surface observations at Fairmont, Minnesota reported light precipitation around 1 AM CST. This area of precipitation slowly spread northward during the morning, reaching Redwood Falls, New Ulm, Mankato, and Waseca around 330 AM CST. The precipitation didn't reach the southwest metro area until 9-10 AM CST as the dry easterly flow continued.
As the system began to pivot and the deeper moisture moved northward, the precipitation ended in portions of southwest Minnesota. However, one continuous feed of mid-level moisture across southeast Minnesota, and into south-central Minnesota kept a steady area of moderate to heavy snowfall. This area of heavier precipitation was able to move as far north as the southern Twin Cities metro area during the mid-late afternoon. However, most of the forcing with this system was weakening and the precipitation started to end. By the early evening, the steadier snowfall had ended with some lingering light snow across east-central and central Minnesota.
The heavier snowfall occurred in a 25-50 mile band from New Ulm, southeast and east toward Mankato, Waseca, and Owatonna. The heaviest was reported around Mankato where there were a couple of reports of 10 to 11 inches in a 12 hour period. Another 10 to 11 inch report was near Nicollet, Minnesota.

Winter Storm in GOODHUE, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 06:00:00 to 15-MAR-21 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 4 to 8 inches of snow fell across western portions of Goodhue County.

Winter Storm in LE SUEUR, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 04:00:00 to 15-MAR-21 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across Le Sueur County.

Winter Storm in MCLEOD, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 07:00:00 to 15-MAR-21 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across McLeod County.

Winter Storm in NICOLLET, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 01:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 11 inches of snow fell across Nicollet County, with the heaviest around North Mankato.

Winter Storm in RENVILLE, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 02:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across Renville County.

Winter Storm in RICE, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 04:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 9 inches of snow fell across Rice County.

Winter Storm in SCOTT, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 05:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across far southern Scott County, with mainly 2-4 inches across the north.

Winter Storm in SIBLEY, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 03:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across Sibley County.

Winter Storm in STEELE, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 04:00:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 9 inches of snow fell across Steele County.

Winter Storm in WASECA, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 03:00:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across Waseca County.

Winter Storm in BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 01:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 3 to 11 inches of snow fell across Blue Earth County, with the heaviest around Mankato.

Winter Storm in BROWN, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 01:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 3 to 9 inches of snow fell across Brown County, with the heaviest around New Ulm.

Winter Storm in FREEBORN, MINNESOTA
From 15-MAR-21 02:30:00 to 15-MAR-21 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Several sources of weather observations indicated 3 to 9 inches of snow fell across Freeborn County, with the heaviest along the Freeborn/Steele County line.