A rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17.  An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota. While precipitation started in many locations as light rain or brief light freezing rain, a sharp fall in temperatures in the morning hours forced a change to a couple hours of heavy snowfall, accompanied by increasing northerly wind. With most ditches already full and snow depths the morning of March 16 between 7 and 20 inches, the new snowfall and winds which gusted as high as 45 to 55 mph led to the rapid development of significant snow drifts and widespread blowing snow with blizzard or near-blizzard conditions, on top of the added hazard of a flash freeze.
Numerous vehicles were stranded during the 16th and into early hours on the 17th in Cottonwood, Lyon and Murray counties. Seven motorists were forced to remain in vehicles overnight in Murray County, and over 60 travelers were put up in shelters in parts of Murray and Cottonwood Counties.
Snowfall across southwest Minnesota was generally from 2 to 4 inches, with only a light glaze of ice accumulation.

Blizzard in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 07:30:00 to 16-MAR-23 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Brief mixed precipitation quickly changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which totaled 2.5 inches at the CoCoRAHS site 8 miles southeast of Hendricks. Ditches remained full from prior seasonal snow, and as northerly wind increased and gusted by mid-afternoon as high as 47 mph at the Minnesota Road Weather Information System sites MN030 near Hendricks and MN028 near Lake Benton, significant drifts to several feet and impassable roads were reported across much of the county. Visibility in open areas was frequently less than a quarter mile, often near zero at road level. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways closed, which lasted into the following morning.

Winter Weather in LINCOLN, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 15:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Winter Weather in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 18:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Blizzard in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 10:30:00 to 16-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Brief mixed precipitation quickly changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which totaled 2.8 inches at the COOP site in Lake Wilson and 2.2 inches at a CoCoRAHS site in Slayton.  Ditches remained full from prior seasonal snow, and as northerly wind increased and gusted by mid-afternoon as high as 46 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN071 at Jeffers, and Automated Weather Observing System site KTKC at Tracy, significant drifts to several feet and impassable roads were reported across much of the county. Visibility in open areas was frequently less than a quarter mile, often near zero at road level. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways closed, which lasted into the following morning.

Winter Weather in PIPESTONE, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 04:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

After a brief period of rain and freezing rain with less than a tenth of an inch ice accumulation, precipitation changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which brought 3.0 inches to the COOP observer in Pipestone and 2.5 inches to a CoCoRAHS site in Edgerton. As winds increased on March 16 with gusts up to 45 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System Site MN154 near Trosky, spotty locations saw visibility briefly down to one-half mile or less at times during the late morning and afternoon. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways closed, which lasted into the following morning. Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Blizzard in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 16-MAR-23 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Brief mixed precipitation quickly changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which totaled 3.0 inches at the COOP site in Worthington.  Ditches remained full from prior seasonal snow, and as northerly wind increased and gusted by mid-afternoon as high as 53 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN007 near Rushmore and 51 mph at Automated Weather Observing System site KOTG at Worthington, significant drifts to several feet and impassable roads were reported across the county.  Visibility in open areas was frequently less than a quarter mile, often near zero at road level. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways and Interstate 90 closed, which lasted into the following morning. One five vehicle accident on eastbound Minnesota State Highway 60 3 miles northeast of Worthington resulted in five indirect injuries.

Winter Weather in MURRAY, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 18:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Winter Weather in NOBLES, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 18:30:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Blizzard in LYON, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 08:30:00 to 16-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Brief mixed precipitation quickly changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which totaled 4.0 inches at the COOP site in Tracy and 3.0 inches at Minneota. Ditches remained full from prior seasonal snow, and as northerly wind increased and gusted by mid-afternoon as high as 58 mph at the Minnesota Road Weather Information System sites MN160 at Florence and MN156 near Taunton, and 46 mph at Automated Weather Observing System sites KMML at Marshall and KTKC at Tracy, significant drifts to several feet and impassable roads were reported across much of the county. Visibility in open areas was frequently less than a quarter mile, often near zero at road level. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways closed, which lasted into the following morning.

Winter Weather in ROCK, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 04:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

After a brief period of rain and freezing rain with less than a tenth of an inch ice accumulation, precipitation changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which brought 1.5 inches to the COOP observer site in Hills. As winds increased on March 16 with gusts up to 51 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System Sites MN006 in Beaver Creek and MN147 near Magnolia, spotty locations saw visibility briefly down to one-half mile or less at times during the late morning and afternoon. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways and Interstate 90 closed, which lasted into the following morning. Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Blizzard in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 11:00:00 to 16-MAR-23 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Brief mixed precipitation quickly changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which totaled 4.0 inches at the COOP site in Windom. Ditches remained full from prior seasonal snow, and as northerly wind increased and gusted by mid-afternoon as high as 51 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System sites MN150 at Mountain Lake and 46 mph at MN071 at Jeffers, and 45 mph at Automated Weather Observing System site KMWM at Windom, significant drifts to several feet and impassable roads were reported across much of the county. Visibility in open areas was frequently less than a quarter mile, often near zero at road level. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways closed, which lasted into the following morning.  Fifty-two motorists were stranded at a shelter in Windom, with an additional 12 at Westbrook and several in Jeffers and Mountain Lake.

Winter Weather in COTTONWOOD, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 20:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 19:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.

Winter Weather in JACKSON, MINNESOTA
From 16-MAR-23 05:00:00 to 17-MAR-23 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Reported by: COOP Observer

After a brief period of rain and freezing rain with less than a tenth of an inch ice accumulation, precipitation changed to a brief period of heavier snowfall which brought 2.0 inches to the COOP observer site near Lakefield. As winds increased on March 16 to gusts up to 53 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System Sites MN008 near Lakefield and Automated Weather Observing System site KMJQ in Jackson, spotty locations saw visibility briefly down to one-half mile or less at times during the afternoon. MNDOT quickly placed the area in a no travel advised status with all state highways and Interstate 90 closed, which lasted into the following morning. Winds increased again during the later morning and afternoon of March 17 with frequent convective snow showers that briefly reduced visibility at times to one-half mile or less.