Winter Storm — Mille Lacs, Minnesota

2022-12-13 to 2022-12-14 · Mille Lacs, Minnesota

Event narrative

Several inches of snow (4 to 5) were observed in mainly in the southern half of the county. A COOP Observer reported 5 inches in Milaca, MN. Prior to the snow, there was a wintry mix of precipitation. The combination of a wintry mix followed by several inches of snow verifies the winter storm warning.

Wider weather episode

A surface cyclone with warm air aloft was forecast to bring a wintry mix / ice across western MN, and snow farther north. Areas south and east of the Winter Storm Warning saw less wintry precipitation due to warmer temperatures. Western MN did see some ice, but the main impacts were from the accumulating snow. Several counties had over 6 of snow once it transitioned from the wintry mix.

Snowfall observations from this event ranged between 4-7 inches across the warned area. A few of the higher snowfall totals included 6.5 to 7 inches just South of Mora (Kanabec), Long Prairie (Todd), and St. Cloud (Stearns). KAXN ASOS station in Douglas County also recorded a 41 mph wind gust.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1064066. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.