Blizzard — Pope, Minnesota

2022-12-23 to 2022-12-24 · Pope, Minnesota

Event narrative

Pope County had widespread blizzard conditions south of Lake Minnewaska, but better conditions were north of there where it was more wooded and hilly. Several county roads became impassable with snow drifts around 3 feet deep. Law enforcement reported lots of crashes and people going into the ditch. Glenwood airport gusted to 45 mph and reported one quarter mile visibility.

Wider weather episode

Several inches of snow followed by rapid intensification of a low-pressure system over the Great Lakes led to a multi-day winter storm for much of Minnesota. Part 1 of this system was widespread fluffy snow with high snow-to-liquid ratios from southwest through east central Minnesota.

There was a break, and then part 2 of this system followed as strong arctic winds developed in wrap-around circulation of the low-pressure system. Wind gusts of 35-50 mph, with the highest amounts in western and southern Minnesota. These winds together with the arctic air and fresh snow led to dangerous wind-chills of -25 to -35F and blizzard conditions across the open terrain of the Minnesota River Valley. Roads became impassable due to reports of snow drifts measuring 5 to 10 feet tall and nearly 40 feet long in some areas and zero visibility in multiple counties across Western MN. Whiteout conditions forced many roads to close. Highway 71 in Redwood County remained closed for approximately 36 hours after the storm had passed. The National Guard was called upon to perform rescue missions stranded motorists Kandiyohi and Renville Counties. One Kandiyohi County rescue case involved a stranded motorist who was diagnosed with critical hypothermia after being exposed in dangerous conditions for nearly nine hours.

Rescued motorists were housed in various locations for their safety as the storm passed. In Renville County, approximately 50 people were housed at the Olivia Armory in Oliva, MN. Watonwan County opened emergency shelters in Medelia, MN and Saint James, MN. In Martin County, the Salvation Army provided hotel vouchers prior to the event for anyone in need to seek shelter during the storm. Redwood County opened a church in Sanborn to shelter 10-12 people.

Farther north and east it was more wooded, so blizzard conditions didn't develop. Roads were still slick, along with dangerous wind chills.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1064201. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.