Heavy Snow — West Otter Tail, Minnesota

2022-12-13 to 2022-12-16 · West Otter Tail, Minnesota

Event narrative

CoCoRaHS station 5 ESE Elizabeth reports 12.1 inches of snow. Storm total.

Wider weather episode

A complex upper low developed over the central and southern Rocky Mountain Region in the days leading up to this event. It strengthened and brought heavy snow, freezing rain, and mixed precipitation to the Northern Plains. Travel was significantly impacted, with roads and highways closed, and multiple reports of slide-offs and collisions. There were 3 periods of impactful weather associated with this system, with heavy precipitation on the 12th and 13th, light snow and blowing snow on the 14th, then additional light to moderate snowfall on the 15th and 16th. Blizzard conditions were observed on the 16th across portions of central and eastern North Dakota.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1066303. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.