Winter Weather — Big Stone, Minnesota

2023-03-16 to 2023-03-17 · Big Stone, Minnesota

Wider weather episode

An area of low pressure tracked from southwestern Minnesota into far northwestern Wisconsin on March 16th and generated between one and two inches of snow. Strong high pressure that followed resulted in a tight pressure gradient and strong northwest wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph that persisted between March 16th and 17th. Visibility was reduced from the blowing and drifting of both fresh and loose snow from the pre-existing deep snowpack, and hazardous travel was compounded when snow melted and then re-froze on road surfaces.

Hazardous or impassable roads due to low visibility and significant drifting snow resulted in numerous vehicle accidents and/or stranded motorists across the area.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1087950. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.