Heavy Snow — Washington, Minnesota

2024-03-21 to 2024-03-22 · Washington, Minnesota

Event narrative

Four to six inches of snow was reported across the northern region of the county. Six inches of snow was measured 3 miles W of Marine on Saint Croix, MN.

Wider weather episode

A troughing pattern over the Pacific Northwest ejected a shortwave trough across the Northern Continental U.S. In the mid-levels of the atmosphere, a defined thermal gradient developed over south-central MN which progressed northward into central MN. Forcing for snowfall development was maximized along a narrow band extending from Stearns County to northern Washington County. This forcing led to heavy snowfall rates exceeding one inch per hour with six to eight inches of snow accumulations.

Highest snowfall observations for this event were:

8.5 inches in Lindstrom, MN

8.0 inches 7 miles SE of St. Cloud, MN

7.5 inches in Saint Francis, MN

7.0 inches 5 SW of Isanti, MN

6.0 inches 3 W of Marine on the St. Croix, MN.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1167370. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.