Heavy Snow — Anoka, Minnesota

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

Event narrative

Five to eight inches of snow was reported across the county. Seven and a half inches of snow was measured in Saint Francis, 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 1167373. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.