Winter Storm in Lac Qui Parle, Minnesota

Visibilities were dramatically reduced, reaching below 1/2 mile at times, as heavy snow fell and sustained winds were 15 to 25 mph with frequent gusts over 30 mph. The 2-day snowfall estimates ranged from about 6 to 8 inches throughout the county.

The DOT also issued a travel advisory across much of Southern Minnesota on Sunday due to the winter storm conditions, which included the southern portion of the county.

A large scale spring storm brought a round of heavy snow to the Upper Mississippi Valley from Saturday, March 14th through Sunday, March 15th. The footprint of the greatest totals stretched from southeast MN into central WI, where many places saw at least a foot of snowfall. The heavy snow combined with strong northwesterly winds resulted in reduced visibilities, often at one mile or less in the heaviest hit areas. Persistent blizzard conditions were most widespread in southern Minnesota, severely deteriorating road conditions. This led to a widespread travel advisory issued by MNDOT for much of the southern portion of the state, including the closure of the southbound lanes of I-35 near Albert Lea.

The highest snowfall reports were:

19.0 inches in Zumbrota, MN (Goodhue).

16.9 inches in Rosemount, MN (Dakota).

16.0 inches in Pine Island, MN (Goodhue).

14.8 inches in Elko New Market, MN (Scott).

14.5 inches in Lakeville, MN (Dakota).

14.5 inches in Prior Lake, MN (Scott).

14.0 inches in western Bloomington, MN (Hennepin).