Winter Storm — Olmsted, Minnesota

2020-04-12 to 2020-04-13 · Olmsted, Minnesota

Event narrative

One person was killed in a accident when the car they were driving collided with a tow truck parked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 52 in Rochester. The accident report indicated roads were snow covered at the time of the accident. COOP and volunteer snow observers reported that 4 to 10 inches of snow fell across Olmsted County. The highest reported total was 10 inches north of Viola. Strong northwest winds created blowing and drifting snow during the late afternoon and evening hours.

Wider weather episode

A significant late season storm system dropped heavy snow on portions of southeast Minnesota on Easter Sunday, April 12th. The driver of a car was killed when they collided with a tow truck parked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 52 in Rochester. Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 10 inches and the highest reported total was 10.8 inches in Elgin (Wabasha County). As the heavy snow fell, roads quickly became snow covered and the treacherous travel conditions continued into the evening as strong northwest winds created blowing and drifting snow. With 7.5 inches in Rochester (Olmsted County), this was second highest Easter snowfall on record.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 884080. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.