Frequent snowfall so far this winter in the Twin Cities
The 2010-2011 winter has had a very active start across the upper Midwest. Within the past 40 days /from November 29th through January 7th/…the Minneapolis/St. Paul international Airport has observed at least a trace of snow on 30 days. In the past ten years…only one other 40 day period has had more days with at least a trace of snow. Ironically…this was on the same calendar day stretch from November 29th through January 7th during the 2005-2006 winter. Within that stretch…32 days with at least a trace of snow were observed. That period only had 16.2 inches of snow…far under the 36.0 inches observed during the past 40 days in the Twin Cities.
This winter has seen three snow storms produce at least six inches in the Twin Cities. These were the November 13th…December 3rd-4th…and December 10th-11th events. Since 1950…only one other winter through the first week of January has had more half foot or greater snow events. That was the 1983-1984 winter which saw four six inch or greater events up to this point. Three other Winters had also logged three six inch plus events through January 7th…and they were the 1991-1992…1996-1997…and 2000-2001 Winters.
As for total snowfall in the Twin Cities through January 7th…this winter ranks third highest since 1940. The highest snowfall totals through this Point of the winter are as follows…
Rank snowfall winter
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1. 62.0 1991-1992
2. 51.4 1983-1984
3. 45.3 2010-2011
4. 40.8 1969-1970
5. 39.9 2000-2001
Source: National Weather Service
