A Spooktacular Storm

Todd's SCTIMES Outlook for St. Cloud and all of Central Minnesota:

HALLOWEEN: Witch Watch & Werewolf Warning. Partly sunny start, more PM sunshine. Dry. High: 51.

MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear, quiet and chilly. Low: 34.

TUESDAY: Lukewarm, touch of Indian Summer. Unseasonably mild with increasing clouds and showers developing late. High: 55

WEDNESDAY: Few light showers possible early. Low: 36. High: 46

THURSDAY: Cool sunshine, increasing PM clouds. Low: 28. High: 47

FRIDAY: Cloudy with showers developing. Getting breezy. Low: 29. High: 49

SATURDAY: Gusty and cool with rain changing to snow. Low: 37. High: 49.

SUNDAY: Cold sunshine, whiff of wind chill. Low: 25. High: 36

Photo Courtesy: Star Tribune

Can you recall what you were doing 20 years ago today? I can... I was 9 years old getting ready to go trick or treating as a cow. It was a homemade costume that my mom made and I'm happy she put lots black spots on there otherwise, I would have gotten lost in the snow.

The Legendary Storm

 

The Storm Track

 

     It was a storm of legendary proportions that broke man records across the state. The storm was classified as a "Bomb", deepening 24 millibars within 24 hours as it moved from just north of St. Louis, MO to the Keweenaw Peninsula in the U.P. of Michigan. The central pressure of the low was similar to a category 1 or 2 hurricane.

Snow Totals

MSP Snow Records From 1991

 The northwest flank of the storm kept Minnesota and Wisconsin in the heavy snow corridor. Minneapolis picked up a whopping 28.4" of snow from the storm, which still holds the record for the single biggest snowstorm in recorded history at MSP. Duluth had 36.9" from the event, which was the single storm state record up until 1994 when 47" fell in the Arrowhead.

Here's a link to the 20th anniversary of the Halloween Blizzard of 1991


Here's a link to the Halloween Blizzard from the National Weather Service in Duluth, MN

photo courtesy: inquisitir.com

     Other than the witch watch and the werewolf warning, there's nothing spooky about trick or treating weather today. 2 storms look to take shape this week,  the more significant one moves in the the weekend - Todd Nelson


Here's a link to Halloween Climatology for MSP from the State Climatology Office

Record Snow Comes to the Northeast

A quick hitting storm in the Northeast left millions without power as record wet, heavy October snow fell on Saturday. Thanks to Christine Dwyer from Becket, Mass. for the picture below:

Northeast Snowfall Map

The golden snow shovel award goes to parts of New England and Massachusetts.

 

Northeast Snow Seen From Space

The fast moving storm was gone by Sunday, allowing the carpet of white to been seen from nearly 23,000 miles high via satellite.

Millions Without Power

"Millions of people from Maine to Maryland were without power as an unseasonably early nor'easter dumped heavy, wet snow over the weekend on a region more used to gaping at leaves in October than shoveling snow."

Read the full story from MSNBC Here: 

Photo Courtesy: Christine Dwyer from Becket, Mass.

Here's another great shot from Christine

The Week Ahead

I'm looking at 2 potential systems this week. The first will slide through midweek, start with a little rain and possibly mix in will a little wet snow (north) at the tail end early Wednesday.

The Bigger Storm??

The second (potential) storm looks quite a bit more interesting, especially since next weekend is the MN deer hunting opener (rifle). There will be thousands of folks out in the woods next weekend and if the latest forecast holds, there might be a lot of wet, wind blown and maybe even white deer hunters depending upon location. This one will be one to watch... Below is one of the potential solutions for next Saturday - YIKES!

Thanks for checking in, have a great Halloween!

Meteorologist Todd Nelson