National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

A major early spring rain and snow storm struck the Red River Valley region on Tuesday March 22nd 2011, and lingered into the 23rd. As was expected, very heavy snows fell across parts of the region. Thunder and lightning accompanied the snow as well, with over a foot and a half of snow in the central Red River Valley. In the wake of the storm, there will be little in the way of melting as temperatures remain below freezing through the weekend. The colder temperatures will also stop the run-off across the Valley Region as well.

The NWS is currently assessing this storm and it's potential impact on the 2011 spring flood. Additional information will be available later this week.

Below is a RADAR estimate of the 24 hour precipitation total from 7am Tuesday March 22nd through 7am Wednesday the 23rd.

  .

Precipitation total from 7am Tuesday March 22nd through 7am Wednesday the 23rd.

Total snowfall 7am Tuesday March 22nd through 7am Wednesday the 23rd.

Below is a table of individual reports of total precipitation. These are 24 hour totals ending as of 7 am.

Below is a table of individual reports of total snowfall. These are 24 hour totals ending as of 7 am.

  24-HOUR SNOWFALL AMOUNTS
       FOR WEDNESDAY(03/23/11)...

NORTH DAKOTA                                   SNOW
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

  MAYVILLE (TRAILL)............................19.5
  GRANDIN 3SW (CASS)...........................14.0
  BUFFALO (CASS)...............................11.1
  BALDHILL DAM @ LK ASHTABULA (BARNES).........10.0
  VALLEY CITY 2NW (BARNES).....................10.0
  NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIV (CASS)................9.5
  LITCHVILLE (BARNES)...........................9.5
  FARGO 5SW (CASS)..............................9.1
  HAVANA (SARGENT)..............................9.0
  CAYUGA (SARGENT)..............................7.0
  LISBON (RANSOM)...............................6.5
  LIDGERWOOD (RICHLAND).........................6.0
  KINDRED (CASS)................................5.7
  WEST FARGO 4SSE (CASS)........................4.8
  FARGO 1ESE (CASS).............................4.6
  CHURCHS FERRY (RAMSEY)........................3.0
  MICHIGAN UCOOP (NELSON).......................3.0
  DEVILS LAKE KDLR (RAMSEY).....................2.0
  GRAND FORKS 1SW (GRAND FORKS).................1.1
  LANKIN 9SW (WALSH)............................1.0
  ASOS @ GRAND FORKS AP (GRAND FORKS)...........0.9
  GRAND FORKS NWS (GRAND FORKS).................0.7
  LANKIN 6E (WALSH)...........................TRACE
  STARKWEATHER (RAMSEY).......................TRACE

MINNESOTA                                      SNOW
  LOCATION (COUNTY):                           FALL (IN)

  MOORHEAD (CLAY)...............................8.1
  SABIN (CLAY)..................................8.1
  WADENA (WADENA)...............................8.0
  TAMARAC WILDLIFE REFUGE (BECKER)..............6.9
  PARK RAPIDS UCOOP (HUBBARD)...................6.5
  ITASCA U OF M (CLEARWATER)....................6.0
  LONG LOST LAKE (CLEARWATER)...................6.0
  SEBEKA (WADENA)...............................6.0
  PELICAN RAPIDS (OTTER TAIL)...................4.1
  ROTHSAY (WILKIN)..............................4.0

$$

Visible satellite image showing the gradient from snow to no snow in the northern Red River Valley