The Heavy Snowfall of March 22-23, 2015

Overview

A complex and narrow band of heavy snow fell across the area March 22, 2015 - bringing isolated amounts of 10-15 inches! The snow began in the later morning over southeast Minnesota, and continued to increase in intensity while focusing into a narrow band as the day progressed. Temperatures remained near the freezing mark because of the early snow onset, which made any precipitation that was forecast to fall as rain, instead fall as snow. Into the evening, the narrow band of snow was intense, and shifted into Wisconsin, but it only affected those right under it (see the afternoon and evening radar loop of the narrow band). Only flurries or cloudy skies were observed outside the snow band. These narrow and transient band systems provide a big challenge to forecasters trying to forecast accurate snow totals. Overnight, the main heart of the system swept across the area bringing another more widespread accumulation period of snow. Monday morning, the storm moved out to the east.

Radar loop from Sunday-Monday
morning, March 22-23 2015

Radar loop of the narrow band affecting the
region from 1-9 pm Sunday March 22, 2015

Snowfall Maps

Regional Snowfall Map

Photographs from around the area...


Dorchester - Paula H	Decorah- Drew D	Elkader - IA DOT

Viroqua - Eric H	Wauzeka - Kate W	Prairie du Chien - Laura L

Snowfall Reports

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       LAT/LON

...ALLAMAKEE COUNTY...
WAUKON                       12.0 IN   0755 AM 03/23   43.27N/91.48W

...CHICKASAW COUNTY...
N. WASHINGTON                5.9 IN    0707 AM 03/23   43.12N/92.42W
NEW HAMPTON                  4.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.06N/92.31W
NEW HAMPTON 0.4 SW           4.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.06N/92.32W
IONIA 2W                     2.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.03N/92.50W

...CLAYTON COUNTY...
MARQUETTE                   12.0 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.04N/91.18W
MONONA WWTP                 10.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.04N/91.40W
VOLGA 1NE                    3.3 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.81N/91.52W
ELKADER 6SSW                 1.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.78N/91.45W
GUTTENBERG DAM 10            0.7 IN    0600 AM 03/23   42.78N/91.10W

...FAYETTE COUNTY...
WAUCOMA 3.2 S                3.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.01N/92.03W
FAYETTE                      2.4 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.85N/91.82W
WADENA                       1.5 IN    0800 AM 03/23   42.84N/91.66W

...FLOYD COUNTY...
CHARLES CITY                 1.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.06N/92.67W
NORA SPRINGS 2.4 SSE         1.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.11N/92.99W
NASHUA 2SW                   0.7 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.94N/92.57W

...HOWARD COUNTY...
CRESCO 1NE                   5.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.39N/92.09W
ELMA                         2.9 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.24N/92.44W

...MITCHELL COUNTY...
RICEVILLE                    4.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.36N/92.55W
ST ANSGAR                    2.8 IN    0630 AM 03/23   43.38N/92.92W
OSAGE                        2.6 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.28N/92.81W
MONA 2S                      2.5 IN    1015 AM 03/23   43.46N/92.94W

...WINNESHIEK COUNTY...
DECORAH 7NE                 11.5 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.38N/91.69W
DECORAH 8ENE                11.5 IN    0728 AM 03/23   43.34N/91.64W
DECORAH 5E                   9.5 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.30N/91.70W

...MINNESOTA...

...DODGE COUNTY...
MANTORVILLE 2ESE             8.0 IN    1000 AM 03/23   44.05N/92.72W
KASSON 1NE                   8.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.05N/92.74W

...FILLMORE COUNTY...
SPRING VALLEY 3E            10.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.68N/92.33W
SPRING VALLEY 3SW           10.0 IN    0830 AM 03/23   43.66N/92.43W
PRESTON 1SSE                 9.6 IN    0830 AM 03/23   43.66N/92.08W
HARMONY                      9.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.55N/92.01W
CHATFIELD 9ESE               8.2 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.79N/92.03W
3 N FILLMORE                 8.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.79N/92.26W
MABEL                        8.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.52N/91.76W
LANESBORO                    7.9 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.72N/91.97W
PETERSON 1S                  7.7 IN    0704 AM 03/23   43.78N/91.82W
WYKOFF 3.1 NW                7.6 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.74N/92.31W
2 SSW WHALAN                 7.4 IN    1000 AM 03/23   43.71N/91.94W
PRESTON                      7.4 IN    0815 AM 03/23   43.67N/92.07W
WYKOFF                       6.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.71N/92.27W

...HOUSTON COUNTY...
CALEDONIA 5S                 8.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.56N/91.51W
LA CRESCENT 1NNW             7.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.83N/91.31W
CALEDONIA                    6.7 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.63N/91.50W
SPRING GROVE 4N              6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.61N/91.62W
LA CRESCENT 0.7 NNW          4.6 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.84N/91.31W

...MOWER COUNTY...
GRAND MEADOW                 8.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.71N/92.57W
AUSTIN                       6.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.67N/92.97W
AUSTIN WASTE WATER TREATMENT 5.7 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.65N/92.97W
AUSTIN 2NE                   5.2 IN    0930 AM 03/23   43.68N/92.95W

...OLMSTED COUNTY...
PINE ISLAND 2S              10.6 IN    0730 AM 03/23   44.19N/92.65W
ORONOCO                     10.5 IN    0630 AM 03/23   44.17N/92.53W
ROCHESTER 2.6 NE            10.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.04N/92.44W
ORONOCO 3SE                  9.9 IN    0915 AM 03/23   44.14N/92.48W
ORONOCO 1S                   9.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.15N/92.54W
BYRON 4 NORTH                8.4 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.09N/92.64W
ROCHESTER                    8.0 IN    0735 AM 03/23   44.01N/92.48W
ROCHESTER AP 2NE             7.9 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.93N/92.48W
ROCHESTER ITNL AIRPORT       7.9 IN    0654 AM 03/23   43.91N/92.50W
ELGIN 2SSW                   7.6 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.10N/92.27W

...WABASHA COUNTY...
ZUMBRO FALLS 5NNE           10.5 IN    0830 AM 03/23   44.35N/92.39W
HAMMOND 1S                  10.5 IN    0645 AM 03/23   44.21N/92.37W
ZUMBRO FALLS 3.5 SSW         9.3 IN    0745 AM 03/23   44.24N/92.46W
PLAINVIEW                    9.0 IN    0730 AM 03/23   44.16N/92.17W
THEILMAN 1SSW                8.9 IN    0830 AM 03/23   44.28N/92.19W
LAKE CITY                    8.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   44.44N/92.28W
WABASHA                      7.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.39N/92.05W

...WINONA COUNTY...
WINONA 4SE                   9.5 IN    0730 AM 03/23   44.02N/91.61W
GOODVIEW                     8.9 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.07N/91.71W
MINNESOTA CITY               8.0 IN    0815 AM 03/23   44.09N/91.75W
WINONA 3S                    7.5 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.99N/91.61W
ALTURA 5W                    7.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.06N/92.04W
MINNESOTA CITY DAM 5         6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.16N/91.81W
TREMPEALEAU DAM 6            6.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.00N/91.44W
WINONA DAM 5A                6.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.09N/91.67W
LA CRESCENT DAM 7            4.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.87N/91.31W

...WISCONSIN...

...ADAMS COUNTY...
FRIENDSHIP                   0.3 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.98N/89.83W

...BUFFALO COUNTY...
ALMA DAM 4                   7.2 IN    0600 AM 03/23   44.33N/91.92W

...CLARK COUNTY...
NEILLSVILLE 3ESE             0.7 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.54N/90.54W
NEILLSVILLE 3NW              0.1 IN    0729 AM 03/23   44.61N/90.65W

...CRAWFORD COUNTY...
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN            13.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.05N/91.13W
STEUBEN 4SE                 10.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.13N/90.84W
LYNXVILLE DAM 9             10.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.21N/91.10W
MOUNT ZION                   8.8 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.26N/90.73W
GAYS MILLS 6SE               8.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.26N/90.76W

...GRANT COUNTY...
WOODMAN                     15.0 IN    1030 AM 03/23   43.09N/90.80W
FENNIMORE                   15.0 IN    0734 AM 03/23   42.98N/90.66W
LANCASTER                   11.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.85N/90.71W
LANCASTER 0.3 N             11.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   42.85N/90.71W
MUSCODA                      9.5 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.20N/90.44W
LANCASTER 4WSW               8.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   42.83N/90.79W
CUBA CITY                    3.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   42.60N/90.43W
SINSINAWA                    1.5 IN    1037 AM 03/23   42.52N/90.54W
CASSVILLE                    1.5 IN    0800 AM 03/23   42.72N/90.99W

...JACKSON COUNTY...
MELROSE                      4.3 IN    0529 AM 03/23   44.13N/90.99W

...LA CROSSE COUNTY...
HOLMEN 1NW                   8.5 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.97N/91.27W
WEST SALEM                   7.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.90N/91.09W
LA CROSSE REGIONAL AIRPORT   7.0 IN    0653 AM 03/23   43.88N/91.26W
LA CROSSE NWS OFFICE         6.7 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.82N/91.19W
HOLMEN 2S                    6.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.93N/91.25W
LA CROSSE 4NNW               6.4 IN    0730 AM 03/23   43.87N/91.27W
ONALASKA                     6.1 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.91N/91.23W
ONALASKA 1.6 NW              6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.90N/91.24W
BARRE MILLS 2N               5.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.85N/91.11W
BANGOR                       5.3 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.89N/90.99W
LA CROSSE 1SE                5.0 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.81N/91.22W

...MONROE COUNTY...
SPARTA                       4.6 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.94N/90.82W
FOUR CORNERS                 4.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.07N/90.92W
SPARTA HIGHWAY DEPT          3.0 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.94N/90.80W
TUNNEL CITY                  2.9 IN    0700 AM 03/23   44.01N/90.57W

...RICHLAND COUNTY...
BOAZ 2NW                     7.5 IN    0800 AM 03/23   43.36N/90.56W
RICHLAND CENTER              6.5 IN    0558 AM 03/23   43.34N/90.38W
RICHLAND CENTER 4N           6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.40N/90.39W
ITHACA 2S                    5.5 IN    0615 AM 03/23   43.34N/90.28W

...TREMPEALEAU COUNTY...
ETTRICK 4WNW                 6.6 IN    0637 AM 03/23   44.19N/91.34W
GALESVILLE 1N                6.0 IN    0730 AM 03/23   44.10N/91.36W
ARCADIA                      5.5 IN    0649 AM 03/23   44.25N/91.49W
WHITEHALL 2W                 4.0 IN    1000 AM 03/23   44.37N/91.36W

...VERNON COUNTY...
READSTOWN 3NNW               9.8 IN    0630 AM 03/23   43.49N/90.79W
READSTOWN 4NE                6.8 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.48N/90.69W
STODDARD                     6.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.66N/91.22W
GENOA DAM 8                  6.5 IN    0600 AM 03/23   43.57N/91.23W
VIROQUA                      6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.56N/90.88W
VIROQUA 1ESE                 6.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.55N/90.87W
WESTBY 3ENE                  5.3 IN    0710 AM 03/23   43.67N/90.81W
LA FARGE                     4.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.57N/90.64W
STODDARD 5NNE                4.5 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.72N/91.17W
VALLEY                       4.0 IN    0830 AM 03/23   43.64N/90.54W
VALLEY 2NE                   4.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.66N/90.51W
HILLSBORO                    3.0 IN    0700 AM 03/23   43.65N/90.35W


OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURE. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.

$$

NWS LA CROSSE WI