National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Tracking Storms with Impacts in the Eastern and Northwest U.S. into Friday

A storm will track north of the Great Lakes Friday with widespread rain showers across the Eastern U.S. along and ahead of its cold front. Further south along the front isolated severe thunderstorms are possible. A Pacific storm will continue moving across the Northwest U.S. into Friday with additional low elevation rain, gusty winds, and mountain snow. Read More >

Overview

A late season storm system brought a swath of significant snow to parts of northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and western into north-central Wisconsin on Easter Sunday, April 12th, 2020.

Snow fell heavily at times, with even a few lightning strikes noted, while farther east much of the precipitation was initially in the form of rain before changing to wet snow during the late afternoon and evening hours. Snowfall totals ranged from 1 to as much as 10 inches, with significant travel disruption noted across the region.

At the time, it was the 2nd snowiest Easter on record for Rochester, MN with 7.5 inches.

In addition strong north to northwest winds behind the storm caused blowing and drifting snow, especially in open country late in the day into the evening hours.  Many roads were snow covered and treacherous. 

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Radar loop of rain and snow on Easter Sunday, April 12th
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