How deep does the snow get? (Minneapolis, Duluth: how much, house, buying)

[BellaStarlight]

Hi
My family, and I have just moved to Minnessota, and I was wondering how deep the snow is going to get. We've heared everything from 7 inch snowfalls to 70! I love the snow, but I 'd like to know beforehand if it's going to be up over my head. I'm seriously considering buying snowshoes, and an eskimo costume. Could someone please set this straight for me? Thanks.

[garth]

Well, I've been at my grandma's house years ago when the snow would drift and acumulate to the eves. It's a two story early 20th century home on the Misabe Range, so that would put the snow about 20 feet, maybe a little less, in height.

Of course, it didn't fall to that level, it drifted, but that's the effect it had on the house. Be sure to keep up with the shoveling so you can keep an open path from the front door.

That sure brings back memories . . . walking out the front door and looking up to the sides of path at a wall of snow.

Here's a picture you might find interesting:

[mitst]

Pictures like that last one are common up north. This is more to be expected around the metro area. But we could get more or none at all. You never know until it gets here. Don't worry, we just adapt to it whatever the case.

[golfgal]

Honestly, in the past 15 years we haven't had any real snow to speak of. Growing up we often had snow storms of a 15-20"+, now if we get 6 it is unusual and it doesn't stick around like it used to. We have been basically snowless for the past several winters. I think last year we had 30" all winter but most of it melted within a week or two of falling. The year before that in SW MN where we lived, we had 9" all winter.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Yeah, I think we technically average 40-some in The Cities. You never see that anymore, though. The November snow used to last until March and April. Now the first snow to last through the winter is in December. We have has to push for some white Christmases lately. The last decade of winters have been tame.

[mokrz003]

I live in Duluth and last winter we got one really good snow storm that shut down the public transit system, but that was the only real weather blunder that occured. Snow shoes are defiently not needed, but find a good jacket and get used to wearing layers just becasue almost every buliding you enter during the winter has its heat set at a different temperature.

[DaninEGF]

Here is a link to the NWS Twin Cities snowfall page with top 10 snowiest and least snowiest winters and some other tidbits. As far as snowfall in the past not being like it used to be....stats prove that's not really the case as the Winter of 2000-01 had over 70 inches of snowfall well above normal. Average snowfall is just that average....it takes low years and high years to make the average....If anything the top 10 snowiest winters have mostly come in the last 40 years with some of the least back in the 1930s and before. Also with the move of the NWS from the MSPs airport to Chanhassen...NWS snowfall records for the twin cities was also moved from being taken at the MSP airport to the office in Chanhassen several years ago.

Dan NWS GF ND


Minneapolis/St Paul Snowfall History, from the NWS Twin Cities

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

Here is a link to the NWS Twin Cities snowfall page with top 10 snowiest and least snowiest winters and some other tidbits. As far as snowfall in the past not being like it used to be....stats prove that's not really the case as the Winter of 2000-01 had over 70 inches of snowfall well above normal. Average snowfall is just that average....it takes low years and high years to make the average....If anything the top 10 snowiest winters have mostly come in the last 40 years with some of the least back in the 1930s and before. Also with the move of the NWS from the MSPs airport to Chanhassen...NWS snowfall records for the twin cities was also moved from being taken at the MSP airport to the office in Chanhassen several years ago.

Dan NWS GF ND


Minneapolis/St Paul Snowfall History, from the NWS Twin Cities

I think the biggest difference between the past 15 years and the time when I was younger is that the snow melts now vs staying for most of the season. We spend more time in the winter with brown grass showing then snow on the ground or it snows 5" but it is snowing at 31° and most of it doesn't stay.

[yellowsnow]

For outerwear, I have a down parka for the really bad days. I have several other coats and jackets as well. The wind is usually as bad or worse than the cold, so wind resistant fabrics are good. I also have more than a couple pieces of polar fleece. It's lightweight, really warm, soft, and dries quickly. I prefer to buy outerwear that's washable because I always brush up against a car or something and end up with salt/road grime on my coats. Good gloves or mittens and a hat/scarf are important too. I've never had snowshoes but a pair of boots that can get all sloppy/salty are a good idea.

How much snow will we get? Get out your crystal ball! Some years it's no big deal. Other years, it's miserable. One year we had to break up our snowbanks and move them further out into the yard. They were so high the snow blower couldn't lift the snow high enough. Stay on top of snow removal. By the end of the winter you can end up with a tiny driveway!

[BellaStarlight]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. I'm relieved to know that I'll probably be able to go outside this winter.