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Snowy February: An upward trend in recent decadesSnowy February: An upward trend in recent decades

Climate Observations: Snowy February usually helps with spring thaw to replenish soil moisture.

Mark Seeley

January 24, 2025

2 Min Read
Round cornstalk bales in a snow-covered field
PROTECT SOIL: Februarys of late have accumulated more snow, and that layer may provide an insulation so that the freeze may not go as deep into the soil, facilitating a quicker spring thaw. Cynthia Shirk/Getty Images

Abundant snowfall during February is somewhat rare when compared with other months in the Minnesota snow season (October through April). It is not just because February has fewer days. February days are also more dominated by large high-pressure systems that bring sun or partly cloudy skies and fewer winter storm systems. For most of Minnesota, February is the snowiest month of the year only about 10% to 12% of the time historically.

Since statehood in 1858, there are certainly exceptional Februarys when one or two blizzards have brought tremendous amounts of snowfall, leading to February being recorded that year as the snowiest month. Such was the case in February 1922, when a three-day blizzard and ice storm (Feb. 20-22) left many areas of southern and western Minnesota without power and paralyzed from any travel. Many areas reported more than 30 inches of snowfall that month, while Detroit Lakes and Milaca reported more than 40 inches.

In February 1939, multiple blizzards brought abundant snowfall to north shore areas along Lake Superior, where monthly snowfall totals exceeded 50 inches in some places. It was the snowiest month of the year for many northeastern communities.

In 1955, February was the snowiest month of the snow season, but monthly totals were rather modest (less than 20 inches), as it was a rather dry winter.

Related:Change in the quantity and character of March precipitation

More recently

More modern times — 2001, 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2019 — have brought snowy Februarys, in some cases producing the snowiest month of the year. February 2019 was arguably the snowiest in state history, as more than 80 long-term climate stations reported record amounts of snowfall for the month. There were monthly totals of more than 40 inches of snowfall reported from 31 climate stations, and near Rosemount in Dakota County, a climate observer reported an all-time statewide record snowfall for February of 56.6 inches.

Since 1980, there has been an upward trend in February snowfall on a statewide basis. We’ll see if February 2025 lives up to this trend.

The added benefit of a snowy February is that the additional snow cover helps to prevent the soil from freezing too deeply. Snow cover of 4 to 6 inches helps keep the soil frost line stable, not allowing it to get extremely deep. In the end, this is an asset to farmers as it helps soils thaw quicker in the spring, which allows for more soil moisture recharge from melting snow or early spring rainfalls. Certainly, an early thaw of soils in 2025 would be beneficial to adding more moisture to the soil before planting begins.

Related:Minnesota crackdown on PFAS in products has begun

More on Minnesota’s weather history is available in my book, “Minnesota Weather Almanac: Second Edition,” available at most bookstores or through the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

About the Author

Mark Seeley

Mark Seeley is an Extension professor emeritus of meteorology and climatology at the University of Minnesota.

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