By Norma Dittman
Murray County News staff writer
Snow, snow, snow and more snow has been a topic of many discussions throughout the month of February. And with good cause. To date, the climate station located near Lake Wilson reported 49.1 inches of snow has fallen this winter, The record snowfall for the month of February happened in 2016 tallying 17.9 inches of the white stuff. According to records the winter of 1996-97 was the snowiest measuring at 98” total. January of 1998 the area received 38” of snow while. In March 1984 records show 22.3” of snow across the region while November of 1983 22.8” fell for a total of the ‘83-’84 of 85.9” Coming in third was 2017-2018 hitting the mark at 71.0”.
Monthly totals were recorded as follows:
• Worthington, MN – 30.7” (normal snowfall – 7.4”)
• Marshall, MN – 32.0” – (normal snowfall – 8.5”)
• Sioux Falls, SD – 17.3” – (record snowfall in 1962 of 48.4”)
• Brookings, SD – 15.5”
• Flandreau, SD – 26.2”
• Sheldon, IA – 21.9”
These totals were shared by KSFY’s meteorologist Sam Gabrielli on Thursday over the KSFY Facebook page.
Here’s how the wintry month of February has been, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
• February 3 & 4: “In southern and eastern parts of the state, warm air aloft melted the falling snow into raindrops, which then froze into a glaze on streets and sidewalks, leading to hundreds of accidents, spinouts, and stuck vehicles.
• February 5: “Heavy snow spread over much of southern Minnesota, creating major traffic problems for the second day in a row. One particularly intense and persistent band of snow set up in the vicinity of Marshall, Minnesota, where accumulations reached 7-9 inches. The heavy snow led to some early releases from schools.”
• February 6: “An extremely active mid-winter pattern dealt another blow to Minnesota, with heavy snow, gusty winds, white-out conditions in open country, falling temperatures, and dangerous wind chills.”
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