Marc Schmidt shot this picturesque scene of 7th St. Marketplace in downtown St. Paul early this afternoon.
Ah, winter in Minnesota.
I issued a call earlier today via email for snow reports and I got two, one from the city, one from the country. One came from a life-long dweller of the southwestern Minnesota prairie, the other from a native southern Californian who relocated to St. Paul in October.
Snow layers on patio chairs, rural Lamberton. Photo by Brian Kletscher.
About mid-afternoon today, my middle brother, Brian Kletscher, reported 8 – 10 inches of snow (since Friday evening) at his home just north of Lamberton in Redwood County.
Low visibility due to falling and blowing snow define the prairie in this photo taken north of Lamberton around 3:30 this afternoon. Photo by Brian Kletscher.
But it isn’t the snow total as much as the wind that’s now causing problems in southwestern Minnesota, where a blizzard warning is in effect.
In the blowing snow, the fenceline is barely visible beyond the garden shed in my brother’s yard.
Reports Brian:
It was nice temperature as it was 34 degrees at 1:30 this afternoon. I was moving snow at 1:30 and the wind switched to the northwest at 2:15 bringing more snow and blowing snow into the area. Low visibility at this time.
A snow globe view of Mears Park Stage in downtown St. Paul early this afternoon. Photo by Marc Schmidt.
Several hours to the northeast in downtown St. Paul, my oldest daughter’s boyfriend, Marc Schmidt, is enjoying his first ever Minnesota snowstorm. An apartment dweller with a 12-minute commute to work via the skyway system, he can concentrate on the beauty of the snow rather than dealing with clean-up and travel issues.
Says Marc in a 2:15 p.m. snow report:
I slapped on my Sorels and slushed my way through St. Paul. (To let you know what conditions are like, I got this email the same minute I got an automated email from the city of St. Paul letting me know there is a snow emergency tonight, and it hasn’t stopped snowing since . . .)
Welcome to winter in Minnesota, Marc. Forecasters are predicting several more hours of light to moderate snow for the metro area with snowfall totals of 10 – 15 inches. A winter storm warning continues for the metro and surrounding area.
Snow layers benches in Mears Park early this afternoon. Photo by Marc Schmidt.
Now, let’s hear your snow stories.
The winter wonderland view in my Faribault backyard around 4:30 p.m. today.
We have only about four inches of snow on the ground here in Faribault.
BONUS: My brother sent this photo, proof that Santa is officially preparing for Christmas:
My brother apparently has VIP access to Santa’s wardrobe.
© Copyright 2012 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Photos courtesy of Brian Kletscher and Marc Schmidt
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Thanks for all the photo reports! St. Paul is my home town and always fun to see such pics!!! Just under 6″ here and snow/mist. Driving is ugly! Just got home from town. Would have done a photo post..but….no ‘puter til mid-week! Drive safe….hugs…..
Thanks for that report down in the Houston (Minnesota, not Texas) area.
No problem!!! LOL!
The White Stuff Returns – love your photos!
Yes, indeed. And a huge thank you to Brian and Marc for the photos.
My son reported 10+ inches this afternoon in New Brighton. Only about 4 inches here, but enough to fulfill my need for snow 🙂 Love the Santa suit photo, made me smile
Glad you’re happy, Jackie.
My brother loves “playing” Santa. He’s done it for years and years.
off to az today if i can get to sioux falls. too old to like snow!!
Uh, yeah, you may not be driving to Sioux Falls today. Conditions are horrible in sw MN, so I hear, and I don’t know exactly where you live. Good luck.
I just talked to a retiree at church yesterday who told me if not for all his kids living in MN, he and his wife would permanently move to Arizona.
My pictures and story are so disappointing….After almost an entire day of snow we have nothing to show for it—it was too wet and warm and melted. The hubby went to MSP last night for an early morning flight and it took him FOREVER to get there. Said the roads were horrible and it looked like no plows had even been out. Great pictures and I especially love the Santa one!!!
I cannot believe Chris even attempted the drive from Mason City to the MSP airport yesterday. Glad he arrived there safely and I hope he got off the ground on time this a.m.
He said there was nothing till he got to Owatonna!!! Then it was nuts. He hasn’t called me yet today so I assume he is in the air—it was early when he was to leave and I think he was sparing me the early morning wake up call!
Interesting. So Faribault was pretty much on the southern fringes of this system.
Yep! Seems like it! He is on his way to Houston now—-I suspect the weather will be nicer! 🙂
Lucky him. Houston sounds warm.
GYPED, I say!!!!! And we desperately need the moisture. COME ON, GOD, send it our way!
Patience and prayer, dear Gretchen. But, just, please no snow on the weekend before Christmas or through Christmas week. I’m thinking of the many travelers.
Yes, that’s a bad time fo year for it!