Douglas: Couple of inches of Halloween slush?

Rain changes over to wet, sloppy, gloppy snow Thursday, falling at the rate of 1 inch per hour just north and west of MSP, where a band of 6 inches of snow may pile up.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
October 30, 2024 at 9:16PM

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: “In spite of the 1991 Halloween Blizzard, measurable snow on Halloween is about as rare as getting a full-sized candy bar in your trick-or-treat bag. Since 1872 there’s been enough snow to measure only seven times.” Make it eight: It snowed nearly 2 inches on Halloween 2023.

Rain changes over to wet, sloppy, gloppy snow Thursday, falling at the rate of 1 inch per hour just north and west of MSP, where a band of 6 inches of snow may pile up. Lovely. Leave extra time heading to St. Cloud, Brainerd or Duluth.

After a record 80 degrees on Tuesday, ground temperatures are relatively mild; there will be melting on contact, at least initially. Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a coating to 3 inches in the metro area, heaviest over Anoka and Wright counties. Take it easy out there and make sure pint-size goblins have warm costumes (and boots) this evening.

We did pick up significant half-inch to 1-inch rains overnight, so that helps the drought.

Skies clear Thursday with 50s over the weekend. More rain Sunday into Tuesday. Scary!

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Paul Douglas

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Paul Douglas is a nationally-respected meteorologist, with 40 years of broadcast television and radio experience. He provides daily print and online weather services for the Star Tribune.

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