It’s a record most Central Minnesotans would probably prefer not to have set, but the April 18-19 snowstorm dumped 12.3 inches of snow on St. Cloud. St. Cloud State University meteorology professor Bob Weisman says we destroyed a record of 1.5 inches for April 18 set in 1922. At some points during the storm snow was falling at 2.5 inches per hour. 

Weisman says with the total snow of 12.3 inches, this storm also ranks 17th among all storms in St. Cloud history, producing the most snow since the December 23-26, 2009 storm. It is the second heaviest April snowfall, only behind the 36 inches that fell April 19-21, 1893.

Here’s snow totals so far in other central Minnesota communities: Hutchinson, Isanti, and Sartell have reported 12 inches, Monticello 11.8 inches, Buffalo 10 inches, and Hillman had 8.4 inches. 

Weisman says we have nearly doubled St. Cloud’s April 2013 snowfall to 23.2 inches, easily beating the old April record of 15.6 inches, set in 1928. In fact, this April now has the 13th highest snowfall of any month in St. Cloud records.

Since February 1, St. Cloud has now picked up 57.7 inches of snow. The 2012-2013 seasonal snowfall is now 77.3 inches, the 4th highest seasonal snowfall in St. Cloud records.

As the snow has tapered off Weisman predicts the combination of the heavy wet snow on tree branches and the strong winds will probably create problems with some downed tree limbs and power outages.