Twin Cities area digs out after night of heavy snowfall

The winter storm that moved through the Twin Cities Friday afternoon and evening dropped more than a foot and a half of snow on some parts of the area.

Totals were higher in the southern metro area. Woodbury appeared to have the highest total Saturday morning with an unofficial 20 inches. Other reports put Inver Grove Heights, Rosemount and Eagan at 18 inches; Minneapolis close to 9 inches; and Coon Rapids at 5.5 inches.

Here's a list of snow depths in the area from the National Weather Service.

Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center and West St. Paul were among the cities to declare snow emergencies starting Friday night.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport said there were more than 60 flight cancellations as of Saturday morning, with more than 11 inches of snow at the airport.

The flakes were heavy, wet and falling fast, at up to 2 inches per hour in areas just south of the Twin Cities, according to the NWS. That caused headaches for drivers during the evening commute, since it can be difficult for plows to keep up with snow accumulating that quickly, said Michelle Margraf, a meteorologist at the NWS office in Chanhassen.

In the storm's wake, the Minnesota State Patrol reported numerous crashes, including a fatal crash in Maplewood late Friday night.

Unlike the light, fluffy snow that fell earlier this week, this round will likely require a shovel or snowblower. Snow-removal companies were advertising all over social media on Friday, and hardware stores were seeing an influx of last-minute shoppers looking for shovels and ice melt.

"That's pretty typical, especially early in the season," said Sam Welna, manager of Welna Hardware in Minneapolis. "People sometimes forget what they need until they need it."

The weather system brought widespread severe weather including tornadoes to other parts of the United States, with deaths reported in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Minnesota's white landscape, however, may be fleeting. Temperatures are forecast to soar into the 40s by Tuesday and Wednesday and bring significant melting. Thermometers in southern Minnesota may even register 50 degrees or warmer, said Brent Hewett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen.

"It is an unusual warm-up," he said. "You could call it a December thaw."

Kelley's sons plan to enjoy the snow while it lasts. Both are "full believers in Christmas magic," she said, and won't miss the opportunity to sled or push snow around with their toy plows.

When they saw the message from their little elf on Friday morning — alongside a spray painted snowman, Christmas tree and candy cane — they immediately started planning how to best enjoy the snow, jumping around and saying, "This is going to be the best day ever!"

Staff writer David Chanen contributed to this report.