On October 30th, meteorologists were eying a large storm in the Southwest United States. Unknown to anyone at the time, it was about to bring massive snowfall and blizzard conditions to much of Minnesota over a three-day period, starting on Halloween. By storm’s end on November 2nd, snowfall records in Duluth (36.9 inches) and the Twin Cities (28.4 inches) were left in its wake. That was followed by the cold, bringing the earliest below-zero temperatures in over a century. The National Weather Service describes the storm as one of Minnesota's signature extreme weather events, and stands as a benchmark against which other winter storms are compared.
October 31, 1991 - MPR’s Catherine Winter provides another updated report on weather and road conditions as winter storm moves into the region.
October 31, 1991 - MPR’s Catherine Winter provides updated report on weather conditions and deteriorating road conditions as a large storm moves into the region.
October 31, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten interviews Jim Richardson, forecaster from National Weather Service, on a developing snowstorm hitting much of the state. Richardson forecasts the Twin Cities could see as much as 6-8 inches…maybe even a foot of snow.
October 31, 1991 - MPR’s Catherine Winter describes the start of deteriorating road conditions as a large storm moves into the region. Winter interviews members of Department of Transportation about slippery roads and slow traffic.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Rich Naistat of the National Weather Service on record-setting snowfall from Halloween blizzard. Segment also includes numerous reports on the impact of storm throughout Minnesota, including shutdown of bus service, parking restrictions, road conditions, travel restrictions, power outages, and high winds.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews Curt Sager, an employee at a Holiday station in Fairmont, about the weather conditions and traffic (or, lack of) in the area.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Mark Heistad interviews Daryl Sherman, member of Minnesota Department of Transportation, who describes the various road conditions throughout the state as strong snowstorm moves through region. Ice and blowing snow are posing the biggest problems.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Willy Green, who works at a local homeless shelter. Green describes how many people were caught by surprise with snowstorm and how shelter is trying to assist.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on the varied feelings and reactions to the impact of large snowfall and blizzard conditions in the Twin Cities. Interviews include a bus driver, local residents, retailers, and individual needing shelter.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Catherine Winter reports on deteriorating road conditions from massive snowfall in Twin Cities, with officials asking people not to drive, and MTC planning on stopping bus service at 8PM due to bad road conditions. In one instance, 15 buses were stuck along Lake Calhoun routes.