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.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition host Jim Wishner talks with sports commentator Jay Weiner about various sports items in relation to the snow, including the Twins World Series win, Winter Olympics, and the roof of Metrodome (hmmmmmmm..)
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition host Jim Wishner interviews Bob LaShomb, of Metro Transit Commission, on status of bus service after massive snowstorm hit the Twin Cities.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition’s Jim Wishner interviews Jim Mathews, meteorologist form the National Weather Service, on the present conditions, wind, and snow totals in region. It looks as if Duluth has won the "golden shovel” award from storm, with 30" inches on the ground.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition’s Jim Wishner talks with KZSE’s Joe Follensbee about situation in southern Minnesota counties, where there are power and phone outages as a result of snowstorm and blizzard conditions in the region.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition’s Jim Wishner talks with author Bill Holm about the snowstorm that hit state. Holm gives his impression on what blizzards are all about…a time to read and write.
November 2, 1991 - Weekend Edition’s Jim Wishner talks with MPR reporters Rich Dietman(KZSE-Rochester) and Joe Kelly(WSCN-Duluth/Superior) about storm impact outside the metro area. Both are at home, as their respective stations are off the air due to storm.
November 4, 1991 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) official about the delays on roads during morning rush hour, which lasted an incredibly long 6-10:30 AM. If anything should have been done differently regarding bus service during snowstorm is also discussed.
November 4, 1991 - MPR’s Carol Schotzko reports on the impact of snowstorm to, the small southern Minnesota town of Sargeant. There are numerous power outages and downed frozen powerlines.
November 4, 1991 - MPR’s Liz Hannon interviews Robert Sorlie, an Albert Lea resident about the challenging conditions after blizzard hit area. Sorlie details downed tree limbs, ice, power outages, and a run on supplies at few stores that opened. The blizzard was part of a statewide weather event.
November 4, 1991 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on snow removal problems in St. Paul. Due to a failure of private contractors, four areas of the city were bypassed for plowing. Minneapolis road challenges are also mentioned.