Minnesota weather is part of daily life, and it brings with it many “extremes.” This collection presents some of those…from the floods of the Red River Valley, the blowdown in the BWCA, the Halloween Blizzard, to the devasting tornado in St. Peter. But were a state of many meteorological dimensions, not just tornadoes and blizzards. Below are memories of oppressive drought, the creep of flood waters, nature driven fire, and those glorious 50-degree December day anomalies. While these stories may attempt to explain the why, where, and what of various weather events, what is striking is the undeniable power of the human experience in the face of it all.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Tom Fudge traverses through the snow in St. Paul to get numerous individuals reactions on the large snowstorm that has hit city. Interviews include a shoveling local resident; a stuck bus driver; a happy skier; a busy liquor store owner; and Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins third base coach, who just wants to go home to Kansas but can’t get his car out of the snow.
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 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 - Midmorning’s Paula Schroeder talks with reporters Tom Fudge and Dan Olson, who are both stuck at home after large amounts of snow blanket the Twin Cities. Fudge and Olson describe buried cars, stuck buses, and heavy walk-in business at hardware store and markets.
November 1, 1991 - Morning Edition’s Mark Heistad interviews Jim Mathews, forecaster at National Weather Service, about the surprising intensity and amount of snowfall. Mathews details some reasons behind powerful storm.
November 1, 1991 - MPR’s Mary Losure presents numerous interview audio clips of how Twin Cities residents have been dealing with commutes during the snowstorm. No one seems to be a fan of MTC bus service…or the snow.
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 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 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.
January 2, 1992 - MPR’s Paul Schroeder interviews Jim Holtman, of Runestone Power in Douglas County, about damage done to power lines from ice fog. It began as beautiful hoar frost, but moisture in the air changed over to an icy fog. The lines were quickly coated, then snapped, creating power outages.