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Another winter storm to swirl into state
Staff Writer Fresh from digging out from under 9 inches of snow this past weekend, Brainerd residents should brace for another powerful winter storm that could drop as much as a foot of snow by Friday
The National Weather Service in Duluth on Tuesday issued a winter storm warning for Crow Wing, Cass, Aitkin, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Wadena and Todd counties. The warning is in effect from noon Wednesday to 6 p.m. Friday.
In the Brainerd vicinity, light snow is expected to start falling Wednesday afternoon, with 3-6 inches possible. Following a lull in intensity Wednesday night into Thursday morning, heavy snow will again fall Thursday afternoon and continue into Friday.
The NWS reported the storm has a potential to paralyze travel with heavy and blowing snow through Friday, with 10-14 inches or more of snow possible.
"It's a pretty powerful storm," said Dean Melde, meteorologist with the weather service in Duluth. "We just got done with one such storm and now we've got another coming quickly on its heals."
Melde said snow probably will start falling Wednesday morning and get heavier as the day goes on, lasting through Friday and winding down during the weekend. Areas north and east of Brainerd could see as much as 2 feet of snow.
"It's definitely going to be a long event with heavy accumulation," Melde said.
State, county and city crews on Tuesday continued to clean up areas covered by snow this past weekend. Cathy Clark, MnDOT public affairs coordinator based in Baxter, said MnDOT crews are prepared for more snow.
"We're geared up and ready," Clark said. "Our folks live for this kind of stuff. They love being snow fighters."
Areas in Crow Wing County received as much as a foot of snow this past weekend.
At the DNR Forestry office in Brainerd, 9 inches of snow containing 1.11 inches of moisture was measured, DNR forester Mark Mortensen said.
Mortensen said the past weekend's heavy snow, and the possibility of more Wednesday and Thursday, will help reduce the threat of wildfires this spring because it packs and settles the fuels that aid wildfires, such as grasses, leaves and wood.
"I don't think we could ever possibly get back what we lost last year, but whatever we can gain is helpful," Mortensen said. "Any moisture we can gain back is a plus because we don't continue to go further in the minus part of column. It's better to be ahead."
The snowfall also is helping businesses.
Mary Kolkind, owner of Sears in Baxter, said about half of its stock of snow blowers have been sold since last weekend's snowfall. She said people coming to the store have told her they expected snowfall, just not so much in one shot, and they needed the tools to clear the heavy snow.
"Last year, we had a more consistent snow throughout the whole year. Personally, I remember plowing out many more times during the year," Kolkind said. "With this one, we got hit all at once."
Dan Holmes, manager of Ace Hardware in Brainerd, said his store has had an increase in shovel sales, roof rakes and salt for removing ice.
"We've definitely sold more shovels in the last week, more than we ever sold in the last year," Holmes said.
A drawback is trying to decide how much snow removal equipment to stock, Holmes said.
Though a snowstorm is forecast for this week, which could lead to more demand for shovels, Holmes said placing a large order now could mean he is stuck with the products through the summer.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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