5.3” of Snow Falls on Twin Cities Northwest Metro, Setting Valentine’s Day Record

More snow fell on this Valentine’s Day in the Twin Cities northwest suburbs than any before dating back nearly 70 years.

A total 5.3 inches of snow fell on Wednesday, as measured in New Hope by National Weather Service observer Steve Reckers. That smashed the previous Feb. 14 record, which was 2 inches back in 1962.

An additional 0.6″ of snow that fell early Thursday put the entire snow event at 5.9 inches.

Kiki Ndlela was nannying 3-year-old twins at Lakeview Terrace Park in Robbinsdale. For them, the snow was a welcome sight.

“We really didn’t think that we’d get any, now we’re finally getting some, we’re just having fun with the kiddos,” she said.

Snow covers Crystal Lake in Robbinsdale.

This winter is a big change from last year, which produced a record 94 inches of snowfall. So far this winter, according to Reckers’ data, only 13.7 inches of snow has fallen, the smallest amount dating back to 1956. Besides this week, the last shovelable snow came in October.

“I’m from South Africa,” said Ndlela, “I’ve been here for just over a year. I was here for winter last year and I’m completely shocked at the change. It’s crazy.”

Reckers said February is historically not a big snow month. Valentine’s Day was also quite different last year when 0.97 inches of rain fell. 

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