Watch CBS News

Good Question: How Long Will This Snow Last?

By Jason DeRusha, WCCO-TV

We've had more than 70 inches of snow, and winter isn't even over yet. So when, on average, is the snow gone from the ground in the Twin Cities?

When will this be over?

"I was just thinking, I could just not do this one more time," said Lesley Hunt, while she shoveled her driveway, again.

We were teased with an end to winter last week. On Feb. 13, there was 11 inches of snow cover on the ground. By Feb. 20, seven days later, that was down to just 2 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

"We can get rid of it almost as quickly as we stack it up," WCCO-TV Chief Meteorologist Chris Shaffer said.

On average, April 2 is the last day there's still an inch of snow cover on the ground in the Twin Cities, he said.

"March is our second snowiest month, we'll pick up an additional 10 inches," Shaffer said. He noted that people forget that because in 2010, we got no snow in March.

The good news about March is that the temperature really starts to heat up. On Feb. 21, the average high temperature is 33 degrees. By March 21, that average high is 43. By March 31, it's 49 degrees.

"In April we get snow, but it's so warm a lot of it melts away within a day or two," Shaffer said.

According to the Minnesota Office of Climatology, the latest we've had more than an inch of snow fall was May 20, 1892 (a 3-inch snowfall).

"It'll be done when it's ready to be done," said Hunt, as she looked at her growing snow pile.

If people think we should be done with the snow now, Shaffer laughed, "Think again."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.