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75 Years Ago, The Armistice Day Blizzard Struck Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Seventy-five years ago, an early season snowstorm caught Minnesota residents off guard -- the Armistice Day Blizzard.

That blizzard struck back on Nov. 11, 1940.

Ranked No. 2 of Minnesota weather events of the 20th century by the Minnesota Climatology Working Group, the Armistice Day Blizzard resulted in 49 deaths, including 20 duck hunters on Mississippi River islands.

Armistice Day Blizzard 1940
Cars stuck in snow. Armistice Day blizzard 1940. (credit: MNHS)

Temperatures falls by as much as 40 degrees in 24 hours left the hunters unprepared and exposed.

Related: Famous Winter Storms (DNR)

Snowfall rates in the Armistice Day Blizzard approached 3 to 4 inches per hour.

WCCO meteorologist Matt Brickman shared his thoughts of the blizzard Wednesday.

"I always think back to a woman I spoke to reporting this story a couple years ago, and her recollection of the blizzard as a kid. Minnesotans love to complain about road conditions in winter, but hearing an anecdote like this, you realize how fortunate we are now," Brickman said.

Records from the Minnesota Historical Society say one of the hardest hit places was Collegeville, where 27 inches of snow was recorded that day.

So, could a blizzard have as big of an impact in Minnesota again? Likely not, Brickman says.

"Between the improvements in forecasting storms and pre-treating/plowing roads, it's difficult to imagine a blizzard having this crippling of an impact today," he said.

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