North Shore Buried Under Heavy Snowfall

UNDATED (WJON News) -- The snowfall reports are still coming in from the blizzard along the North Shore.

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National Weather Service Meteorologist Kevin Huyck in Duluth says the 34-inch report from Hovland and 24 inches at Lutsen are from Wednesday afternoon:

"And that was while the heavier band of snow was still falling there. So unknown how much additional snow they've had. but I wouldn't be surprised if we add at least several more inches to that 34-inche total. And the same thing for a lot of stations along the North Shore there.

Ely, Chisholm,and Grand Rapids on the Iron Range reported nine inches.

Huyck says the conditions were right for heavy snow:

"We had a persistent east wind and very strong easterly wind coming off Lake Superior and so that really cranked up the terrain-forcing component of the snow production along the North Shore there."

He says folks will be digging out from that heavy snow today.

Top snowfall totals in northern Minnesota:
Hovland - 38.6"
Finland - 28.4"
Lutsen - 24.2"
Grand Marais - 20.0"
Wales - 20.0"
Two Harbors - 18"
Brimson - 16.7"

The National Weather Service says the tip of the Arrowhead could see an additional 4-8 inches of snow on Thursday.

A second wintry system is expected to impact the Northland late Thursday night into Saturday. Highest accumulations of 2-4" will be in the Arrowhead and northwest Wisconsin, with lesser amounts farther west.

Top snowfall totals in southern Minnesota:
Bloomington - 8.1"
Waconia - 7.7"
Edina - 7.5"
Savage - 7"
Granite Falls - 7"
Bloomington 6.5"
Shakopee - 6"
Apple Valley - 5.7"
Chanhassen - 5.7"
MSP Airport - 5.6"

St. Cloud had just a trace of snow on Wednesday.  We're now nearly an inch below normal for the season so far.

Colder air returns just in time for the weekend. Temperatures will continue to slide through Sunday.