SNOWS OF MARCH
Brainerd area, on edge of latest storm path, receives five inches
What was supposed to be just 1 or 2 inches of snow turned out to be 5, pushing Brainerd's total to more than 17 inches in the past week.
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Brainerd was right on the edge of a powerful winter storm that dropped as much as 18 inches on parts of central Minnesota. To the south, Little Falls had about 10 inches of snow, Rice had about 14 inches, the National Weather Service in Duluth reported. To the north, Nisswa had about 2.5 inches. In Walker, no snow fell.
In other area cities, 2.5 inches was reported in Aitkin, 3.5 inches in Crosby and 5.3 inches in Isle.
The snowstorm came on the heels of one of the largest of the 2001-2002 winter season for the Brainerd area, in which 12 inches fell last Friday and Saturday. For March, Brainerd has recorded 18.5 inches of snow.
Ryan Nelson hooked a strap to pull out a car that went into a ditch in Nisswa Thursday night. The heavy snow caused roads to be icy in central Minnesota. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
Today is going to be mostly sunny, the NWS reported, with temperatures near 30 and northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Saturday, too, will be mostly sunny with the high temperature about 35, though there is a 30 percent chance of snow Saturday night.
Brainerd City Engineer Jeff Hulsether said his crews would try to plow all streets today. A snow emergency will be declared for downtown Brainerd tonight.
At 3 a.m. Saturday, cars parked on Laurel Street between South Sixth and South Eighth streets, on Front Street between South Sixth and South Eighth streets and on South Seventh Street between Maple and Front streets will be ticketed and towed.