With 6 inches of snow in Brainerd Saturday, this season’s total snowfall is nearly twice as much as last year, with more snow days likely.
Saturday’s rain, freezing rain and wet, heavy snow, provided the liquid equivalent of .7 inches.
While the banks seem high this year, the snowfall is still below average. Although there is time to make that up before spring officially arrives on March 20 and perhaps beyond. The last day, on average, for snow here is April 2.
The National Weather Service in Duluth recorded about 44.1 inches of snowfall for Brainerd so far this winter. Last year, the National Weather Service records for Brainerd list 23.6 inches of snow for the season, with just 2 inches in March.
Brainerd received 14.3 inches of snow so far this month. The record March snowfall in Brainerd was set on March 4, 1985, with 24 inches. In February, Brainerd had 16.9 inches of snow, outpacing the combined total of 12.9 inches from the previous three months.
Between 1981 and 2010, the average monthly snowfall has been 8.9 inches for March as part of an average winter snowfall of 46 inches. The normal snowfall for the region was 60 inches, the National Weather Service reported.
For those tired of shoveling and anxious for the green grass beneath the deep snow, there is hope. The normal temperature for this time of year is 35 degrees. And the Brainerd forecast calls for a high of 35 degrees beneath partly sunny skies on Thursday.
There is a 30 percent chance for more snow, mainly after 1 a.m. Monday and into Tuesday. The rest of the week should include sunshine and mild temperatures. Friday, Saturday and Sunday all list a slight chance of snow but a melting temperatures in the low- to mid-30s.
