An early-season snowstorm blanketed northwestern Minnesota and parts of North Dakota on Thursday, shutting schools, pulling down power lines and making trouble for farmers already struggling to salvage crops from the worst drought in 50 years.
As my colleague Timothy Williams reports, the heaviest snow fell on the small town of Roseau, Minn., 10 miles from the Canadian border. It got 14 inches.
Snow in October? Yep! OV farmer Joan Lee snapped this photo on her northwestern Minnesota farm today. http://t.co/jfDZYFiT
- Organic Valley (@OrganicValley) 4 Oct 12
Daryl Ritchison, a meteorologist for television and radio stations in Fargo, N.D., said that snow this time of year was unusual, even for North Dakota.
The 1.4†in Fargo yesterday was the earliest 1†event since 1950. Before that you would have to go back to 19 12 and 1899. #yesitwasunusual
- DarylRitchison (@DarylRitchison) 5 Oct 12
On his Twitter feed, Mr. Ritchison shared photos from viewers showing the effects of the storm, including two submitted by Douglas Langer from Thief River Falls, Minn.
What wet heavy snow can do to trees with leaves on them. No wonder power outages were prevalent yesterday. @JimCantore http://t.co/daAHlEKf
- DarylRitchison (@DarylRitchison) 5 Oct 12
Another view of trees bent over from weight of the trees. Both pics from Thief River Falls Minnesota. @JimCantore http://t.co/g1n6zVs4
- DarylRitchison (@DarylRitchison) 5 Oct 12
In northwestern Minnesota, snow continued falling Friday morning. The official Twitter account for Sgt. Jesse Grabow, the Northwestern Minnesota State Patrol public information officer, reported at least one fatality related to the storm.
#MSPnumbers NW MN snow is still coming dwn. frozen slush n many areas makn travel difficult. As of yest. 26 vors, 7 prop dmg, 1 inj, 1 fatal
- Sgt. Jesse Grabow (@MSPPIO_NW) 5 Oct 12
The wintry weather meant classes were canceled or delayed for many students.
Snow day :) #winning ⛄
- Tayler Wilson (@TaylerWils0n) 5 Oct 12
For some farmers, including those in the fertile Red River Valley, the snow and sudden drop in temperature made a difficult harvest even more challenging as it raised concern about soybeans and late-maturing corn.
@ArlanFF101 I remember this spring when I told u about dust storm, now we had wet snow and down power lines on second day of digging beets
- Jeff (@jcfarm1) 5 Oct 12
In Denver, people woke up on Friday to find the first snow of the season, inspiri ng some to snap photos of the layer covering their windshields, patios and backyards - or an image of a snow-covered football field, which is what Brock Osweiler, the backup quarterback for the Denver Broncos, shared on Twitter.
Who wants to make a snowman!? http://t.co/KewPA8wE
- Brock Osweiler (@BrockOsweiler) 5 Oct 12
First snow of the season! http://t.co/EuAyh4lQ
- Downtown Denver (@DowntownDenver) 5 Oct 12
@JimCantore First snow in Denver. http://t.co/8IV8NWxD
- CDavisyo (@CDavisyo) 5 Oct 12
Anyone know what this white stuff is? The locals here call it “snow� #FromTheDesertToDenver http://t.co/n0X0nl8Y
- Matt Boyer (@Boyer_Matt) 5 Oct 12
In Colorado, ski resorts quickly got out the message that they had snow, sending photos of ski runs and a hashtag, #WinterIsBack
In case you missed it, #WinterIsBack in Breck and we have new snow!! http://t.co/H7Zu7hhS
- Breckenridge Resort (@breckenridgemtn) 5 Oct 12
As the snow and strong cold front continued to move east, promising below-normal temperatures for the East Coast this weekend, the updates on Twitter continued, including posts expressing dismay that yes, #WinterIsHere.
Snow is falling in parts of Kansas: It's snowing in parts of northwest Kansas. The flakes started falling in pl… http://t.co/XeMDJ563
- KWCH 12 (@kwch12) 5 Oct 12
I don't want to hear about any snow this early. Bring back the sun & heat ☀
- Cassandra (@CassInKC) 5 Oct 12
