It wasn’t red and it wasn’t chocolate-covered – it was white. A long-awaited snowstorm dropped a few inches on the Twin Cities.
Because of the storm, Chuck Trautman of Ham Lake did something he has rarely done all winter.
“This is only the second time I shoveled this year,” Trautman said.
The Valentine’s Day storm dumped plenty of powder in the North Metro – which was good news for some because there has been miniscule amounts of snow in this historically mild winter.
“I can’t remember a winter that’s ever had this little amount of snow,” Trautman said. “It’s been really odd.”
“Glad to see the snow”
Trautman was happy to be out shoveling.
“After all these years I think I still remember how to do it,” Trautman joked. “Yeah I was glad to see the snow finally. Been waiting to get out and do some cross country skiing. I don’t know if I’ll be able to get that in today, but we’ll definitely try.”
Trautman, however, knows this winter wonderland is going to be temporary.
“Get out and enjoy it while we can,” Trautman said. “Because it looks like it’s gonna be gone next week.”
While Trautman shoveled, Jill Brunik and her son David were out walking in their Ham Lake neighborhood, enjoying the Valentine’s weather gift.
“Oh yeah for sure,” said David Brunik.
Said Jill Brunik: “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
Postcard-like setting
The storm is proof that even in a winter with little snow, the weather can change in a Minnesota minute.
“Old man winter had to give us a gentle reminder that he’s still in control,” said Jill Brunik.
David Brunik likes the snow, but also is pleased with the balmy temps the North Metro has gotten this winter.
“Just a couple weeks ago there were people out golfing,” David Brunik said. “Never see that. I kind of like the mild weather. Less snow shoveling. Less freezing. It seems like the tradeoff is there are a lot more gloomy days when you don’t get the snow. Don’t mind the mild Christmas and winter.”
Meanwhile at nearby Bunker Hills Regional Park, the snow created a postcard-like setting.
The Evergreens were coated in white, hay bails had frosting and there was a pastoral scene as a group of horses soaked up a sun-drenched day.
The storm dumped almost seven inches on MSP Airport while parts of the North Metro received over five inches of snow.
Yup winter came back briefly but won’t stick around for long. The long-range forecast predicts highs in the 30’s and 40’s – which means once again it’s going to seem like spring.
