On October 26, a large storm system dominated the continental United States. This is one of the strongest non-tropical storms on record for lowest minimum pressure in the United States. The lowest pressure found so far with the October 26 storm was 28.20 inches at 5:13pm at Bigfork in Itasca County. This shatters the old Minnesota lowest pressure record of 28.43 that was set in the November 10, 1998 storm at both Austin and Albert Lea. The strongest Great Lakes area storm in terms of pressure was the "Great Ohio Blizzard" of Janaury 26, 1978. The pressure minimum of this storm was 28.05, which was likely measured in southern Ontario. Thus, it appears that the minumum pressure of 28.20 inches measured at Bigfork is the new record low pressure for a non-tropical strom in the Continental US (excluding tornadoes). This storm rapidly intensified over the course of 24 hours. Aided by a strong jet stream, a strong low pressure system became better organized over central South Dakota on October 25. The low moved to the northeast and by noon on October 26, the center was over Hibbing. High Wind Warnings were posted from southeast Montana to Ohio. A Blizzard Warning covered a good chunk of North Dakota. Winds were gusting up to 59 mph near Hanley Falls at 1:15pm on the 26h.
To illustrate how strong of a storm this is, 28.20 inches is equivalent to a Category 3 Hurricane. The lowest pressure for the storm that sank the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975 was 28.95 inches. Even with the Armistice Day storm, the lowest pressure recorded was 28.55 inches. Of course, pressure is only one measurement of a storm. During the evening hours of October 26, snow became mixed with the rain over northern Minnesota, by daybreak on October 27, a white blanket of snow covered parts of northern Minnesota. The heaviest snow total found so far was near Twig in St. Loius County with 9 inches. The Duluth National Weather Service Office measured 7.4 inches. Not only snow, but heavy rains fell as well with this storm with 3.92 inches reported in three days at Wolf Ridge in Lake County.
The Duluth National Weather Service is keeping track of the October 26-27 storm as well.
Listed below are Public Information Statements from the National Weather Service.
