MINNEAPOLIS — A typical February in the Twin Cities brings a lot of cold air — but not a lot of snow. In fact, it's usually the least-snowy winter month of the season.
Not this year.
With more snow in the forecast this week, February 2019 will likely take the top spot as the snowiest February on record at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Through the first 18 days of the month, we've already tripled our regular February snowfall totals.
At 22.6 inches, the all-time record of 26.5 — set a half-century ago in 1962 — is well within sight.
KARE 11 meteorologist Belinda Jensen says it's a "safe bet."
"In Duluth, they have more snow on the ground right now than they have in over five years. Many parts of the (Twin Cities) metro have more snowpack on the ground than we've seen in around five years as well," Jensen said. "So it's pretty remarkable."
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It's been keeping plows busy, too.
Michael Anderson, who runs Tiny Sandman's in South Minneapolis, serves about 50 customers in his neighborhood.
"It's been heck," he said. "It's been a lot of snow."
He actually loses a little money during snowy months, since his customers mostly pay through monthly contracts.
"Because I gotta pay them to go out there 10 times, instead of two or three -- or no times," Anderson said. "It's been a busy month, but that's OK. I'm not complaining."
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