Heaviest snowstorm in two winters dumps more than 10 inches on campus

A white Christmas is finally in sight as the first major snowfall and heaviest snowstorm to hit the region in two winters dumped on the Twin Cities Sunday.

The National Weather Service said 10.5 inches fell in Minneapolis by Sunday night. Students have embraced it.

Junior Annie Longfellow said she is more than excited for the new snow.

“I was really excited because when it’s really cold and there’s no snow, it’s just depressing,” Longfellow said. “However, when there’s a bunch of snow, it’s really pretty and it makes it worth the while.”

According to the National Weather Services Website for St. Paul, temperatures will peak at 33 degrees Thursday, which means that the snow is here for a while.

Senior Steven Grand said he looks forward to participating in snow activities.

“I’m really excited about the snow because I’m all about snowboarding and doing anything that involves snow,” Grand said. “It also adds a lot of spirit to the holiday season.”

The Twin Cities’ heaviest snowfall last winter was 4.2 inches on Dec. 3. The heaviest snows of the winter of 2010-11 were 16.3 inches on Dec. 11, 2010 and 11.8 inches on Feb. 20, 2011.

That last storm caused the Metrodome to collapse — forcing the Vikings to play the final two games of the season elsewhere.

While the winter wonderland is exciting for some people, not everyone enjoys the accumulation.

Sophomore Brooke Davies said she does not feel prepared for this seasonal change.

“I looked out my window this morning after I received a text about a snow emergency and saw an igloo that resembled my car,” Davies said. “With my roommates gone for the weekend, I wasn’t sure how I was going to drive to work. I didn’t have any winter clothing besides a jacket, and I have not bought a window scraper for my car yet.”

Davies’ landlord hasn’t been around to shovel her driveway, but in times of need, she said she can always count on her friends.

“I turned to bribery,” Davies said. “My good friends shoveled my driveway in exchange for goods.”

With extreme conditions, Grand hopes the university will cancel classes.

“I’m hoping for a snow day on Monday,” Grand said.

Kayla Bengtson can be reached at beng2004@stthomas.edu.