Xyler was a mid-spring clipper-like low-pressure system that swept across the northern tier of the United States from the northern Rockies through South Dakota and Nebraska, then the southern Great Lakes. The northern side of Xyler had just enough cold air to work with to produce unwanted snow across the northern Plains, upper Midwest, Great Lakes and interior Northeast from April 26 through early April 28.
Winter Storm Xyler was named during the late-afternoon hours on April 26, when winter storm warnings were issued for southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin, metro areas. Those warnings met our criteria for winter storm naming, at least 2 million people located in winter storm warnings.
Xyler began to bring snow to parts of western Montana late April 26, with spring rain showers extending eastward into South Dakota and Iowa.
Heavy snowfall resulted in snow-covered roads and slippery travel in eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota early on April 27. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, measured 1.5 inches of snow, and 2.7 inches was reported near Brookings, South Dakota.
Thundersnow was even observed with some of the heavier snowfall in southeastern South Dakota and northern Iowa early on April 27.
Thunder snow on April 27th in Sioux Falls!! Sorry Mr. Finch! #xyler #sdwx pic.twitter.com/ynS183FR9i
โ Matthew Dux (@MatthewDux) April 27, 2019
Rain changed to snow early on April 27 as the precipitation reached southern Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Temperatures were warm ahead of the low-pressure system, which kept much of the snow from sticking to the ground.
Snowfall rates increased despite the warmer temperatures as the snow reached the southern Great Lakes during the afternoon of April 27.
Chicago picked up 2.5 inches of snow on April 27, which was the latest in the season a 2-inch or greater calendar-day snowfall had been recorded there. It was also the latest in the season the Windy City had seen accumulating snow in more than 25 years.
Many saw snow fall on newly sprouted flowers and fresh-cut spring grass from Milwaukee to Rockford, Illinois.
Special shoutout to this straight up bonkers #chicagoweather for the rare photo opportunity. pic.twitter.com/ZBTloNve4a
โ Eglฤ ๐ฒ Makar (@officialegle) April 27, 2019
Xyler swung into the Northeast early on April 28, producing a mix of rain and snow across parts of upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and some higher-terrain areas of New England.
Day #2 of the LAST weekend in April in Redfield NY!! 2.2 inches yesterday and it is still coming down this morning! Woohoo! Happy Spring "Redfield Style"! pic.twitter.com/liSQpESowl
โ Carolyn Yerdon (@CYerdon) April 28, 2019
The precipitation changed to all rain by the afternoon of April 28, and Winter Storm Xyler came to an end.
Snowfall Totals
Iowa: 5 inches in Dubuque and Peosta
Illinois: 7 inches in Lena; 3.7 inches in Rockford; 2.5 inches at Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Michigan: 3.5 inches near Keeler; 1.5 inches near Kalamazoo
Minnesota: 4.9 inches near Lakefield; 2.1 inches in Rochester
New York: 1.2 inches near West Almond
South Dakota: 3.5 inches near Madison, Cheyenne Crossing and Danforth
Wisconsin: 7 inches in New Glarus; 2.6 inches at NWS-Milwaukee; 1.7 inches at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport; 1.2 inches in Madison
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