NOAA normal Minneapolis–St. Paul averages about 51.2 inches of snow a seasonMinneapolis rule Commercial properties have 4 daytime hours after snow ends to clear walksMPCA Minnesota's Smart Salting certification trains applicators to use less saltDeicer chemistry Rock salt slows sharply below about 15°F pavementEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during itNOAA normal Minneapolis–St. Paul averages about 51.2 inches of snow a seasonMinneapolis rule Commercial properties have 4 daytime hours after snow ends to clear walksMPCA Minnesota's Smart Salting certification trains applicators to use less saltDeicer chemistry Rock salt slows sharply below about 15°F pavementEst. treated salt Pre-treated bulk salt usually runs $20–$50 a ton over plain rock saltEst. salt brine Salt brine by the gallon: roughly $0.20–$0.40, before deliveryEst. bagged rock salt Pallet of 49 × 50 lb rock salt bags: roughly $240–$330Est. ice melt pallet Pallet of 49 × 50 lb blended ice melt: roughly $430–$600Rule of thumb Plain rock salt slows way down below about 15°F pavement temperatureFall pre-buy Lock in tons and pickup or delivery before the first storm, not during it

Price figures are estimates from public bids and published price lists, not quotes. Where these numbers come from

Home › Snow & Ice Guide › How a Twin Cities winter unfolds

How a Twin Cities winter unfolds

MSP snowfall, freeze-thaw counts, deep cold and the season month by month.

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A Twin Cities winter means steady snow, long cold stretches and frequent subzero mornings. Here's how a typical season tends to go. Any given year can differ.

Snowfall and freeze-thaw

Place	Average seasonal snowfall	Freeze-thaw days a year
Minneapolis–St. Paul	51.2 in	67.9

Snowfall: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals.¹ Freeze-thaw days: our count of days with a high above 32°F and a low below 32°F in NOAA GHCN-Daily records, 1991–2020 average.²

The season, month by month

November: line up supply

First snows. Pre-buy salt and cold-weather blends.

December: winter settles in

Snow cover builds. Brine ahead while pavement is above 15°F.

January to February: deep cold

Subzero mornings. Treated salt, magnesium and calcium; abrasives for traction.

March: freeze-thaw

Melt and refreeze. Watch drainage around piles.

Next in the guideStorm-readiness checklist →

Sources

Figures are quoted from the sources above. Conditions on your sites vary; follow product labels and your own calibration.