With a chance of snow reaching into Sunday night's forecast, Mother Nature is again reminding Borderland not to retire the shovels and snow plows just yet.

In what has been one of the snowier spring seasons on record, much of Minnesota appears to be looking for relief from the winter-like weather.

“We were spoiled last year with such a mild March that I think people are comparing that to this year,” Kevin Kraujalis, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Duluth, told The Journal Thursday.

The National Weather Service is predicting another round of snow beginning Sunday and lingering into the early part of the work week. Snow totals could be as much as 3 or more inches, if it remains cold. Warm air would change the forecast to rain, some of which could be freezing.

“We are expecting to see higher-than-normal precipitation amounts,” Kraujalis said.

According to the meteorologist, the addition of any snow will make the period from February to April one of the top five snowiest on record.

“So far, it ranks fifth with 45.6 inches of snow,” he said.

The top slot for the same period is held by snowfall totals in 2009 with 56.6 inches. This year is only about 11 inches away, he said, and it isn't out of the question that Borderland will match the record this year.

What is unusual, he said, is the amount of snow already on the ground. In fact, he added there are only “a handful” of years that are comparable.

As of Thursday, Kraujalis said an official weather observer called in 18 inches of snow on the ground. The number matches the total on the ground in 2009 and is still under the 25 inches of snow recorded in 1975.

“It will be a slow melt,” Kraujalis said, adding temperatures will begin to peak into the low 40s next week and will still drop below freezing overnight.

So, will there be relief any time soon? Kraujalis said it is hard to say, especially with the cool-air jet stream lingering over the region, which is responsible for carrying with it active snow storms.

As if looking out the window or stepping outside isn't a constant reminder, here are a few facts that assure Borderland is correct when labeling the 2012-13 winter as a long one:

  • The last time International Falls recorded a temperature of at least 60 degrees was Oct. 16.
  • The longest International Falls has gone in a new year before reaching 60 degrees is May 10, 1950.
  • The last time there was an observed snow depth of at least 20 inches on April 15 was in 1974 and 1975.
  • The normal snowfall for April is 6.4 inches. International Falls is more than 4 inches above that mark today.
  • The snowiest April was set in 1925 with 36.3 inches.
  • Since Jan. 1, Borderland has received 58.7 inches of snow.