The Amazing Way MN's MSP Airport Removes Snow From Runways

With our first real snowstorm of the season bearing down on much of the state, it won't take Minnesota's biggest airport too long to get those runways free of the white stuff again. Here's how they do it!

You've likely seen a line of four or five Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) snowplows in formation, clearing snow from a multi-line highway, like I-494, I-694 or I-35 here in the North Star State, right?

While that's impressive, I'm guessing you haven't seen how the snow removal team at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport (MSP) clears snow from its runways... using something it calls a 'conga line.'

This special convoy of snow removal equipment was back in action several times at MSP last year, and it's back again this season. It's a dedicated team of over 100 snow and ice removal experts that get right to work to keep at least one runway open during any snow event that happens here in the Land of 10,000 Snow and Ice-Covered Lakes.

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According to a release from MSP, the Field Maintenance Department of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is the main part of their team that works along with the airlines, the FAA, and the MAC's Airside Operations Department to coordinate all the snow removal operations at Minnesota's biggest airport.

The MSP crew works tirelessly anytime Mother Nature drops any amount of snow on the 28-million square feet of pavement at MSP's airfield in Bloomington to keep it safe for airline operations. (28 million square feet?!? Now *that* is a big driveway, am I right?) Even though winter can cause hundreds of delays and cancellations, MSP still has one of the best on-time performances in the country. Hey, it's Minnesota-- we KNOW snow, right?

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Once it starts snowing, as it did early Thursday, the MSP crew gets to work, using their special 'conga line' formation to keep runways clear. This line consists of 15 to 20 pieces of snow removal equipment, all working together to clear the snow. Most times, MSP says, they only have to shut down a runway for 15 to 20 minutes—a task that takes much longer at other airports.

It's really impressive to see. Check it out in the video below, and keep scrolling to check out the 10 things Minnesotans can't wait to stock up on when it a snowstorm heads our way.

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Top 10 Items People in Minnesota Stock Up On When They Hear "Storm"

I am pretty sure that as soon as the word "storm" shows up in the forecast, people in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin are just trained to hop in their cars and go to the store. Stocking up on supplies becomes our #1 priority and we shop like we have absolutely nothing in our house to eat. So, we will up our carts with all "the things" and hope we grabbed enough to make it through the storm.

FYI - we will make it through the storm, and some of us will do that with Double Stuffed Oreos. Some of us will not...because the store shelf was empty by the time we got there.

Below are a few of the top items that we grab at the last minute before the storm hits.

Gallery Credit: Jessica On The Radio