MINNEAPOLIS — The southwestern and west central parts of Minnesota got hit hard with an early snowstorm.

According to the National Weather Service, the snowfall totals in Pipestone and Lyon counties ranged from 7.5 to 10 inches.

The Twin Cities escaped the worst of the snow that started Tuesday evening, with less than two inches accumulation in most areas.

Greg Spoden, state climatologist with the Department of Natural Resources, calls November “a transition month,” where there’s enough Arctic air to turn the precipitation to be snow.

The record for the state’s earliest snowfall is Sept. 24, 1985 and the shortest snow-free stint is 137 days, from May 25 to Oct. 8, 1925.