Alert archive / North Dakota / Blizzard Warnings in 2016

Blizzard Warning 1, NWS Bismarck, ND

February 6, 20165 counties in North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this blizzard warning at Feb 6, 2016, 3:09 AM CST for 5 counties in North Dakota. It took effect at Feb 7, 2016, 12:00 AM CST. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 6, 2016, 3:09 AM CST (09:09 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 7, 2016, 12:00 AM CST
Expired
Feb 7, 2016, 2:43 AM CST
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND

Counties Bottineau County, ND, Foster County, ND, Pierce County, ND, Rolette County, ND, Wells County, ND

The radar

The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 80 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:09 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 169 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2016-02-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2016-02-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 131 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1489 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
191 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

776 
WWUS43 KBIS 060909
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
309 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES
RIVER VALLEY...

.THE COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW WILL
PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT...IN PLACES LIKE BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY AND 
CARRINGTON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE
EXPECTED FOR MOST LOCATIONS...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES
OVER THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS. VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO MAKING
TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TRAVEL ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES
RIVER VALLEY SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND DELAYED IF POSSIBLE.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-061715-
/O.UPG.KBIS.BZ.A.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
309 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST
MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD
WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST
MONDAY. THE BLIZZARD WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. 

* BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY
  NIGHT.

* WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS
  IN BLOWING SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE.

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED
  AMOUNTS UP TO 6 INCHES ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS. 

* TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

KS/WAA
5 follow-up statements
275 
WWUS43 KBIS 061549
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
949 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES
RIVER VALLEY...

.THE COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW WILL
PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
NIGHT OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE
NORTHERN JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE
BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY AND CARRINGTON. TOTAL SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED FOR MOST
LOCATIONS...WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE OVER THE
TURTLE MOUNTAINS. VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO MAKING TRAVEL
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TRAVEL ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHERN JAMES
RIVER VALLEY SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND DELAYED IF POSSIBLE.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-070000-
/O.CON.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
949 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 AM CST MONDAY...

* BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY 
  NIGHT. 

* WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS 
  IN BLOWING SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE. 

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH LOCALIZED 
  AMOUNTS UP TO 6 INCHES ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS. 

* TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$

JJS
980 
WWUS43 KBIS 062056
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
256 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER
VALLEY...

.THE COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW WILL
PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE NORTHERN
JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BOTTINEAU...
ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY AND CARRINGTON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF
1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED FOR MOST LOCATIONS. VISIBILITIES
WILL BE NEAR ZERO MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TRAVEL ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHERN JAMES
RIVER VALLEY SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND DELAYED IF POSSIBLE.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-070500-
/O.CON.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
256 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 AM CST MONDAY...

* BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS 
  IN BLOWING SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE. 

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE.

&&

$$
772 
WWUS43 KBIS 070100
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
700 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER
VALLEY...

.THE COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW WILL
PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE NORTHERN
JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BOTTINEAU...
ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY AND CARRINGTON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED FOR MOST LOCATIONS. VISIBILITIES
WILL BE NEAR ZERO MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TRAVEL ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHERN JAMES
RIVER VALLEY SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND DELAYED IF POSSIBLE.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-070900-
/O.CON.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
700 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 AM CST MONDAY...

* BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS 
  IN BLOWING SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE. 

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FOR
THE STATE YOU ARE CALLING FROM CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.

$$
308 
WWUS43 KBIS 070352
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
952 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER
VALLEY...

.THE COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND FALLING SNOW WILL
PRODUCE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT
OVER PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE NORTHERN
JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE BOTTINEAU...
ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY AND CARRINGTON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS
OF 1 TO 3 INCHES CAN BE EXPECTED FOR MOST LOCATIONS. VISIBILITIES
WILL BE NEAR ZERO MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

TRAVEL ACROSS THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE NORTHERN JAMES
RIVER VALLEY SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED AND DELAYED IF POSSIBLE.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-071200-
/O.CON.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.160207T0600Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
952 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY...

* BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE SUNDAY NIGHT.

* WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 60 MPH WILL CAUSE WHITEOUT CONDITIONS 
  IN BLOWING SNOW. DAMAGE TO TREES AND POWER LINES IS POSSIBLE. 

* TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* TRAVEL WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF
YOU MUST TRAVEL...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS CAN
BE OBTAINED BY CALLING 5 1 1.

$$
419 
WWUS43 KBIS 070843
WSWBIS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
243 AM CST SUN FEB 7 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REPLACED WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING...

.THE BLIZZARD WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FROM NEAR THE TURTLE
MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER VALLEY HAS BEEN
REPLACED WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING.

VERY STRONG WINDS ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH GUSTS TO 65 MPH. THE
COMBINATION OF VERY STRONG WINDS AND SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL
PERIODICALLY RESULT IN VISIBILITIES AS LOW AS ONE MILE. HOWEVER
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE MET. THUS THE BLIZZARD WARNING HAS
BEEN REPLACED BY A HIGH WIND WARNING.

NDZ004-005-013-023-025-070945-
/O.CAN.KBIS.BZ.W.0001.000000T0000Z-160208T1200Z/
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...RUGBY...HARVEY...
CARRINGTON
243 AM CST SUN FEB 7 2016

...BLIZZARD WARNING REPLACED WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS REPLACED THE BLIZZARD
WARNING WITH A HIGH WIND WARNING. 

$$

KS/WAA

Nearby

Blizzard Warnings in North Dakota, 2016Every blizzard warning in 2016

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.