Ice Storm in Minnesota, January 17 to 18, 1996

Name: Ice Storm in Minnesota, January 17 to 18, 1996
Start: 1996-01-17T17:00
End: 1996-01-18T03:00
Location: Minnesota

January 17 to 18, 1996 · NWS FSD · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Freezing rain caused severe icing which resulted in damage to trees and power lines. The damage was increased by strong winds which developed as the freezing rain changed to snow.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $350,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.

Freezing rain caused severe icing which resulted in damage to trees and power lines. The damage was increased by strong winds which developed as the freezing rain changed to snow. Damage from a building fire near Mountain Lake was aggravated by the inability of firefighters to respond quickly due to the icy roads. Icing of furnace regulators also occurred resulting in furnace shutdowns.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Cottonwood

When: January 17, 5:00 PM CST to January 18, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Cottonwood forecast zone
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 44.007, -95.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Nobles

When: January 17, 5:00 PM CST to January 18, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Nobles forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 43.674, -95.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Jackson

When: January 17, 5:00 PM CST to January 18, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Property damage: $200,000
Coordinates: 43.674, -95.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, January 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5538519, 5538520, 5538521.