Cold/Wind Chill, Cavalier
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Cavalier forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold in North Dakota, February 1 to 2, 1996
For a period of 11 straight days, beginning on January 23 and ending on February 4, the temperature at the Fargo NWS remained at or below zero. This stretch of cold temperatures tied the second longest subzero period, previously set in 1899.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 13 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 13
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 FGF wrote it up.
For a period of 11 straight days, beginning on January 23 and ending on February 4, the temperature at the Fargo NWS remained at or below zero. This stretch of cold temperatures tied the second longest subzero period, previously set in 1899. On February 1, Fargo tied a record low of 39 below, previously reached in 1893. The temperature also fell to 40 below in Grand Forks. Area electrical companies reported record peak loads. On February 2, the temperature dropped to 39 below in Grand Forks and 34 below in Fargo. The cold caused numerous water main breaks and shortages of number 1 diesel fuel.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
13 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
Cold/Wind Chill, Pembina
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Pembina forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Walsh
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Eastern Walsh forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Nelson
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Nelson forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Grand Forks
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Grand Forks forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Griggs
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Griggs forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Steele
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Steele forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Traill
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Traill forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Barnes
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Barnes forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Cass
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Cass forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Ransom
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Ransom forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Sargent
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Sargent forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Cold/Wind Chill, Richland
- When
- February 1, 12:00 AM CST to February 2, 11:59 PM CST
- Where
- Richland forecast zone
- Coordinates
- 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- Cold/Wind Chill
- Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Cold in Wisconsin, February 1 to 4, 1996
- Cold in Mississippi, February 1 to 4, 1996
- Cold in Wyoming, February 1 to 4, 1996
- Cold in Wisconsin, February 1 to 5, 1996
- Cold in Michigan, February 1 to 6, 1996
- Cold in Wisconsin, February 1 to 4, 1996
- Cold in Montana, February 1, 1996
- Ice Storm in Mississippi, February 1 to 2, 1996
- Cold in Ohio, February 1 to 5, 1996
- Winter Storm in Texas, February 1 to 2, 1996
- Winter Storm in Alabama, February 1 to 3, 1996
- Winter Storm in Mississippi, February 1 to 3, 1996
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5576383, 5576384, 5576385, 5576386, 5576387, 5576388, 5576389, 5576390, 5576391, 5576392, 5576393, 5576394, 5576395.