North Dakota, 1996

Blizzard in North Dakota, January 17 to 18, 1996

January 17 to 18, 1996 · NWS FGF · 13 events in 13 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system located over the Central Plains brought a combination of heavy snow, strong wind, and subzero temperatures to eastern North Dakota. 20 inches of snow fell in Wahpeton, 18 inches fell in Fargo, and amounts of 8 to 13 inches were common over the rest of the area.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

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.

A strong low pressure system located over the Central Plains brought a combination of heavy snow, strong wind, and subzero temperatures to eastern North Dakota. 20 inches of snow fell in Wahpeton, 18 inches fell in Fargo, and amounts of 8 to 13 inches were common over the rest of the area. The 18 inches of snow recorded in Fargo was the second heaviest snowfall on record for a 24 hour period. A north wind gusting up to 55 mph created drifts up to 10 feet high. The wind tore a large siding panel off the west side of the Radisson Hotel in Fargo. Law enforcement officials advised no travel and closed Interstate 29 in North Dakota, Interstate 94 from Fargo to Bismarck, and US Highway 2 from Grand Forks to Devils Lake. 3 people in 2 vehicles who did attempt to travel were stranded for several hours until they were rescued. Many schools closed at noon on the 17th and did not re-open until the 22nd. Temperatures dropped to 10 to 20 below zero and compounded the snow removal process. Many plows broke down because their hydraulic and cooling systems froze. The cold also caused several water main breaks and minor power outages.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Cavalier

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier forecast zone
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pembina

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Pembina forecast zone
Coordinates
48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Eastern Walsh

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Coordinates
48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Nelson

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Nelson forecast zone
Coordinates
47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grand Forks

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Griggs

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Griggs forecast zone
Coordinates
47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Steele

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Coordinates
47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Traill

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Barnes

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Barnes forecast zone
Coordinates
46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cass

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ransom

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Ransom forecast zone
Coordinates
46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sargent

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Sargent forecast zone
Coordinates
46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Richland

When
January 17, 2:00 PM CST to January 18, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5576198, 5576199, 5576200, 5576201, 5576202, 5576203, 5576362, 5576363, 5576364, 5576365, 5576366, 5576367, 5576368.