Minnesota, 1997

Blizzard in Minnesota, January 4 to 5, 1997

January 4 to 5, 1997 · NWS FGF · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

After the heavy snow had fallen across the area, strong north winds increased, producing blizzard conditions. Numerous gusts to 40 knots occurred during the course of the night.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

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.

After the heavy snow had fallen across the area, strong north winds increased, producing blizzard conditions. Numerous gusts to 40 knots occurred during the course of the night. Interstate 94 was closed from Moorhead to Sauk Centre and US Highway 10 was closed from Moorhead to Staples. The strong winds produced huge snowdrifts from the fresh snow, hampering snowplows once the storm was over.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Norman

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Norman forecast zone
Coordinates
47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Clay

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Coordinates
46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Wilkin

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Wilkin forecast zone
Coordinates
46.357, -96.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, West Becker

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
West Becker forecast zone
Coordinates
46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, West Otter Tail

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
West Otter Tail forecast zone
Coordinates
46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, East Otter Tail

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
East Otter Tail forecast zone
Coordinates
46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grant

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Coordinates
45.934, -96.012 (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 Minnesota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, January 1997

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: 5586667, 5586668, 5586669, 5586670, 5586671, 5586672, 5586673.