Minnesota, 1997

Blizzard in Minnesota, January 9 to 11, 1997

January 9 to 11, 1997 · NWS FSD · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

Strong winds gusting as high as 60 mph combined with loose heavy snow cover and 1 to 3 inches of new snow to produce widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Transportation, schools, and commerce were brought to a halt for almost two full days.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 8 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
$80,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Strong winds gusting as high as 60 mph combined with loose heavy snow cover and 1 to 3 inches of new snow to produce widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Transportation, schools, and commerce were brought to a halt for almost two full days. Roads were blocked by drifts as high as 20 feet, and travel was otherwise made impossible by zero visibility. Wind chills as cold as 80 below zero accompanied the blizzard. Several people were stranded and at least two suffered frostbite while waiting in vehicles. Several power outages occurred from fallen poles and broken lines. Roofs collapsed from the weight of snow, mainly on farm buildings. The greatest damage was long term economic loss from the loss of commerce and transportation, and could not be accurately estimated.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Lincoln

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Lincoln forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
44.413, -96.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Lyon

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Lyon forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
44.414, -95.839 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Murray

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Murray forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
44.022, -95.763 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cottonwood

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Cottonwood forecast zone
Coordinates
44.007, -95.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Nobles

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Nobles forecast zone
Coordinates
43.674, -95.753 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Jackson

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
43.674, -95.154 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pipestone

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Pipestone forecast zone
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
44.023, -96.259 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Rock

When
January 9, 8:00 AM CST to January 11, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Rock forecast zone
Coordinates
43.675, -96.253 (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: 5588007, 5588008, 5588009, 5588010, 5588011, 5588012, 5588013, 5588014.