Minnesota, 1997

Blizzard in Minnesota, March 4, 1997

March 4, 1997 · NWS FGF · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

As the low pressure system responsible for the snow across northwest Minnesota moved to the east, a strong north wind increased across the area. Gusts up to 40 mph whipped up the fresh snow and reduced the visibility to near zero.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
6

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.

As the low pressure system responsible for the snow across northwest Minnesota moved to the east, a strong north wind increased across the area. Gusts up to 40 mph whipped up the fresh snow and reduced the visibility to near zero. Numerous east-west roads were closed, and some schools closed on the 3rd and 4th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, West Polk

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Polk forecast zone
Coordinates
47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Norman

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Norman forecast zone
Coordinates
47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Clay

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Clay forecast zone
Coordinates
46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kittson

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Kittson forecast zone
Coordinates
48.777, -96.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, West Marshall

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
West Marshall forecast zone
Coordinates
48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Wilkin

When
March 4, 2:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Wilkin forecast zone
Coordinates
46.357, -96.468 (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, March 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: 5589753, 5589754, 5589755, 5589756, 5589757, 5589758.