Blizzard in North Dakota, January 15, 1997

Name: Blizzard in North Dakota, January 15, 1997
Start: 1997-01-15T09:00
End: 1997-01-15T22:00
Location: North Dakota

January 15, 1997 · NWS FGF · 17 events in 17 counties and zones

An arctic front plunged south across the area, bringing less than an inch of snow to eastern North Dakota. However, strong winds created blizzard conditions across the area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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: 17

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.

An arctic front plunged south across the area, bringing less than an inch of snow to eastern North Dakota. However, strong winds created blizzard conditions across the area. Fargo reported a peak wind of 49 knots and Devils Lake had a gust to 44 knots. These gusty winds produced wind chills from 50 to 70 below zero. Some schools closed on the 15th and 16th. Interstates 29 and 94 were again shut down in North Dakota, as well as US Highway 2 from Grand Forks to Lakota. At the governor's request, the National Guard and US Air Force loaned troops and snow removal equipment to help clear roads. A heavy buildup of snow over the course of the winter led to the collapse of the large North Dakota Winter Show building in Valley City on January 20th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Towner

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Towner forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cavalier

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Cavalier forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pembina

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Pembina forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Benson

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Benson forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.069, -99.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ramsey

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Walsh

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Walsh forecast zone
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Eddy

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Eddy forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Nelson

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 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 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 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 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Griggs forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Steele

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Traill

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Traill forecast zone
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Barnes

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Barnes forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cass

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ransom

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Ransom forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sargent

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Sargent forecast zone
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Richland

When: January 15, 9:00 AM CST to 10:00 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

Every storm in North Dakota in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5586898, 5586899, 5586900, 5586901, 5586902, 5586903, 5586904, 5586905, 5586906, 5586907, 5586908, 5586909, 5586910, 5586911, 5586912, 5586913, 5586914.