Blizzard, Kidder
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kidder forecast zone
- Injuries
- 3 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard in North Dakota, January 15 to 16, 1997
The 3rd blizzard to hit North Dakota in less than 3 weeks affected mainly the east-central and eastern part of the state. Again, like the previous blizzard, the winds was the major weather factor.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 10
- Property damage
- $6.3 million
- 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 BIS wrote it up.
The 3rd blizzard to hit North Dakota in less than 3 weeks affected mainly the east-central and eastern part of the state. Again, like the previous blizzard, the winds was the major weather factor. Wind gusts at times were over 50 mph. This created widespread blowing and drifting snow. All major roads in the area were closed again for the 3rd time this year. In Logan Co. the machine shed that is used by the Logan Co. Historical Society to store antiques was damaged by the roof falling in. With the severity of the blowing and drifting snow, roads that were just opened from the last storm were once again blown shut. This lead to the death of a 71 yr. old Fredonia(Logan Co.) man. He suffered a heart attack at his farm, and was able to call 911 for help. However, the ambulance couldn't get to him because of the blocked roads. A 57 yr old man from Napoleon(Logan Co.) also suffered a heart attack on his farm and passed away before assistance could get to him. Injuries and dollar damage amounts estimated.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
7 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, Stutsman
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Stutsman forecast zone
- Injuries
- 4 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Foster
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Foster forecast zone
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Logan
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Logan forecast zone
- Deaths
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, La Moure
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- La Moure forecast zone
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, McIntosh
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- McIntosh forecast zone
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Dickey
- When
- January 15, 6:00 AM CST to January 16, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Dickey forecast zone
- Injuries
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $900,000
- Coordinates
- 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
The people who died
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blizzard, Logan | 1997-01-15 | 71 | Male | Permanent Home | Direct |
| Blizzard, Logan | 1997-01-15 | 57 | Male | Permanent Home | Direct |
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
- Winter Storm in Illinois, January 15 to 18, 1997
- Cold in South Dakota, January 15 to 16, 1997
- Winter Storm in Illinois, January 15 to 17, 1997
- Cold in Iowa, January 15 to 16, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, January 15, 1997
- Tornado in Mississippi, January 15, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, January 15, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, January 15, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, January 15, 1997
- Tornado in Florida, January 15, 1997
- High Wind in Iowa, January 15 to 16, 1997
- Damaging Wind in Louisiana, January 15, 1997
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5587353, 5587354, 5587355, 5587356, 5587357, 5587358, 5587359.