North Dakota, 1997

Blizzard in North Dakota, January 4 to 5, 1997

January 4 to 5, 1997 · NWS FGF · 8 events in 8 counties and zones

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

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
None recorded
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 FGF wrote it up.

After the heavy snow had fallen across parts of the area, strong north winds increased, producing blizzard conditions. Numerous gusts to 40 knots occurred across the area. Once again, many roads were closed, including Interstate 29 from Grand Forks to the South Dakota border and Interstate 94 from Jamestown to Fargo. A snowplow, clearing Interstate 29 before it was closed, rescued about a dozen vehicles and cleared a path for them to a casino near Hankinson to wait out the storm.

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, Griggs

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Griggs forecast zone
Coordinates
47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Steele

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Coordinates
47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Traill

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Barnes

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Barnes forecast zone
Coordinates
46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cass

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ransom

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Ransom forecast zone
Coordinates
46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sargent

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Sargent forecast zone
Coordinates
46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Richland

When
January 4, 6:00 PM CST to January 5, 10:00 AM 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

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: 5586659, 5586660, 5586661, 5586662, 5586663, 5586664, 5586665, 5586666.