North Dakota, 1998

Blizzard in North Dakota, February 25 to 28, 1998

February 25 to 28, 1998 · NWS BIS · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

The first major winter storm to hit North Dakota in the 97/98 winter season waited until the last few days of February. A Colorado low pressure system brought a three day blizzard to western and north central North Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 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
5
Property damage
$200,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
24

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 first major winter storm to hit North Dakota in the 97/98 winter season waited until the last few days of February. A Colorado low pressure system brought a three day blizzard to western and north central North Dakota. Five injuries were reported and all were due to vehicular accidents in blowing snow and poor visibilities. Icy power lines combined with wind gusts over 45 mph dropped power poles in many counties. Numerous power outages were reported from Dickinson to Williston to Minot to Bottineau, especially in rural areas. One estimate had 3,500 rural electric customers without power at one time. Some areas near Newtown, Sherwood, Mohall and Landsford were without power for 70 hours. The strong winds caused 20 foot snow drifts in Beach which stranded 200 truck drivers and numerous other travellers. Interstates and highways were blocked due to snow and low visibilities. An estimated 100 people had to be rescued by emergency response officials during the storm. Blizzard warnings were in effect for 60 hours. Most schools and businesses were closed during this storm. The highest snowfall report was 29 inches in Westhope, other reports included 23 inches in Minot, 18 inches in Williston, and 15 inches in Dickinson. Lightning was reported with the snow in Minot on Wednesday, February 25.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Divide

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Divide forecast zone
Coordinates
48.815, -103.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Adams

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Adams forecast zone
Coordinates
46.097, -102.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Billings

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Billings forecast zone
Coordinates
47.023, -103.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Bottineau

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Bottineau forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Bowman

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Bowman forecast zone
Coordinates
46.113, -103.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Burke

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Burke forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
48.791, -102.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Dunn

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Dunn forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
47.357, -102.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Golden Valley

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Golden Valley forecast zone
Coordinates
46.940, -103.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grant

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Grant forecast zone
Coordinates
46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McHenry

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
McHenry forecast zone
Coordinates
48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McKenzie

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
McKenzie forecast zone
Coordinates
47.740, -103.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McLean

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
McLean forecast zone
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect

Blizzard, Mercer

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Mercer forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Morton

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Morton forecast zone

Blizzard, Mountrail

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Mountrail forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
48.201, -102.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Oliver

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Oliver forecast zone
Coordinates
47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pierce

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Pierce forecast zone
Coordinates
48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Renville

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Renville forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
48.719, -101.658 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Rolette

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Rolette forecast zone
Coordinates
48.772, -99.841 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sioux

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Sioux forecast zone

Blizzard, Slope

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Slope forecast zone
Coordinates
46.447, -103.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Stark

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Stark forecast zone
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
46.811, -102.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ward

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Ward forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000

Blizzard, Williams

When
February 25, 4:00 PM CST to February 28, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Williams forecast zone
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
48.344, -103.480 (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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 1998

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: 5628310, 5628311, 5628312, 5628313, 5628314, 5628315, 5628316, 5628317, 5628318, 5628319, 5628320, 5628321, 5628322, 5628323, 5628324, 5628325, 5628326, 5628327, 5628328, 5628329, 5628330, 5628331, 5628332, 5628333.