North Dakota, 1999

Blizzard in North Dakota, April 1, 1999

April 1, 1999 · NWS FGF · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong low pressure system moved from the central plains to Ontario, bringing moisture and a strong pressure gradient to the Devils Lake basin. Blizzard conditions resulted, as wind gusts to 54 mph were reported by the Devils Lake AWOS along with visibilities below a quarter of a mile.

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.

A strong low pressure system moved from the central plains to Ontario, bringing moisture and a strong pressure gradient to the Devils Lake basin. Blizzard conditions resulted, as wind gusts to 54 mph were reported by the Devils Lake AWOS along with visibilities below a quarter of a mile. 8 inches of snow was reported at Edmore and Devils Lake and 4 inches of snow was reported at Langdon. Cars blocked many intersections in the city of Devils Lake, as people tried to drive through the deep snow.

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, Towner

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Towner forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cavalier

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pembina

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Pembina forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ramsey

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Benson

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Benson forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.069, -99.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Eddy

When
April 1, 10:00 AM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where
Eddy forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.718, -98.902 (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 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, April 1999

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: 5687601, 5687602, 5687603, 5687604, 5687605, 5687606.