North Dakota, 1999

Ice Storm in North Dakota, April 3 to 4, 1999

April 3 to 4, 1999 · NWS FGF · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A strong low pressure area in Minnesota brought another round of winter weather to eastern North Dakota on the heels of the April Fools Day storm. Significant accumulations of ice built up on all surfaces due to a long period of freezing rain.

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 area in Minnesota brought another round of winter weather to eastern North Dakota on the heels of the April Fools Day storm. Significant accumulations of ice built up on all surfaces due to a long period of freezing rain. Thousands of power customers lost power, as power lines snapped due to the weight of the ice. Icicles up to 2 to 4 inches long were common on power lines and trees. City foresters were kept busy for weeks trying to haul away branches and fallen trees. This ice storm brought back memories of the ice storm of early April 1997.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Nelson

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Nelson forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Grand Forks

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Griggs

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Griggs forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Steele

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Traill

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ice Storm, Barnes

When
April 3, 1:00 PM CST to April 4, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Barnes forecast zone
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Ice Storm
Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5687625, 5687626, 5687627, 5687628, 5687629, 5687630.