Blizzard, Kittson
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Kittson forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 48.777, -96.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard in Minnesota, December 20, 2000
As the area of surface low pressure tracked out of east central North Dakota and moved into west central Minnesota, the pressure gradient tightened and wind speeds increased over the Red River Valley. The light fluffy snow that had fallen over northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota began to blow, with blizzard conditions moving from north to south down the valley.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 9
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.
As the area of surface low pressure tracked out of east central North Dakota and moved into west central Minnesota, the pressure gradient tightened and wind speeds increased over the Red River Valley. The light fluffy snow that had fallen over northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota began to blow, with blizzard conditions moving from north to south down the valley. Also, very little snow fell south of the Grand Forks / East Grand Forks area. Wind speeds up to 40 mph were reported from Hallock to Fergus Falls. Several schools closed early on the 20th and part of the day on the 21st. Several vehicles slid into ditches during the height of the blizzard.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
9 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard, West Marshall
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- West Marshall forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, West Polk
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- West Polk forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Norman
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Norman forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Clay
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Clay forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, West Becker
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- West Becker forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Wilkin
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Wilkin forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 46.357, -96.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, West Otter Tail
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- West Otter Tail forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Blizzard, Grant
- When
- December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Grant forecast zone
- Reported by
- AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
- Coordinates
- 45.934, -96.012 (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
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, December 20, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 20, 2000
- Blizzard in North Dakota, December 20, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Illinois, December 20, 2000
- Frost and Freeze in Florida, December 20 to 21, 2000
- Winter Storm in Mississippi, December 20 to 21, 2000
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 20, 2000
- High Surf in Hawaii, December 20 to 27, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Maine, December 20, 2000
- Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 20 to 22, 2000
- Winter Storm in Maine, December 20, 2000
- Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 20, 2000
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, December 2000
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: 5177618, 5177711, 5177712, 5177713, 5177714, 5177715, 5177716, 5177717, 5177718.