North Dakota, 2000

Blizzard in North Dakota, December 20, 2000

December 20, 2000 · NWS FGF · 14 events in 14 counties and zones

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; 14 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
14

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.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

14 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Cavalier

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 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
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 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, Eastern Walsh

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Nelson

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Nelson forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grand Forks

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Griggs

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Griggs forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Steele

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Traill

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Barnes

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Barnes forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Cass

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Ransom

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Ransom forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sargent

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Sargent forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Richland

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Western Walsh

When
December 20, 11:47 AM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Western Walsh forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.370, -97.721 (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 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, 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: 5177298, 5177299, 5177300, 5177301, 5177302, 5177303, 5177304, 5177305, 5177306, 5177307, 5177308, 5177309, 5177310, 5177311.