Winter Storm in North Dakota, January 17, 2003

Name: Winter Storm in North Dakota, January 17, 2003
Start: 2003-01-17T03:45
End: 2003-01-17T20:15
Location: North Dakota

January 17, 2003 · NWS BIS · 11 events in 11 counties and zones

A strong cold front moved across the region producing gusty northwest winds to 35 mph and scattered snowshowers. As a result the system did not produce the winter weather conditions earlier forecast.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 11

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.

A strong cold front moved across the region producing gusty northwest winds to 35 mph and scattered snowshowers. The front moved quickly through western and central North Dakota exiting the region in the evening.As a result the system did not produce the winter weather conditions earlier forecast. The winter stormwarning was cancelled Friday evening of the 17th.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Adams

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.097, -102.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bottineau

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Bottineau forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Bowman

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Bowman forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.113, -103.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Burke

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Burke forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.791, -102.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Golden Valley

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Golden Valley forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.940, -103.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McHenry

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Mountrail

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Mountrail forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.201, -102.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pierce

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Renville

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.719, -101.658 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rolette

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Rolette forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.772, -99.841 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ward

When: January 17, 3:45 AM CST to 8:15 PM CST
Where: Ward forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

What these are

Winter Storm: A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, January 2003

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: 5339711, 5339712, 5339713, 5339714, 5339715, 5339716, 5339717, 5339718, 5339719, 5339720, 5339721.