Cold in North Dakota, January 27 to 28, 2004

Name: Cold in North Dakota, January 27 to 28, 2004
Start: 2004-01-27T18:00
End: 2004-01-28T11:30
Location: North Dakota

January 27 to 28, 2004 · NWS BIS · 36 events in 36 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 32 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: 36

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.

An approaching arctic high pressure system over southern Canada and exiting low pressure system over the northern plains broughtextremely cold temperatures and bitter wind chills to western and central North Dakota. Ambient temperatures ranging 20 to 35 below zero combined with northwest winds to 30 mph resulted in widespread wind chill factors of 40 to 65 below zero. In southwest North Dakota, in Adams County, icy roads and reduced visibilities in blowing snow resulted in a fatality (indirect) when a 35 year old male lost control of his vehicle and rolled several times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle. The arctic high pressure system settled over the region late Wednesday morning on the 28th of January and brought diminishing winds to the area.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 27, 3:45 PM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 27, 3:45 PM CST, 2 hours 15 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
345 PM CST TUE JAN 27 2004

.SHORT TERM...
FORECAST PROBLEM WILL BE EARLY HIGHLIGHTS AND THEN TEMPS/PCPN
THROUGH REMAINDER OF THE SHORT TERM.

FOR TONIGHT...WILL ISSUE WIND CHILL WARNING. IN WARNING WILL MENTION
SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. HOWEVER MAIN ISSUE WILL BE DANGEROUS
WIND CHILLS SO OPTED FOR THIS INSTEAD OF AN ADVISORY. WILL MENTION
POSSIBLE RECORD LOWS ISN AND DIK.

FOR NEXT SYSTEM WENT WITH A MODEL BLEND BUT A LEAN TWD THE ETA. AVN
LOOKS LIKE THE OUTLIER WITH THIS NEXT SYSTEM WED AFTN THROUGH THU
MORNING. THE UKMET/CANADIAN/ECMWF SEEN TO SIDE WITH THE ETA. WHICH
SUPPRESSES THE SFC LOW FARTHER SOUTH AND IS ALSO WEAKER AND FARTHER
NORTH WITH THE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE. WITH THESE COLD TEMPS EVEN THE
WEAKER ETA WILL GIVE SOME DECENT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS...FOR EXAMPLE ISN
HAD 4 INCHES WITH 0.12 WATER EQUIVALENT. ANOTHER SIMILAR SYSTEM ON
FRIDAY SO I UPPED POPS A BIT TO BLEND BETTER WITH GGW. TEMPS REMAIN
FRIGID THROUGH EARLY FCST PERIOD.

.LONG TERM...
OVERALL TREND OF THE LONG TERM KEEPS A UPPER LEVEL RIDGE TO THE WEST
AND TROUGH TO THE EAST WITH WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND REMAINING IN A
COLD REGIME. A LOW PRESSSURE SYSTEM WILL BE EXITING THE AREA ON
SATURDAY AND HAVE KEPT A CHANCE OF SNOW ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
DURING THE DAY...AND ACROSS THE SOUTH SATURDAY NIGHT.  SUNDAY
THROUGH TUESDAY HAVE KEPT DRY...ALTHOUGH COULD SEE FLURRIES IN THE
COLD AIRMASS.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND CHILL WARNING ENTIRE CWA THROUGH 9 AM WEDNESDAY.

&&

TWH/

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 27, 5:30 AM CST, 12 hours 30 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
530 AM CST TUE JAN 27 2004

NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-281130-
ADAMS ND-BILLINGS ND-BOTTINEAU ND-BOWMAN ND-BURKE ND-BURLEIGH ND-
DICKEY ND-DIVIDE ND-DUNN ND-EMMONS ND-FOSTER ND-GOLDEN VALLEY ND-
GRANT ND-HETTINGER ND-KIDDER ND-LA MOURE ND-LOGAN ND-MCHENRY ND-
MCINTOSH ND-MCKENZIE ND-MCLEAN ND-MERCER ND-MORTON ND-MOUNTRAIL ND-
OLIVER ND-PIERCE ND-RENVILLE ND-ROLETTE ND-SHERIDAN ND-SIOUX ND-
SLOPE ND-STARK ND-STUTSMAN ND-WARD ND-WELLS ND-WILLIAMS ND-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...BISMARCK...BOTTINEAU...BOWMAN...CROSBY...
DICKINSON...JAMESTOWN...MINOT AND WILLISTON
530 AM CST TUE JAN 27 2004

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY TODAY FOR DEVELOPING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15
TO 25 MPH...CAUSING AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW AND WIND CHILLS OF 25 TO
45 BELOW.

TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO 20 TO 40 BELOW TONIGHT CAUSING DANGEROUS
WIND CHILLS OF 40 TO 60 BELOW ZERO.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS OF 20 TO 40 BELOW IS EXPECTED WEDNESDAY AND
THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...PLEASE CONTACT THE
BISMARCK NWS OFFICE WITH SNOWFALL REPORTS OR ANY PERTINENT WEATHER
INFORMATION.

SHULZ

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

36 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Adams

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Billings

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Billings forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.023, -103.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Bowman

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Golden Valley

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Hettinger

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Hettinger forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.433, -102.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Slope

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Slope forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.447, -103.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Stark

When: January 27, 6:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Stark forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.811, -102.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Bottineau

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, McHenry

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, McLean

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Cold/Wind Chill, Mercer

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Oliver

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Oliver forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pierce

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Renville

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Rolette

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sheridan

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.575, -100.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ward

When: January 27, 7:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Ward forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Cold/Wind Chill, Burleigh

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Emmons

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Grant

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Kidder

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Kidder forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Morton

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Cold/Wind Chill, Sioux

When: January 27, 8:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Sioux forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Cold/Wind Chill, Dunn

When: January 27, 9:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Dunn forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.357, -102.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Logan

When: January 27, 10:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, McIntosh

When: January 27, 10:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: McIntosh forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Burke

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Dickey

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Dickey forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Divide

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Divide forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.815, -103.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Foster

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Foster forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, La Moure

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: La Moure forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, McKenzie

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: McKenzie forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.740, -103.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Mountrail

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM 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)

Cold/Wind Chill, Stutsman

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Stutsman forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Wells

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Williams

When: January 27, 11:00 PM CST to January 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Williams forecast zone
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates: 48.344, -103.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2004 Every state in 2004 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, January 2004

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: 5381074, 5381075, 5381077, 5381085, 5381087, 5381181, 5381182, 5381076, 5381168, 5381171, 5381172, 5381175, 5381176, 5381177, 5381178, 5381179, 5381184, 5381079, 5381083, 5381086, 5381165, 5381173, 5381180, 5381082, 5381167, 5381169, 5381078, 5381080, 5381081, 5381084, 5381166, 5381170, 5381174, 5381183, 5381185, 5381186.