North Dakota, 2004

Winter Storm in North Dakota, January 30 to 31, 2004

January 30 to 31, 2004 · NWS BIS · 7 events in 7 counties and zones

Low pressure system over Montana intensified and moved into North Dakota Friday evening the 30th. The winter storm brought a band of heavy snow and wind to northwest and north central North Dakota.

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
7

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.

Low pressure system over Montana intensified and moved into North Dakota Friday evening the 30th. The winter storm brought a band of heavy snow and wind to northwest and north central North Dakota. The heaviest snow fell from Williston to Minot where up to 8 inches of snow accumulated. Winds to 35 mph caused considerable blowing and drifting snow. Many roads became blocked by large snow drifts. Snow drifts up to 10 feet were reported over parts of the northwest. The North Dakota Highway Patrol advised no travel due to the drifting snow and blocked roads. Numerous travelers who ventured out became stranded.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Burke

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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)

Winter Storm, Divide

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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)

Winter Storm, McKenzie

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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)

Winter Storm, Mountrail

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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)

Winter Storm, Renville

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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)

Winter Storm, Ward

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Ward forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Winter Storm, Williams

When
January 30, 6:00 PM CST to January 31, 4:00 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

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

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2004Every state in 2004This day in weather historyWarnings 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5381187, 5381188, 5381189, 5381190, 5381191, 5381192, 5381193.