North Dakota, 2005

Blizzard in North Dakota, January 12 to 13, 2005

January 12 to 13, 2005 · NWS BIS · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A low pressure system over Alberta Canada moved rapidly southeast through North Dakota. The storm system brought areas of snow and wind producing blizzard or near blizzard conditions over parts of northern North Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
6

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 low pressure system over Alberta Canada moved rapidly southeast through North Dakota. The storm system brought areas of snow and wind producing blizzard or near blizzard conditions over parts of northern North Dakota. Winds up to 45 mph caused blowing and drifting snow and whiteout conditions. Visibilities dropped less than 200 feet prompting the North Dakoka Highway Patrol to close several highways and secondary roads.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Bottineau

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 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)

Blizzard, Burke

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 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)

Blizzard, McHenry

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 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)

Blizzard, Mountrail

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 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)

Blizzard, Renville

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 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)

Blizzard, Ward

When
January 12, 2:00 PM CST to January 13, 3:28 AM CST
Where
Ward forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

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 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, January 2005

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: 5432841, 5432842, 5432843, 5432844, 5432845, 5432846.