Ice Storm in North Dakota, March 30, 2007

Name: Ice Storm in North Dakota, March 30, 2007
Start: 2007-03-30T04:00
End: 2007-03-30T10:00
Location: North Dakota

March 30, 2007 · NWS BIS · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

An early spring storm that brought heavy snow to southwest North Dakota, brought a mix of moderate freezing rain and light snow to south central North Dakota during the morning of Friday March 30th. Around one quarter inch of ice accumulation on roadways created very hazardous travel conditions.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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: $25,000
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.

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 Mar 30, 2:08 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 30, 2:08 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
308 AM CDT FRI MAR 30 2007

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...
MAIN FORECAST CONCERN/HIGHLIGHT IN THE SHORT TERM WILL FOCUS ON
MIXED WINTRY PRECIPITATION MAINLY THIS MORNING OVER MUCH OF THE
FORECAST AREA. OVERALL HAVE SIDED CLOSER TO THE GLOBAL MODEL
SOLUTIONS...ALTHOUGH NOT MUCH DIFFERENCE SEEN IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS
OF THE FORECAST PERIOD BETWEEN ANY ONE SOLUTION.

CURRENTLY...LARGE IMPULSE OF ENERGY FROM THE UPPER LEVEL LOW OVER
THE FOUR CORNERS REGION CONTINUES TO ADVECT NORTHWARD TOWARDS THE
THE NORTHERN PLAINS. IN ASSOCIATION WITH THIS ENERGY A LARGE AREA OF
PRECIPITATION IS MOVING NORTH THROUGH NEBRASKA AND SOUTH
DAKOTA...AND SHOULD BE OVER THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL COUNTIES
WITHIN THE NEXT 2-4 HOURS. THUS FAR MOST PRECIP REPORTS HAVE BEEN
ALL RAIN ACROSS THE WARM SECTOR TO OUR SOUTHEAST...WHILE A MIX IS
BEING OBSERVED TO OUR SOUTHWEST OVER WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. AHEAD OF
THE MAIN PUSH OF PRECIP...-FZRA HAS BEEN OBSERVED OVER HEI THE PAST
SEVERAL HOURS. THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO DRY AIR ALOFT PREVENTING
SEEDING OF THE SUPERCOOLED WATER IN THE LOWER LEVELS...BUT SHOULD
SATURATE AND TURN TO ALL SNOW LATER THIS MORNING. THIS SCENARIO
WILL REPEAT ITSELF OVER OTHER PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL ND
OVER THE NEXT 3-6 HOURS OR SO BEFORE THE MAIN PRECIP PUSH MOVES
IN. DIK AT 3AM CST HAS ALSO JUST REPORTED -FZRA.

THE MID LEVEL ENERGY IMPULSE WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH NORTH THIS
MORNING...ENCOMPASSING MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA IN PRECIPITATION
BETWEEN 12 AND 18Z. PRECIPITATION TYPE IS VERY TRICKY...BUT SEE NO
REASON TO DEVIATE MUCH FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST THINKING. LATEST
HPC SNOWFALL GUIDANCE HAS BEEN GREATLY DIMINISHED FROM EARLIER
YESTERDAY...ONLY PAINTING AT MOST 4 INCHES ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST AND
WEST CENTRAL NOW. PRECIP TYPE SHOULD REMAIN ALL SNOW HERE...WITH
PERHAPS A FEW HOURS EARLY THIS MORNING AS SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.
WITH THAT SAID...LATEST RADAR LOOP SHOWING MODERATE RETURNS NW OF
PIERRE...MOVING STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE WARNED COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST
ND. THUS THINK IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO DOWNGRADE NOW AS STILL SEE
POTENTIAL FOR 6 INCHES...SO WILL LEAVE THE WARNING BE AND LET THE
MORNING CREW REEVALUATE. WILL ALSO LET THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY RIDE ELSEWHERE WITH THERMAL PROFILES CONTINUING TO
SUGGEST FREEZING PRECIP POTENTIAL.

THE PRECIPITATION WILL END SOUTH TO NORTH THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING
AS THE MID LEVEL DYNAMICS PUSH INTO CANADA AND THE SURFACE TROUGH
MOVES EAST. NEXT IMPULSE OF ENERGY PUSHES NORTH DURING THE DAY
SATURDAY AND OVERNIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY. THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE
FORECAST AREA WILL SEE THE BEST CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW...AND THIS
IS HANDLED WILL IN THE PREVIOUS FORECAST SO ONLY SOME MINOR TWEAKS
HERE. LEFT SLIGHT CHANCE POPS IN SUNDAY DAYTIME AS MID LEVEL
POSITIVE VORTICITY ADVECTS THROUGH THE REGION. SUNDAY NIGHT WILL SEE
PRECIP CHANCES WEST AS THE NEXT BIG SYSTEM APPROACHES THE NORTHERN
PLAINS.

OVERALL TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOL TODAY MAINLY IN THE LOW TO MID 30S
DUE TO CLOUD COVER AND PRECIPITATION...THEN WARMING THROUGH THE
WEEKEND WITH NEAR TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE SEASONAL BY SUNDAY.

.LONG TERM...MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...
MONDAY LOOKS TO BE AN ACTIVE WEATHER DAY AS A LONG ADVERTISED UPPER
TROUGH SWEEPS THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE IN
AGREEMENT HERE SO I UPPED POPS A BIT. TEMPERATURE PROFILES FAVOR
SNOW WITH THIS SYSTEM. TUESDAY WILL BE A RECOVERY DAY AS THE
AFOREMENTIONED SYSTEM EXITS TO THE EAST.

BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE LONG RANGE AS THE
POLAR JET REMAINS SOUTH OF THE STATE. A COLD ARCTIC IS PROGGED TO BE
OVER THE PLAINS STATES FRIDAY.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT /3 PM MDT/ THIS AFTERNOON
FOR NDZ017>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051.

WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NDZ031>033-040-041-043-044.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR
NDZ002>005-010>013.

FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NDZ023-025-036-037-047-048-
050-051.

&&

NH/RSL

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 30, 4:00 AM CST, 0 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 30 2007

NDZ002>005-010>013-017>022-034-035-042-045-046-311000-
BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE-
MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-MORTON-BURLEIGH-GRANT-
SIOUX-EMMONS-
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 30 2007 /400 AM MDT FRI MAR 30 2007/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WILL SPREAD A MIX OF RAIN...SNOW AND SLEET OR
FREEZING RAIN OVER CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TODAY. TRAVEL WILL BECOME
HAZARDOUS AS ROADWAYS BECOME SLIPPERY. USE EXTRA CAUTION IF YOU
PLAN TO TRAVEL TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

TWO UPPER LEVEL SYSTEMS WILL BRING ADDITIONAL CHANCES OF RAIN AND
SNOW TO THE REGION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE FIRST STORM
SYSTEM WILL AFFECT MAINLY THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA ON
SATURDAY. THE SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NDZ023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051-311000-
WELLS-FOSTER-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 30 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A STORM SYSTEM OVER THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS WILL CONTINUE
TO DEVELOP OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH SATURDAY
BEFORE MOVING NORTH OF THE GREAT LAKES SATURDAY NIGHT. THIS STORM
WILL BRING RAIN WITH HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLE. A FLOOD WATCH REMAINS
IN EFFECT THROUGH TODAY. IN ADDITION TO THE RAIN...FREEZING RAIN
AND SLEET MAY FORM.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

A SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT...BRINGING ANOTHER CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW TO SOUTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NDZ031>033-040-041-043-044-311000-
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS-
400 AM MDT FRI MAR 30 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WILL BRING HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW TO THE
REGION TONIGHT. A MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN ARE POSSIBLE AT
TIMES. TRAVEL WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS AS ROADWAYS BECOME SLIPPERY.
USE EXTRA CAUTION IF YOU PLAN TO TRAVEL TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

TWO UPPER LEVEL SYSTEMS WILL BRING ADDITIONAL CHANCES OF RAIN AND
SNOW TO THE REGION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE FIRST STORM
SYSTEM WILL AFFECT MAINLY THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA ON
SATURDAY. THE SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NDZ001-009-311000-
DIVIDE-WILLIAMS-
500 AM CDT FRI MAR 30 2007

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A WINTER STORM WILL SPREAD A MIX OF RAIN...SNOW AND SLEET OR
FREEZING RAIN OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TODAY. MUCH OF
THE PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AWAY FROM NORTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA...ALTHOUGH SOME ROADWAY HAZARDS MAY DEVELOP DUE TO THE
WEATHER THIS MORNING ACROSS THE NORTHWEST.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

TWO UPPER LEVEL SYSTEMS WILL BRING ADDITIONAL CHANCES OF RAIN AND
SNOW TO THE REGION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. THE FIRST STORM
SYSTEM WILL AFFECT MAINLY THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA ON
SATURDAY. THE SECOND STORM SYSTEM WILL ARRIVE MONDAY AND MONDAY
NIGHT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NH

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Sioux

When: March 30, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Sioux forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Sioux County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways.

Ice Storm, Emmons

When: March 30, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Emmons County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways.

Ice Storm, Grant

When: March 30, 4:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Grant County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways.

Ice Storm, Burleigh

When: March 30, 5:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Burleigh County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways. A few brief power outages occurred in the Bismarck area due to broken tree limbs falling onto power lines (newspaper).

Ice Storm, Morton

When: March 30, 5:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Morton County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways.

Ice Storm, Oliver

When: March 30, 5:00 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where: Oliver forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

One quarter to one half inch of freezing rain fell across Oliver County, creating ice covered and dangerous roadways.

What these are

Ice Storm: Freezing rain accumulating a quarter inch or more of ice, or less where it caused significant damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, March 2007

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: 20450, 20451, 20452, 20453, 20454, 20455.