A significant winter storm impacted all of western and central North Dakota beginning Saturday, December 13th, and lasting through much of Sunday, December 14th. A blizzard warning was posted well in advance of the storm, with the warning lead time more than a full day in advance.
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.
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.
The episode as NWS BIS wrote it up.
A significant winter storm impacted all of western and central North Dakota beginning Saturday, December 13th, and lasting through much of Sunday, December 14th. A blizzard warning was posted well in advance of the storm, with the warning lead time more than a full day in advance. The blizzard warning encompassed the entire National Weather Service Bismarck County Warning Area, 36 counties, all of which verified.
Heavy snow and blizzard conditions, significant snow combined with very strong winds and near zero visibility, forced numerous road closures and the issuance of no travel advisories throughout Saturday and Saturday night. A statewide no travel advisory was then issued early Sunday morning by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Conditions improved west to east later Sunday afternoon and into Sunday evening as snow ended and winds subsided. Wind chill warnings were then issued in the storm's wake, Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, for wind chill temperatures ranging from 40 below to near 55 below zero (See Storm Data entry for December 14 and 15).
A significant upper level trough moved onshore into the Pacific Northwest Friday afternoon the 12th, then deepened southeastward into the Intermountain West Friday night. This resulted in southwest flow aloft and large scale ascent spreading east-northeast towards the Northern Plains early on Saturday, as well as triggering lee-side cyclogenisis across the high plains of Wyoming. Surface low pressure then pushed east into the central plains Saturday afternoon and evening, coinciding with several shortwave impulses ejecting from the base of the upper trough and into North Dakota. Moderate to heavy snow spread across west and central North Dakota Saturday morning through Saturday night, then slowly dissipated west to east early Sunday morning through Sunday evening. Total snow amounts by Monday morning the 15th were as much as 13.8 inches at Williston. Bismarck had a foot, and six to eight inches of snow was common from Minot through Jamestown. The least amount of snow, two to five inches, fell across the far southwest and far south central areas, along the South Dakota border, and the far northeast, Rolette County.
Strong north to northeast winds of 25-35 mph, with gusts to 40 mph, combined with the moderate to heavy snow, as well as the deep snow cover already of the ground, to create widespread blizzard conditions across all of western and central North Dakota.
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 Dec 13, 2:34 AM CST, 9 hours 26 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 234 AM CST SAT DEC 13 2008 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT THE MODELS CONTINUE TO BE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND HAVENT MADE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. WILL KEEP THE BLIZZARD WARNING...BUT START IT A LITTLE EARLIER IN THE NORTHWEST...AND END IT EARLIER IN THE WEST SUNDAY. SURFACE LOW IS NOW IN NORTHEAST WYOMING AND SOUTH CENTRAL MONTANA AS FORECAST WITH A COLD HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM IN NORTHERN ALBERTA. THE MODELS MOVE THE LOW TO WESTERN NEBRASKA NORTHEAST COLORADO BY EVENING THEN INTO IOWA BY SUNDAY MORNING...THEN TO WISCONSIN BY SUNDAY EVENING. THE SURFACE GRADIENT ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA INCREASES TODAY AND STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION DEVELOPS AS THE CANADIAN HIGH PUSHES SOUTH. LOOKS LIKE TEMPS WILL BEGIN DROPPING THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE TO DROP THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM. THE GFS QPF AND HPC QPF ARE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT AND WILL TEND WITH THEM PUTTING UP TO 9 INCHES TOTAL SNOWFALL ACROSS THE NORTH...DIMINISHING TO 4+ INCHES TO THE SOUTH. OVERALL...PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO BE WIND COMBINED WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CAUSING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BEGINNING IN THE NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON AND SPREADING ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA BY EVENING. OFF AND ON BLIZZARD CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY...WHEN RELAXING SURFACE GRADIENT AND WEAKENING OF THE COLD ADVECTION SHOULD ALLOW WINDS TO DROP OFF IN THE WEST. WILL END THE WARNING IN THE WEST AT 6 PM CST SUN...THEN END IN CENTRAL ND AT MIDNIGHT. WIND CHILLS WILL BE A FACTOR... ESPECIALLY LATER TONIGHT AND INTO SUNDAY WHEN TEMPS WILL GENERALLY BE SUBZERO. WIND CHILLS SHOULD DROP TO 40 BELOW OR LOWER BY SUNDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH MOST OF THE REST OF THE DAY. COLD HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD COVER THE FORECAST AREA ON MONDAY...BUT HIGH TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW ZERO. WIND CHILLS MAY BE A PROBLEM AS WINDS WILL BE MARGINALLY ABOVE 10 MPH. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... LONG TERM PATTERN REMAINS FAIRLY STABLE THROUGH OUT THE PERIOD WITH POSITIVELY TILTED TROUGH OVER WEST COAST AND USUALLY ZONAL FLOW OVER NORTHERN PLAINS. BAROCLINIC ZONE RUNS EAST-WEST SOUTH OF NORTHERN PLAINS FOR CONTINUED BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. HAVE ADDED A COOL AND GENERALLY DRY DAY EIGHT TO END OF LONG TERM. DAYS 4 AND 5 SHOULD CONTINUE TO SEE TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE AND BELOW ZERO WITH ONLY A PERIODS OF FLURRIES OR SLIGHT SNOW. && .AVIATION... AVIATION WILL BE CONCERNED WITH TIMING IN THE BEGINNING OF PRECIPITATION AND INCREASING WINDS WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BRING IFR TO LIFR VISIBILITIES IN -SN AND BLSN AS WELL AS IFR CIGS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 4 PM CST /3 PM MST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT CST /11 PM MST/ SUNDAY NIGHT FOR NDZ003>005-011>013- 019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051. BLIZZARD WARNING FROM 4 PM CST /3 PM MST/ THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ SUNDAY FOR NDZ018-031>033-040-041-043-044. BLIZZARD WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM CST SUNDAY FOR NDZ001- 002-009-010-017. && TSW/HW
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 418 AM CST SAT DEC 13 2008 NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-141030- DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD- MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS- FOSTER-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER- STUTSMAN-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN- LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 418 AM CST SAT DEC 13 2008 /318 AM MST SAT DEC 13 2008/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND WEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP IN NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA BY EARLY AFTERNOON...AND IN SOUTHWEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BY LATE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL THROUGH THE DAY...AND DROP WELL BELOW ZERO IN MOST AREAS BY SUNDAY MORNING. WIND CHILLS WILL DROP TO 25 TO 45 BELOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CAN BE EXPECTED SUNDAY WITH SUBZERO TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS 35 TO 50 BELOW. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE IN THE WEST SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND IN CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA SUNDAY EVENING AS THE BLIZZARD SUBSIDES. STILL TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL THROUGH MID WEEK CAUSING BITTER COLD WIND CHILLS AT TIMES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
36 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The estimated storm total snowfall ranged from four to six inches across Burke County.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four inches in Wildrose to five inches in Ambrose.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was measured at just over six inches in Watford City.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was measured at eight inches near Stanley.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A record storm total snowfall of 13.8 inches was measured at the National Weather Service office in Williston.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of two inches was measured at both Reeder and Hettinger.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall in Bowman was measured at nearly two and a half inches.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was four inches at Dunn Center, five inches at Killdeer, and six inches at Halliday.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall amount of four inches was reported at Trotters.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Mott to nearly five inches at New England.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount at Marmarth was six inches.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Richardton to four inches at Taylor.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount in Lansford was nearly five inches.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Mohall to around two inches at Sherwood.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Karlsruhe to four inches at Towner.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts was one to two inches across Rolette County.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was two inches at Rugby. Higher amounts, closer to five inches, were estimated across southern Pierce County.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was six inches at Minot.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from nearly four inches at Garrison and six inches at Washburn, to nearly eight inches at Wilton.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four inches at Zap to nearly six inches at Beulah.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was six inches at Center.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts were five inches at Flasher, six inches at Glen Ullin, nearly seven inches at New Salem, and around ten inches near Mandan.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from nearly eight inches at Wilton to 12.4 inches at the National Weather Service office in Bismarck.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from two inches at Heart Butte and Carson, to four inches at Pretty Rock, and nearly six inches at Elgin.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts were around four inches.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from around five inches at Hazelton and six inches at Hague, to ten inches near Linton.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total estimated snowfall amounts ranged from four to seven inches across Sheridan County.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Sykeston to eight inches at Fessenden.
Winds of 25 to 40 mph, and gusts to near 50 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Medina to nine inches at Jamestown. As a result of heavy snow and significant blowing and drifting snow, Interstate 94 was closed from Jamestown to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, from Saturday night through Sunday.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The estimated storm total snowfall ranged from four to seven inches across Foster County.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches in Steele to eight inches in Streeter.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was eight inches in Napoleon.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from eight inches in Verona to ten inches in LaMoure.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall was around five inches near Forbes and Fullerton.
Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Ashley to eight inches at Wishek.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2008Every state in 2008This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, December 2008
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: 145007, 145009, 145011, 145012, 145014, 144987, 144989, 144990, 144991, 144992, 144994, 144995, 144999, 145270, 145273, 145278, 145284, 145289, 145291, 145293, 145295, 145296, 145297, 145298, 145299, 145300, 145301, 145302, 145612, 145613, 145617, 145618, 145621, 145623, 145630, 145635.