Heavy Snow in North Dakota, December 29 to 30, 2008

Name: Heavy Snow in North Dakota, December 29 to 30, 2008
Start: 2008-12-29T22:00
End: 2008-12-30T14:00
Location: North Dakota

December 29 to 30, 2008 · NWS BIS · 23 events in 23 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 20 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 23

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 fast moving surface low pressure system developed a band of moderate to heavy snow from northwest North Dakota, southeast through much of central North Dakota, Monday night, December 29th, and lasting through the early afternoon of Tuesday, December 30th. Storm total snow amounts ranged from three to four inches around the perimeter of the heavy snow band to around one foot within the center. In addition, occasional winds of 20 to 35v mph a produced considerable blowing and drifting snow and resulted in the issuance of no travel advisories over several counties Monday night into Tuesday morning.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Williams

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Williams forecast zone
Reported by: Official NWS Observations
Coordinates: 48.344, -103.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm total snowfall of eight inches was recorded at the National Weather Service office in Williston. In addition, no travel was advised across Williams County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Divide

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Divide forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.815, -103.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from thre to six inches across Divide County. The heavier snow amounts occurred in southern portions of the county. In addition, no travel was advised across Divide County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, McKenzie

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 8:00 AM CST
Where: McKenzie forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.740, -103.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm total snowfall of nearly nine inches was recorded at Watford City. In addition, no travel was advised across McKenzie County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Burke

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Burke forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.791, -102.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches across Burke County. The heavier snowfall amounts occurred in far southern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow, Mountrail

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Mountrail forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.201, -102.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A storm total snowfall amount of nearly seven inches was recorded near Stanley. In addition, no travel was advised across Mountrail County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and localized areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Dunn

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Dunn forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.357, -102.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Killdeer to nine inches at Halliday. In addition, no travel was advised across Dunn County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Mercer

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four to seven inches across Mercer County.

Heavy Snow, McLean

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Wilton, ten inches at Turtle Lake, and 12 inches at Max, to 13 inches at Garrison. In addition, no travel was advised across McLean County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Ward

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Ward forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Kenmare and five inches around Minot, to near 12 inches in southern Ward County. In addition, no travel was advised across Ward County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Oliver

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 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)

The estimated storm total snowfall ranged from three to seven inches. The heaviest snowfall amounts fell across northern portions of Oliver County.

Heavy Snow, McHenry

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from two inches at Towner and five inches at Velva, to around ten inches in southwestern McHenry County.

Heavy Snow, Sheridan

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.575, -100.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The storm total snowfall amount was ten inches at McClusky. In addition, no travel was advised across Sheridan County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Burleigh

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Wilton to five inches at Bismarck. In addition, no travel was advised across Burleigh County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to adverse travel conditions in falling snow and areas of blowing and drifting snow.

Heavy Snow, Morton

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer

The storm total snowfall amount was six inches at Mandan. In addition, no travel was advised across Morton County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to near blizzard conditions.

Heavy Snow, Wells

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from six inches at Fessenden and ten inches at Bowdon, to 12 inches at Sykeston. In addition, no travel was advised across Sheridan County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions.

Heavy Snow, Kidder

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Kidder forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Steele and Streeter, to near ten inches in northern Kidder County. In addition, no travel was advised across Kidder County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions.

Heavy Snow, Stutsman

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Stutsman forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from six inches at Medina and Montpelier, to eight inches in Jamestown. In addition, no travel was advised across Stutsman County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions. The North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that about a dozen vehicles were either stranded or hit the ditch or median on Interstate 94 between Oriska (Barnes County) and Jamestown Tuesday morning.

Heavy Snow, Foster

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Foster forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from six inches in far northeast Foster County to eight inches at Carrington. In addition, no travel was advised across Foster County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions.

Heavy Snow, Logan

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four to six inches across Logan County.

Heavy Snow, McIntosh

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: McIntosh forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches across Logan County. The heavier snow amounts fell over northeastern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow, Emmons

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches across Emmons County. The heavier snow amounts fell over far northern portions of the county.

Heavy Snow, La Moure

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 2:00 PM CST
Where: La Moure forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from six inches at LaMoure to eight inches in Verona. In addition, no travel was advised across LaMoure County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions.

Heavy Snow, Dickey

When: December 29, 10:00 PM CST to December 30, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Dickey forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Estimated storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches across Dickey County. The heavier snow amounts were over far northeastern portions of the county. In addition, no travel was advised across Dickey County late Monday night through Tuesday morning due to severe winter weather conditions.

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, December 2008

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 146087, 146088, 146089, 146116, 146117, 146118, 146119, 146120, 146121, 146122, 146123, 146124, 146125, 146126, 146128, 146129, 146130, 146133, 146136, 146138, 146139, 146141, 146144.