Winter Storm in North Dakota, February 13 to 14, 2008

Name: Winter Storm in North Dakota, February 13 to 14, 2008
Start: 2008-02-13T03:58
End: 2008-02-14T03:44
Location: North Dakota

February 13 to 14, 2008 · NWS FGF · 9 events in 9 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 9

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 FGF wrote it up.

A low pressure system tracked from southwestern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota on Wednesday February 13th. A moderately heavy snow band (4 to 7 inches) developed across extreme northwest and north central North Dakota into the Devils Lake Basin. The heavy snow combined with east-northeast winds of 20 mph gusting to 35 mph by the mid afternoon, to produce visibilities of one-half mile or less. Temperatures dropped into the 5 below to 15 below zero range through the late afternoon and early evening, and wind chills fell to 25 below to 40 below zero. The snow band progressed east-southeast into west central Minnesota, but was less intense. Some church and school activities were cancelled on Wednesday. An 89 year old man and his 83 year old wife accidentally drove into a ditch Wednesday evening about a mile from their home. They both attempted to walk the remaining distance home. They were luckily found by neighbors fairly quickly, but both of them were treated for frostbite.

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 Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 13, 3:27 AM CST, 31 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 13, 3:27 AM CST, 31 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
327 AM CST WED FEB 13 2008

.SHORT TERM...
MAIN ISSUE IS UPCOMING STORM SYSTEM. 00Z MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD
AGREEMENT WITH PAST RUNS AND 06Z NAM ALSO IN GOOD AGREEMENT.
LOOKING AT VARIOUS OTHER WRF MODELS ALSO SHOW GOOD AGREEMENT. SO
OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN FCST IS PRETTY HIGH. WHAT IS IN QUESTION IS
HOW FAR NORTH WILL THE MAIN SNOW BE...HOW WILL THE DRY AIR FEEDING
SOUTHWARD FROM INHIBIT SNOWFALL OVER FAR NE ND INTO FAR NW MN.

SFC LOW AT 08Z WAS NORTH OF MEDICINE HAT ALBERTA AND THIS WILL
TRACK SOUTHEAST TO FAR SW ND/NW SD BY 00Z THEN MOVE INTO NRN
IOWA/SRN MINNESOTA BY 12Z THU. 285K ISENTROPIC SFCS SHOW GOOD
LIFT NORTHEAST OF THE SYSTEM OVER THE VERY COLD AIR DOME WITH 3
G/KG MIXING RATIOS ADVECTING INTO THE AREA. MAIN LIFT PER CROSS
SECTIONS LOOK TO BE IN A BAND FROM MINOT TO JUST SOUTH OF DVL TO
NEAR OR JUST NORTH OF FARGO THEN TO JUST EAST OF FERGUS FALLS. IN
THIS BAND LIFT IS IN THE FAVORED -12C RANGE FOR DENDRITE
GROWTH...THUS FEEL SNOW ONCE IT BEGINS WILL INTENSIFY AND BE HEAVY
AT TIMES IN THIS BAND LATE THIS AFTN/EVE. MAX SNOWFALL AMTS IN
THE 6-7 INCH RANGE. EITHER SIDE OF BAND SNOWFALL DROPS TO 3-4
LANGDON-GFK-BJI AREA WITH LIGHTER AMTS FARTHER NORTH WITH LIKELY
UNDER AN INCH IN ROX/BDE AREAS. AS SFC LOW MOVES INTO SE SD AT 06Z
TONIGHT WINDS WILL TURN MORE NORTHERLY AND INCREASE AS HIGH BUILDS
SOUTHWARD FROM CANADA. FROM 06Z TO 12Z THU A PERIOD OF 20-25 KT
WINDS WILL OCCUR WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT ESP IN THE SOUTHERN VALLEY.
THUS LOW VSBYS COULD BE A PROBLEM ONCE MAIN SNOW ENDS. WORST OF
THE PROBLEMS OVER AROUND 12Z THU. HIGH SETTLES SOUTHWARD CLEARING
SKIES FROM THE NORTH THURSDAY WITH TEMPERATURES ONCE AGAIN
REMAINING WELL BELOW ZERO. HIGH PRESSURE OVER AREA WITH LIGHT
WINDS AND CLEAR SKY THU NIGHT PROMISING A NIGHT IN THE -20S.
RETURN FLOW SETS UP FRIDAY AHD OF NEXT TROUGH/SFC LOW WHICH IS
PROGGED TO PASS THRU SAT AFTN-NIGHT GIVING A LOW CHC FOR -SN. THIS
WAS COVERED WELL AND NO CHANGES MADE TO THIS YET.

TIMING OF PCPN USING THE 4KM WRF SPC MODEL...SHOWS PCPN MOVING
INTO DVL-VALLEY CITY AREA 17Z...FARGO 20-21Z...GRAND FORKS
21-22Z...THEN WCNTRL MN 22-23Z. CONVEYED THIS IN HOURLY POP
GRIDDS.

SNOWFALL IDEA ABOVE FOLLOWS HPC SNOWFALL GRAPHICS CLOSELY. THUS
WITH ABOVE SNOWFALL AMTS...UPGRADED WATCH AREA TO WARNING AND THEN
HAD A STRIP OR TWO OF COUNTIES JUST NORTH OF WARNING AREA IN A
WINTER ADVISORY FOR 3-4 INCHES OF SNOW AND SOME BLOWING SNOW-WIND
CHILL ISSUES. DID NOT INCLUDE ANY WIND CHILL ADVISORY FOR FAR NE
ND/NW MN NOT IN ANY SNOWFALL HEADLINES YET...AS DID NOT WANT TO
COMPLICATE MATTERS. WIND CHILLS CAN BE LOOKED AT BY THE DAYSHIFT
AS DO EXPECT NR 40 BLO THURSDAY MORNING OVER THE NORTH.

.LONG TERM...
ALL FOCUS ON SHORT TERM TODAY...SO LITTLE CHANGE WAS MADE. DID
ADJUST UPWARD SOME LOWS SAT NIGHT PER WFO ABR UPDATE. OTHERWISE
THOUGHT 00Z MEX WAS A BIT TOO WARM WITH HIGH TEMPS SAT-SUN AND
STUCK WTIH COOLER PREV FCST.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR NDZ029-030-039-049-052-053.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR NDZ007-016-027-054.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 3 AM CST THURSDAY FOR
     NDZ006-014-015.

     WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 AM CST THURSDAY FOR
     NDZ024-026-028-038.

MN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR MNZ002-003-027>032-040.

     WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 AM CST
     THURSDAY FOR MNZ001-007-013>017-022>024.

&&

RIDDLE

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 12, 6:38 AM CST, 21 hours 20 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
638 AM CST TUE FEB 12 2008

MNZ001-004>009-013>017-022>024-NDZ006>008-015-016-026-027-054-
131245-
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-
TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-NELSON-
GRAND FORKS-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY-
638 AM CST TUE FEB 12 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

LIGHT SNOW IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA
AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO ONE INCH ARE
POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

SNOW WILL MOVE INTO ALL OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND WESTERN
MINNESOTA WEDNESDAY. THE HEAVIEST SNOW SHOULD FALL IN NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA...WHERE 2 TO 5 INCHES IS EXPECTED. LIGHTER AMOUNTS
WILL FALL FURTHER NORTH AND EAST NEAR BAUDETTE...WHERE AN INCH OR 2
IS POSSIBLE. DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS AND SOME BLOWING SNOW WILL ALSO
DEVELOP WEDNESDAY NIGHT. ANY SHIFT IN THE STORM TRACK COULD ALTER
PROJECTED SNOW TOTALS...SO STAY TUNED TO LATER FORECASTS. A LOW
PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS FROM THE PACIFIC
COAST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE APPRECIATED WEDNESDAY.

MNZ002-003-027>032-040-NDZ014-024-028>030-038-039-049-052-053-
131245-
NORMAN-CLAY-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-WEST OTTER TAIL-
EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-GRANT-BENSON-EDDY-GRIGGS-STEELE-TRAILL-
BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-
638 AM CST TUE FEB 12 2008

...A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
NIGHT...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

LIGHT SNOW IS POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH A DUSTING OF SNOW
POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY

A SIGNIFICANT SNOW FALL IS POSSIBLE WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF UP TO 6 INCHES OR MORE IS POSSIBLE ALONG AND
SOUTH OF A MADDOCK TO FARGO TO WADENA LINE. THE EXACT TRACK OF THE
STORM WILL DETERMINE WHO GETS THE HEAVIEST SNOW...BUT ALL AREAS WILL
RECEIVE ACCUMULATING SNOW. IN ADDITION...WINDS WILL INCREASE BY
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW IS POSSIBLE.
DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS FROM 25 TO 35 BELOW ARE ALSO POSSIBLE BY LATE
WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN
PLAINS FROM THE PACIFIC COAST.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER REPORTS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS WILL BE APPRECIATED WEDNESDAY.

DK

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Towner

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Towner forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Benson

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Benson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.069, -99.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Eddy

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Eddy forecast zone
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Griggs

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Griggs forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Steele

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Cass

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Barnes

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Barnes forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Ramsey

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Nelson

When: February 13, 3:58 AM CST to February 14, 3:44 AM CST
Where: Nelson forecast zone
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 47.922, -98.192 (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

Every storm in North Dakota in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 75299, 75300, 75301, 75302, 75303, 75304, 75305, 75306, 75307.