Blizzard and Winter Storm in North Dakota, December 23 to 26, 2009

Name: Blizzard and Winter Storm in North Dakota, December 23 to 26, 2009
Start: 2009-12-23T16:00
End: 2009-12-26T21:00
Location: North Dakota

December 23 to 26, 2009 · NWS BIS · 56 events in 33 counties and zones

A significant and prolonged winter storm impacted all of west and central North Dakota beginning Wednesday, December 23rd, lasting into Saturday, December 26th. Lead time was significant, as statements, watches, and warnings were posted well in advance of the storm.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 48 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: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 56

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.

During the afternoon hours of Wednesday the 23rd, the first wave of snow moved into the region as a northern stream upper low dropped south into the Northern Plains from central Alberta, combined with a surface trough of low pressure pushing from west to east across the state Wednesday and Wednesday night. After a brief lull in snowfall intensity Thursday, this first system merged with a southern stream upper low over the central plains Christmas Eve night, and intensified as the merged system moved slowly northeast into the Midwest on Christmas Day. As this occurred, areas of snow redeveloped from east to west Thursday night into Friday. The main forcing mechanism for snow across west and central North Dakota during this second wave of snow was a persistent TROWAL (TRough Of Warm Air Aloft) which developed and resulted in the continuous generation of moderate to heavy snow bands over central and portions of western North Dakota early Christmas Day into Saturday.

Additionally, already strong northerly winds of 20 to 30 mph Wednesday and Thursday increased on Friday, with gusts up to 45 mph developing across the state as surface low pressure retrograded northwest into western Iowa, resulting in a significant pressure gradient over the Dakotas. These strong winds accompanied the snow and produced widespread blizzard conditions over much of west and all of central North Dakota from Christmas Day through much of Saturday the 26th.

The significant blowing and drifting of snow resulted in nearly impossible travel throughout the event, especially on the 25th and 26th when the strongest winds occurred. Numerous no travel advisories were issued from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, along with several road closures including all of Interstate 94 and portions of U.S. Highways 83 and 2. Needless to say, holiday commerce across west and central North Dakota was severely impacted by this intense storm system.

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 Dec 23, 4:00 AM CST, 12 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Dec 23, 4:00 AM CST, 12 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
400 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009

.SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...
A SHORTER THAN NORMAL AFD THIS MORNING WITH IMPENDING MAJOR WINTER
STORM. MODEL DATA STILL IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN DEVELOPING TWO
SURGES OF SIGNIFICANT SNOWS. THE FIRST IS ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER
LOW DROPPING SOUTH FROM CENTRAL ALBERTA. AND THE SECOND IS OVER
THE FOUR CORNERS THIS MORNING. THE FORMER WILL MOVE SOUTHEAST INTO
EASTERN MONTANA TODAY DEVELOPING SNOW ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA
THIS MORNING AND THEN EAST DURING THE DAY. SNOW WILL CONTINUE
TONIGHT AND THURSDAY. MAY SEE A LITTLE LULL THURSDAY NIGHT AS THE
INITIAL LOW MERGES WITH THE FOUR CORNERS LOW OVER THE SOUTHERN
PLAINS. IN DOING SO...A MAJOR WINTER STORM OVER THE MIDWEST WILL
DEVELOP CHRISTMAS DAY. THE END RESULT WILL BE FOR A SECOND AND
MORE POTENT SURGE OF SNOW AND WIND TO CENTRAL AND PORTIONS OF
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. THUS THE DECISION WAS
TO ISSUE A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ACROSS THE WEST AND NORTHWEST
WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY. FOR CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA...A WINTER STORM WARNING WITH SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW THROUGH
12Z FRIDAY HAS BEEN ISSUED. A BLIZZARD WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN HOISTED
FOR ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY.
THIS CAN BE REVIEWED IN SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS. OVERALL THROUGH 12Z
FRIDAY...EXPECT 3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW IN THE WEST...4 TO 8 INCHES
CENTRAL...AND 6 TO 12 INCHES FAR SOUTH CENTRAL. ADDITIONAL SNOW
ACCUMULATION LIKELY FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. AT THE SAME TIME STRONG
NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 MPH WILL
LIKELY CREATE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS WILL BE A
A PROLONGED EVENT.

.LONG TERM...
MODELS BEGIN IN DECENT AGREEMENT EARLY...BUT QUICKLY DIVERGE DURING
THE EXTENDED TERM. GFS/ECMWF CONTINUE TO SHOW LINGERING SNOW SHOWERS
OVER THE CWA ON SATURDAY...AS THE VERTICALLY STACKED LOW SLOWLY
WORKS EAST THROUGH THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE GREAT LAKES REGION. BY
SUNDAY...THE LOW BEGINS TO OPEN TO THE NORTH AND MOVE QUICKLY
OFFSHORE. SHOULD THEREFORE SEE AN END TO PRECIP CHANCES AS THIS
PROCESS OCCURS...AND RIDGING WORKS ITS WAY IN FROM THE ROCKIES.
BIGGEST ISSUE FOR EARLY IN HOLIDAY WEEKEND WILL BE WINDS. SURFACE
GRADIENTS VERY STRONG THOUGH DEEP DIRECTIONAL LINKAGE IS LACKING.

EARLY NEXT WEEK THE MODELS DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY IN THEIR SOLUTIONS.
THE GFS BRINGS A CLIPPER SYSTEM AND A CHANCE FOR SNOW TO THE CWA ON
TUESDAY...WHILE THE ECMWF MAINTAINS THE RIDGE AND KEEPS THE AREA
DRY. AS CONFIDENCE IS LOW...HAVE LEFT OUT ANY MENTION OF POPS PAST
SATURDAY.

TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN AROUND SEASONAL NORMALS THROUGH
THE PERIOD...SOME BELOW NORMAL TEMPS EXPECTED BEHIND THE MAJOR STORM
SYSTEM OVER THE WEEKEND...AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A SLIGHT WARMING
TREND AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...
VERY MOIST AIRMASS ON EAST SIDE OF INVERTED TROUGH WILL CONTINUE
SOUTHEAST TO EAST WINDS WITH GOOD LOW LEVEL MOISTURE ADVECTION.
MVFR/IFR FORECAST WILL CONTINUE.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON CST /11 AM MST/ TODAY TO 6 AM CST
/5 AM MST/ FRIDAY FOR NDZ003>005-011>013-019>022-034-035-042-045-
046.

BLIZZARD WATCH FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
FOR NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ FRIDAY FOR
NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044.

WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST FRIDAY
FOR NDZ023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051.

&&

KS/BPN/HW

Hazardous weather outlook, Dec 23, 5:00 AM CST, 11 hours before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
500 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009

NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-241100-
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-
500 AM CST WED DEC 23 2009 /400 AM MST WED DEC 23 2009/

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A PROLONGED MAJOR WINTER STORM WILL BRING SNOW AND AREAS OF
BLOWING SNOW TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TODAY AND
TONIGHT. SNOW WILL SPREAD ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA WEDNESDAY
MORNING THEN ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. THE
SNOWFALL WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

THE AFOREMENTIONED WINTER STORM CONTINUES THURSDAY INTO SATURDAY.
BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH AT TIMES THROUGH THURSDAY
NIGHT WILL CREATE AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. A SECOND
ROUND OF SNOW AND WIND WILL DEVELOP CHRISTMAS DAY INTO
SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY OVER CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. NEAR BLIZZARD
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND 30 MPH AND GUSTS
BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MPH. EAST CENTRAL AND FAR SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA WILL RECEIVE THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL THROUGH SATURDAY...WITH
A FOOT OR MORE ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM HARVEY...TO
STEELE...AND LINTON. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL GENERALLY
DECREASE TO THE WEST AND NORTHWEST. AREAS FROM MINOT THROUGH
BISMARCK AND MANDAN WILL RECEIVE 6 TO 12 INCH AMOUNTS THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING. AREAS FROM WILLISTON THROUGH DICKINSON WILL
RECEIVE 4 TO 8 INCHES OF TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION THROUGH
SATURDAY MORNING. MOTORISTS AND HOLIDAY TRAVELERS ARE URGED TO
STAY INFORMED WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION AND FORECASTS AT
WEATHER.GOV/BISMARCK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WITH
THEIR SNOW TOTALS DURING THE UPCOMING WINTER STORM.

KS

In the hours before

Local storm report, Dec 23, 12:49 PM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1249 PM CST WED DEC 23 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1248 PM     SNOW             BOWMAN                  46.18N 103.39W
12/23/2009  E3.0 INCH        BOWMAN             ND   EMERGENCY MNGR

            2 TO 3 INCHES SNOWFALL SINCE EARLY MORNING.

&&

RK

Local storm report, Dec 23, 1:25 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
125 PM CST WED DEC 23 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0117 PM     SNOW             28 N MEDORA             47.32N 103.52W
12/23/2009  E2.0 INCH        BILLINGS           ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ESTIMATED 2 INCHES OF SNOWFALL SO FAR TODAY. STILL
            SNOWING.

&&

CLH

Local storm report, Dec 23, 1:52 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
152 PM CST WED DEC 23 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0151 PM     SNOW             GRASSY BUTTE            47.39N 103.25W
12/23/2009  E1.2 INCH        MCKENZIE           ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SNOWFALL SO FAR TODAY...STILL SNOWING.

&&

CLH

Local storm report, Dec 23, 3:10 PM CST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
310 PM CST WED DEC 23 2009

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0307 PM     SNOW             MINOT                   48.23N 101.30W
12/23/2009  M1.0 INCH        WARD               ND   BROADCAST MEDIA

&&

RK

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

33 blizzard, 23 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Bottineau

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Bottineau forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five to ten inches of wet snow, coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph, caused major transportation problems leading up to Christmas Day. Many county sheriffs advised no travel. By Christmas morning winds increased, with gusts up to 45 mph, temperatures dropped, and there was more snow. See Blizzard entry for December 25 and 26.

Winter Storm, Burleigh

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Emmons

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McHenry

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McLean

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm, Mercer

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Oliver

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Oliver forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Pierce

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Renville

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.719, -101.658 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Rolette

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Rolette forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.772, -99.841 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Sioux

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Sioux forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm, Grant

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Morton

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ten to twenty inches of wet snow, coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph, caused major transportation problems leading up to Christmas Day. Many county sheriffs advised no travel. By Christmas morning winds increased, with gusts up to 45 mph, temperatures dropped, and there was more snow. See Blizzard entry for December 25 and 26. Storm total snow at Hebron was 25 inches.

Winter Storm, Sheridan

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.575, -100.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twelve to eighteen inches of wet snow, coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph, caused major transportation problems leading up to Christmas Day. Many county sheriffs advised no travel. By Christmas morning winds increased, with gusts up to 45 mph, temperatures dropped, and there was more snow. See Blizzard entry for December 25 and 26. Storm total snow at Martin was 19 inches.

Winter Storm, Ward

When: December 23, 4:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Ward forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Winter Storm, Dickey

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Dickey forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Foster

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Foster forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Kidder

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Kidder forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, La Moure

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: La Moure forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Logan

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Stutsman

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Stutsman forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, McIntosh

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: McIntosh forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Wells

When: December 23, 10:00 PM CST to December 25, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Eight to thirteen inches of wet snow, coupled with winds of 20 to 30 mph, caused major transportation problems leading up to Christmas Day. Many county sheriffs advised no travel. By Christmas morning winds increased, with gusts up to 45 mph, temperatures dropped, and there was more snow. See Blizzard entry for December 25 and 26. Storm total snow five miles south of Harvey was 14 inches.

Blizzard, Bottineau

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Bottineau forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

See the winter storm entry from December 23, 24, and 25. Winds increased and gusted as high as 45 mph, and coupled with additional snow and blowing snow, resulted in near zero visibility. By 10:30 AM on December 25 the North Dakota Department of Transportation issued a no travel advisory for nearly the entire state.

Blizzard, McHenry

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: McHenry forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Grant

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McLean

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: McLean forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard, Mercer

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Morton

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Morton forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard, Oliver

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Oliver forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Renville

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Renville forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.719, -101.658 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sioux

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Sioux forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard, Ward

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Ward forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Blizzard, Wells

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Stutsman

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Stutsman forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Sheridan

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Sheridan forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.575, -100.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Rolette

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Rolette forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.772, -99.841 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Pierce

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Pierce forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McIntosh

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: McIntosh forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Logan

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, La Moure

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: La Moure forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Kidder

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Kidder forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Foster

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Foster forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Emmons

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Dickey

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Dickey forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Burleigh

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Adams

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Adams forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.097, -102.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several inches of snow coupled with a wind that increased, and gusted as high as 40 mph, caused blowing snow. Visibility was near zero. By 10:30 AM on December 25 the North Dakota Department of Transportation issued a no travel advisory for nearly the entire state. Travel over the Christmas holiday was nearly impossible due to significant drifting.

Blizzard, Bowman

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Bowman forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.113, -103.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Hettinger

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Hettinger forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.433, -102.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Stark

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Stark forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.811, -102.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Billings

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Billings forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.023, -103.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Dunn

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Dunn forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.357, -102.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Golden Valley

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Golden Valley forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.940, -103.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, McKenzie

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: McKenzie forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 47.740, -103.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Mountrail

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Mountrail forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 48.201, -102.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard, Slope

When: December 25, 6:00 AM CST to December 26, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Slope forecast zone
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 46.447, -103.460 (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.
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

Every storm in North Dakota in 2009 Every state in 2009 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, December 2009

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: 205319, 205321, 205322, 205323, 205324, 205325, 205326, 205327, 205328, 205329, 205330, 205332, 205334, 205335, 205339, 205342, 205343, 205344, 205345, 205346, 205347, 205348, 205349, 205442, 205451, 205452, 205454, 205455, 205456, 205457, 205458, 205459, 205460, 205461, 205462, 205463, 205464, 205465, 205466, 205467, and more.