Cold in North Dakota, January 13 to 16, 2009

Name: Cold in North Dakota, January 13 to 16, 2009
Start: 2009-01-13T11:00
End: 2009-01-16T23:00
Location: North Dakota

January 13 to 16, 2009 · NWS FGF · 45 events in 18 counties and zones

Very cold arctic air sank into the Northern Plains in mid January 2009. The light winds of 5 to 15 mph at times caused wind chills to run 40 to 60 below zero across much of eastern North Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 45 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: 45

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.

Very cold arctic air sank into the Northern Plains in mid January 2009. The light winds of 5 to 15 mph at times caused wind chills to run 40 to 60 below zero across much of eastern North Dakota. Wind chills fell to 40 to 50 below zero Tuesday evening into Wednesday. The coldest wind chills of 40 to 60 below zero occurred Wednesday (14th) night into Thursday (15th) morning. More 40 to 50 below wind chills occurred off and on Thursday evening through Friday (16th) morning.

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 Jan 13, 10:41 AM CST, 19 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 13, 10:41 AM CST, 19 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 13, 7:05 AM CST, 3 hours 55 minutes before

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The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

45 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Cold/Wind Chill, Barnes

When: January 13, 11:00 AM CST to January 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Barnes forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eddy

When: January 13, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Eddy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Nelson

When: January 13, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Nelson forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey

When: January 13, 7:00 PM CST to January 15, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Griggs

When: January 13, 7:00 PM CST to January 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Griggs forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Benson

When: January 13, 8:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Benson forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.069, -99.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When: January 13, 11:00 PM CST to January 14, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Traill

When: January 14, 1:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Traill forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cass

When: January 14, 1:00 AM CST to January 15, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Grand Forks

When: January 14, 2:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Towner

When: January 14, 3:00 AM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Towner forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cavalier

When: January 14, 3:00 AM CST to January 15, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Cavalier forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pembina

When: January 14, 3:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Pembina forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Western Walsh

When: January 14, 3:00 AM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Western Walsh forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Walsh

When: January 14, 3:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ransom

When: January 14, 6:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Ransom forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sargent

When: January 14, 6:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Sargent forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Richland

When: January 14, 6:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When: January 14, 5:00 PM CST to January 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Towner

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 1:00 PM CST
Where: Towner forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pembina

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Pembina forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Walsh

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Traill

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Traill forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cass

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Richland

When: January 14, 6:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Grand Forks

When: January 14, 7:00 PM CST to January 15, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ransom

When: January 14, 7:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Ransom forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sargent

When: January 14, 7:00 PM CST to January 15, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Sargent forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Towner

When: January 15, 5:00 PM CST to January 16, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Towner forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Nelson

When: January 15, 5:00 PM CST to January 16, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Nelson forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cavalier

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Cavalier forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Pembina

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Pembina forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Western Walsh

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Western Walsh forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Griggs

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Griggs forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Barnes

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 8:00 AM CST
Where: Barnes forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ransom

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Ransom forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Sargent

When: January 15, 6:00 PM CST to January 16, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Sargent forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Ramsey

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eastern Walsh

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Grand Forks

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Steele

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Steele forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Traill

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Traill forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Cass

When: January 15, 7:00 PM CST to January 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Eddy

When: January 15, 8:00 PM CST to January 16, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Eddy forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cold/Wind Chill, Richland

When: January 15, 11:00 PM CST to January 16, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Cold/Wind Chill: Cold or wind chill below warning criteria that caused deaths, injuries or damage.

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, January 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 145163, 145135, 145141, 145091, 145150, 145090, 145154, 145158, 145166, 145146, 145082, 145085, 145087, 145103, 145105, 145169, 145174, 145177, 145155, 145083, 145088, 145106, 145159, 145167, 145178, 145148, 145171, 145175, 145084, 145143, 145086, 145089, 145104, 145153, 145164, 145172, 145176, 145102, 145107, 145149, and more.