An inverted surface trough extending from a deep area of low pressure moving slowly across the central plains, brought heavy snow to much of south central and southeastern North Dakota from April 14th through April 15th. Strong southerly moisture advection along the inverted surface trough, combined with large scale forcing ahead of a northern stream mid level short wave trough, acted to enhance…
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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.
An inverted surface trough extending from a deep area of low pressure moving slowly across the central plains, brought heavy snow to much of south central and southeastern North Dakota from April 14th through April 15th.
Strong southerly moisture advection along the inverted surface trough, combined with large scale forcing ahead of a northern stream mid level short wave trough, acted to enhance snowfall during the overnight and morning hours over portions of the Dakotas.
Storm total snowfall amounts for this episode ranged from six inches to just over one foot. State and county officials issued multiple travel advisories due to poor visibilities and snow covered roads.
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 Apr 14, 2:16 PM CST, 2 hours 44 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
17 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Cooperative observers across Morton County reported storm total snowfall amounts ranging from 7.5 inches at New Salem to 11 inches at Hebron.
Cooperative observers across Grant County reported storm total snowfall amounts ranging from six inches at Carson to eight inches at Pretty Rock.
An estimated eight inches of snow fell across Sioux County.
Cooperative observers across Emmons County reported storm total snowfall amounts ranging from seven inches at Linton to 10.6 inches at Hazelton.
The cooperative observer at Beulah reported a storm total snowfall amount of 6.5 inches.
Cooperative observers across McLean County reported storm total snowfall amounts of six inches at Butte and 8.5 inches at Washburn.
An estimated storm total snowfall of six inches fell across Oliver County.
The cooperative observer at McClusky reported a storm total snowfall amount of eight inches.
Cooperative observers across Burleigh County reported storm total snowfall amounts from 7.9 inches near Bismarck to eight inches at Moffit.
Cooperative observers across Wells County reported storm total snowfall amounts from six inches at Fessenden to 10.5 inches at Sykeston.
The cooperative observer at Steele reported a storm total snowfall amount of seven inches.
Cooperative observers across Stutsman County reported storm total snowfall amounts from 6.5 inches at Streeter to 10 inches at Courtenay.
Cooperative observers across McIntosh County reported storm total snowfall amounts from 7.2 inches at Ashley to 13 inches at Wishek.
Cooperative observers across Dickey County reported storm total snowfall amounts from seven inches at Oakes and Fullerton to 10.5 inches at Forbes.
The cooperative observer at Napoleon reported a storm total snowfall amount of 11 inches.
An estimated seven to ten inches of snowfall fell across LaMoure County.
An estimated six inches of snowfall fell across portions of Foster County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, April 2011
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: 296757, 296758, 296759, 296764, 296760, 296761, 296762, 296765, 296767, 296768, 296769, 296770, 296771, 296772, 296773, 296774, 296775.