Low pressure pushing across North Dakota brought strong winds and accumulating snow on February 17. While the strong winds impacted the entire local area, the accumulating snow was confined to the northwest and north central parts of the state.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Low pressure pushing across North Dakota brought strong winds and accumulating snow on February 17. While the strong winds impacted the entire local area, the accumulating snow was confined to the northwest and north central parts of the state. Although the storm total snow accumulations were only two to four inches, wind gusts up to 45 mph combined with the falling snow to result in a blizzard. Many roads were closed and numerous travel advisories were issued by county and state officials.
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 Feb 17, 10:12 AM CST, 48 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1012 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 .UPDATE... UPDATE TO EXPAND THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AND A SMALL TWEAK TO THE TEMPERATURE CURVE. && .DISCUSSION... THE WEATHER HAS RAPIDLY DETERIORATED ACROSS NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING. VISIBILITIES OF ONE QUARTER MILE OR LESS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT WILLISTON AND WATFORD CITY...WITH WIND GUSTS OF 30 TO 35 KTS. TWO OUT OF THE THREE REQUIREMENTS FOR A BLIZZARD ARE BEING MET THIS MORNING...HOWEVER...AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THESE CONDITIONS WILL LAST FOR 3 HOURS...AND WILL THEREFORE LET THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY COVER THE SITUATION FOR NOW. AN ANALYSIS OF CROSS SECTIONS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL INDICATE STRONG OMEGA IN THE DENDRITIC GROWTH ZONE...EMBEDDED WITHIN A LAYER OF NEGATIVE EPV AND COUPLED WITH THE FRONTOGENETIC CIRCULATION. THIS EXPLAINS THE CURRENT HEAVY SNOW ACROSS THE NORTHWEST. HOWEVER...THIS FORCING SLOWLY DECREASES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...AS THE AREA OF SNOW MOVES INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP THE HIGHEST SNOW TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST. ALSO...EXPANDED THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. A 6MB/3HR PRESSURE RISE BUBBLE ANALYZED ACROSS SOUTHEAST MONTANA INTO SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA AT 16 UTC WAS ACTING TO ENHANCE WIND GUSTS ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST PORTIONS OF THE CWA...WITH A GUST TO 42 KTS AT KDIK AT 1549 UTC...AND 41 KTS AT KHEI AT 1541 UTC. SUCH STRONG WINDS COUPLED WITH SNOW SHOWERS HAVE CAUSED NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES AS REPORTED IN GOLDEN VALLEY THIS MORNING. && .AVIATION... LIFR CONDITIONS IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE AT KISN THROUGH 19 UTC...WITH A SLOW IMPROVEMENT THEREAFTER AS THE SNOWFALL INTENSITY DECREASES THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. SIMILAR CONDITIONS SEEN AT KISN THIS MORNING ARE FORECAST TO REACH KMOT BY 18 UTC AND PERSIST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ELSEWHERE...VERY STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS...WITH WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 40 KTS...ARE OCCURRING AND FORECAST TO CONTINUE AT KDIK THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH MIDDAY AND INTO THE AFTERNOON AT KBIS AND KJMS...WITH WIND GUSTS OF 35 TO 40 KTS POSSIBLE AT KBIS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT CST /11 PM MST/ TONIGHT FOR NDZ019- 020-022-023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM CST /8 AM MST/ FRIDAY FOR NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST FRIDAY FOR NDZ003>005- 011>013-021. && AYD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 512 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 NDZ001>004-009>013-017-018-021-181115- DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCHENRY- PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MCLEAN- 512 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. PLEASE SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ019-020-022-023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-181115- MERCER-OLIVER-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK- MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN- ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 512 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 /412 AM MST THU FEB 17 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. PLEASE SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ005-181115- ROLETTE- 512 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR CENTRAL ROLETTE COUNTY...WHICH INCLUDES THE CITY BELCOURT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. THE FLOOD WARNING MAY BE EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR FURTHER UPDATES. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. PLEASE SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. KS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 923 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-171700- DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROSBY...BOWBELLS...WILLISTON... NEW TOWN...WATFORD CITY...KILLDEER 923 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 ...NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES THIS MORNING ACROSS NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA... NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...COMBINED WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW...WILL RESULT IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. VISIBILITIES WILL FALL TO ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY. TRAVEL WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE...DELAY TRAVEL UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. NH
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 924 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-171700- DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROSBY...BOWBELLS...WILLISTON... NEW TOWN...WATFORD CITY...KILLDEER 924 AM CST THU FEB 17 2011 ...NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS AT TIMES THIS MORNING ACROSS NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA... NORTHWEST WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...COMBINED WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW...WILL RESULT IN NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. VISIBILITIES WILL FALL TO ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS AT TIMES...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN COUNTRY. TRAVEL WILL BE VERY HAZARDOUS. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE...DELAY TRAVEL UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE. NH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
11 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions developed as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and the fresh snow cover on the ground.
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, February 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 279688, 279689, 279690, 279691, 279692, 279694, 279695, 279696, 279697, 279698, 279699.