A strong pressure gradient persisted over central South Dakota and eastern North Dakota from December 30th and 31st, and continued to result in strong winds over 40 mph. When combined with continued snowfall and fresh snow cover on the ground, blizzard conditions continued through the morning hours of January 1st over portions of south central North Dakota.
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.
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.
A strong pressure gradient persisted over central South Dakota and eastern North Dakota from December 30th and 31st, and continued to result in strong winds over 40 mph. When combined with continued snowfall and fresh snow cover on the ground, blizzard conditions continued through the morning hours of January 1st over portions of south central North Dakota.
Numerous travel advisories issued by state and county officials remained in effect Saturday morning. Road closures also continued, including Interstate 94 from Jamestown to Fargo until early January 2nd, and Bismarck to Jamestown till noon New Year's Eve Day (See Storm Data for December 2010).
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 31, 3:13 PM CST, 8 hours 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 313 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT... MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM THIS AFTERNOON IS HANDLING ONGOING HAZARDS. AFTER A MORNING UPDATE TO EXPAND THE BLIZZARD WARNING A LITTLE FARTHER TO THE WEST...HAVE NOT MADE ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES THIS AFTERNOON. WILL NEED TO MONITOR TO SEE HOW FAR WEST THE HEAVY SNOW BAND EXTENDS BEFORE BEGINNING TO EJECT TO THE EAST. THERE COULD BE A PERIOD THIS EVENING WHERE FAR SOUTHEAST BURLEIGH AND MORTON COUNTIES SEE BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS. HOWEVER...THESE AREAS ESCAPED THE SNOW ON WED/THU...WHERE POINTS SOUTH AND EAST SAW AN INCH OR TWO. FOR NOW WILL LEAVE THESE COUNTIES IN AN ADVISORY WITH A MENTION OF LOW VISIBILITIES IN OPEN AREAS. ELSEWHERE...MINIMAL CHANGES TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. STRONG FORCING TONIGHT VIA THE SHORTWAVE LIFTING NORTH OVER WESTERN MINNESOTA. WITH COLD AIR ENTRENCHED OVER THE AREA...SNOW RATIOS SHOULD APPROACH 20 TO 1. UTILIZING HPC GUIDANCE FOR QPF...COULD SEE IN EXCESS OF 10 INCHES. WILL STICK WITH MAX AMOUNTS AROUND 10 INCHES. WITH 3 TO 6 INCHES FROM THURSDAYS STORM...AND WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH WITH SOME HIGHER GUSTS...IT WILL BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AN ACCURATE MEASUREMENT. SNOW AMOUNTS TAPER QUICKLY AS YOU GO NORTHWEST. GENERALLY 3 TO 6 INCHES FROM CARRINGTON TO LINTON AND TAPERING EVEN MORE QUICKLY NORTH AND WEST OF THAT LINE. DEPENDING ON HOW FAR WEST THE BAND TRACKS...BISMARCK MANDAN COULD SEE AROUND AN INCH OF SNOW...AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER...HIGHER AMOUNTS IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF BURLEIGH/MORTON COUNTIES. STRONG WINDS CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY MORNING...ESPECIALLY OVER THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. FARTHER WEST...STILL EXPECT SOME DRIFTING SNOW OVER WEST AND NORTH PORTIONS OF THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AREA...ALONG WITH DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS. WIND CHILLS OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL/NORTHWEST COULD APPROACH 35 TO 40 BELOW. CURRENTLY EVERYTHING EXPIRES AT 18Z ON SATURDAY AND SEE NO REASON TO CHANGE THIS. SOME AREAS IN THE WEST MAY BE ABLE TO BE DROPPED EARLIER AND EASTERN AREAS MAY NEED TO BE EXTENDED. WILL LET LATER SHIFTS HASH OUT THE DETAILS. SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...ANOTHER SHORTWAVE DROPS INTO THE AREA LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND LINGERS THROUGH MONDAY AS UPPER TROUGH DEEPENS OVER THE REGION. HAVE RAISED POPS INTO THE CHANCE CATEGORY FROM WEST CENTRAL THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL WITH THIS SYSTEM. EXPECTING LIGHT AMOUNTS AT THIS TIME...WELL UNDER ADVISORY CRITERIA. NAM/EC INDICATE THE NORTHEAST CWA MAY BE SPARED ANY SNOW AS SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE KEEPS PRECIPITATION FARTHER TO THE WEST. THE GFS DOES BRING PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE IN GOOD GENERAL AGREEMENT BOTH ESTABLISHING A FAIRLY STABLE UPPER AIR PATTERN WITH RIDGING TO THE WEST AND A HUDSON BAY LOW TO THE NORTHEAST. IN THIS PATTERN...THE FLOW ALOFT WILL BE GENERALLY NORTHWEST ALLOWING WEAK SHORT WAVES TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA. OSCILLATIONS IN THE FLOW AND TIMING OF THE SHORT WAVES WILL AFFECT THE POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION AND OVERALL POPS WILL BE LOW AT ANY POINT IN TIME...SO FOR NOW WILL NOT MENTION ANY WX. TEMPERATURES WILL AGAIN BE A PROBLEM...AS FLUCTUATIONS IN PREVIOUS RUNS HAVE HAD RATHER LARGE EFFECTS ON THE FORECAST. IN GENERAL...IT LOOKS LIKE THE EXTENDED WILL BE ON THE COOL SIDE OF NORMAL. OVERALL WILL TREND TEMPERATURES A LITTLE COOLER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST. && .AVIATION...IFR CONDITIONS IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE EAST AS A REPEAT OF YESTERDAYS STRONG WINDS WILL BRING BLIZZARD OR NEAR BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO THE AREA. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO VFR IN THE WEST FARTHER AWAY FROM THE BLIZZARD PRODUCING LOW. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST /11 AM MST/ SATURDAY FOR NDZ004-005-012-013-019>022-033>035-040>044. WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON CST /11 AM MST/ SATURDAY FOR NDZ001>003-009>011-017-018-031-032. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 3 PM CST THIS AFTERNOON FOR NDZ023- 025-036-037-045>048-050-051. BLIZZARD WARNING UNTIL NOON CST SATURDAY FOR NDZ023-025-036-037- 045>048-050-051. && 17/17/17
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 342 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 NDZ025-037-047-048-050-051-012145- FOSTER-STUTSMAN-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 342 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. FOR DETAILS...CURRENT FORECASTS AND WEATHER STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY BLIZZARD CONDITIONS WILL LINGER THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS AND WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WITH SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND OTHER HAZARDS DURING THE STORM. LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS CAN ALSO RELAY INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NDZ004-005-012-013-019>023-033>036-040>046-012145- BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN- WELLS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN- ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS- 342 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 /242 PM MST FRI DEC 31 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT LIGHT SNOW...AREAS OF BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW AND DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT. FOR DETAILS...CURRENT FORECASTS AND WEATHER STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY LIGHT SNOW WILL END EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS AND WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WITH SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AND OTHER HAZARDS DURING THE STORM. LOCAL AND STATE OFFICIALS CAN ALSO RELAY INFORMATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. NDZ001>003-009>011-017-018-031-032-012145- DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCKENZIE-DUNN- GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS- 342 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 /242 PM MST FRI DEC 31 2010/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OF 25 TO 40 BELOW ARE EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. FOR DETAILS...CURRENT FORECASTS AND WEATHER STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS OR YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL MEDIA OUTLET. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS WILL CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIOD. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
634 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0633 PM HEAVY SNOW 7 NE ASHLEY 46.11N 99.27W
12/31/2010 E4.0 INCH MCINTOSH ND TRAINED SPOTTER
SINCE 3 PM CST. ZERO VISIBILITY.
&&
SWICHESPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 701 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 NDZ023-025-036-037-045>048-050-051-010315- WELLS-FOSTER-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH- DICKEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARVEY...CARRINGTON...STEELE... JAMESTOWN...FORT YATES...LINTON...NAPOLEON...EDGELEY...ASHLEY... OAKES 701 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 ...BLIZZARD WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH NOON SATURDAY... AT 650 PM CST...WIDESPREAD NEAR ZERO LOW VISIBILITIES IN SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW EXTENDED ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA NEAR LINTON THROUGH JAMESTOWN. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND WIND CHILLS AS LOW AS 30 BELOW TONIGHT WILL MAKE VENTURING OUTSIDE HAZARDOUS. MANY ROADS WILL BECOME BLOCKED FROM THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY WEST TO LINTON AND INTO EASTERN SIOUX COUNTY. TRAVEL SHOULD BE DELAYED TONIGHT. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL... CARRY A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT AND LEAVE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ROUTE AND DESTINATION. IF YOU ARE OR BECOME STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. WAA
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1138 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 NDZ023-025-036-037-045>048-050-051-010745- WELLS-FOSTER-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH- DICKEY- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARVEY...CARRINGTON...STEELE... JAMESTOWN...FORT YATES...LINTON...NAPOLEON...EDGELEY...ASHLEY... OAKES 1138 PM CST FRI DEC 31 2010 ...BLIZZARD WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH NOON SATURDAY... AT 1130 PM CST...WIDESPREAD BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUED ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA FROM NEAR FORT YATES THROUGH JAMESTOWN TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ALONG WITH NORTH WINDS TO 45 MPH WILL COMBINE WITH SUB ZERO TEMPERATURES TO CAUSE A DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING MIX OF SEVERE WINTER WEATHER TONIGHT. VENTURING OUTSIDE WILL BE HAZARDOUS. MANY ROADS ARE OR WILL BECOME BLOCKED. TRAVEL SHOULD BE DELAYED. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...CARRY A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT AND LEAVE INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR ROUTE AND DESTINATION. IF YOU ARE OR BECOME STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE. OPEN A WINDOW TO ALLOW FRESH AIR IN FROM TIME TO TIME. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND EVEN LIFE THREATENING STORM. WAA
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and fresh snow cover on the ground.
Blizzard conditions continued from December 31st, 2010 as strong northerly winds up to 45 mph combined with falling snow and 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, January 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: 274691, 274692, 274693, 274694, 274695, 274696, 274697, 274698, 274699, 274700.