High Wind, Bowman
- When
- October 17, 2:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Bowman forecast zone
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.113, -103.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind in North Dakota, October 17 to 18, 2012
Strong low pressure moved across the Dakotas October 17th, and remained over Minnesota through October 18th. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northwest winds across western and central North Dakota.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it; 32 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 36
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.
Strong low pressure moved across the Dakotas October 17th, and remained over Minnesota through October 18th. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northwest winds across western and central North Dakota. Peak gusts were measured over sixty miles per hour across west and south central North Dakota, with sustained winds at or above forty miles per hour over north central North Dakota into the James River Valley.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
36 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
High Wind, Slope
- When
- October 17, 2:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Slope forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
- Coordinates
- 46.447, -103.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Hettinger
- When
- October 17, 2:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hettinger forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.433, -102.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Billings
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 AM CST
- Where
- Billings forecast zone
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.023, -103.376 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Golden Valley
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 AM CST
- Where
- Golden Valley forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.940, -103.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, McIntosh
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- McIntosh forecast zone
- Measured
- 38 kt (44 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Logan
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Logan forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, La Moure
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- La Moure forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Dickey
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Dickey forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Kidder
- When
- October 17, 3:00 AM CST to October 18, 6:00 PM CST
- Where
- Kidder forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Stark
- When
- October 17, 4:00 AM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Stark forecast zone
- Measured
- 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 46.811, -102.655 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Adams
- When
- October 17, 9:00 AM CST to October 18, 4:00 PM CST
- Where
- Adams forecast zone
- Measured
- 62 kt (71 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 46.097, -102.528 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, McKenzie
- When
- October 17, 12:00 PM CST to October 18, 9:00 AM CST
- Where
- McKenzie forecast zone
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.740, -103.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Dunn
- When
- October 17, 12:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Dunn forecast zone
- Measured
- 68 kt (78 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.357, -102.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mercer
- When
- October 17, 2:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Mercer forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Stutsman
- When
- October 17, 2:00 PM CST to October 18, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Stutsman forecast zone
- Measured
- 36 kt (41 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Foster
- When
- October 17, 2:00 PM CST to October 18, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Foster forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Wells
- When
- October 17, 2:00 PM CST to October 18, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Wells forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Williams
- When
- October 17, 3:00 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Williams forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 48.344, -103.480 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Divide
- When
- October 17, 3:00 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Divide forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 48.815, -103.487 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Burke
- When
- October 17, 3:00 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Burke forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.791, -102.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Mountrail
- When
- October 17, 3:00 PM CST to October 18, 1:00 AM CST
- Where
- Mountrail forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.201, -102.356 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Sioux
- When
- October 17, 8:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Sioux forecast zone
- Measured
- 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- RAWS
High Wind, Morton
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Morton forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
High Wind, Grant
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Grant forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.358, -101.640 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Oliver
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Oliver forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 47.115, -101.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, McLean
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- McLean forecast zone
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
High Wind, Ward
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Ward forecast zone
- Measured
- 37 kt (43 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- ASOS
High Wind, Renville
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Renville forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.719, -101.658 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Burleigh
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Burleigh forecast zone
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- ASOS
- Coordinates
- 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Sheridan
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Sheridan forecast zone
- Measured
- 37 kt (43 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Department of Highways
- Coordinates
- 47.575, -100.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Bottineau
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Bottineau forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, McHenry
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- McHenry forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.235, -100.636 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Emmons
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Emmons forecast zone
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Pierce
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Pierce forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
High Wind, Rolette
- When
- October 17, 9:00 PM CST to October 18, 3:00 PM CST
- Where
- Rolette forecast zone
- Measured
- 35 kt (40 mph) measured sustained
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 48.772, -99.841 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
What these are
- High Wind
- Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Hail in Mississippi, October 17 to 18, 2012
- Wildfire in North Dakota, October 17 to 18, 2012
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Mississippi, October 17, 2012
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, October 17, 2012
- Wildfire in Nebraska, October 17, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, October 17, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, October 17, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Missouri, October 17, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Missouri, October 17, 2012
- High Wind in South Dakota, October 17 to 19, 2012
- High Wind in Nebraska, October 17 to 18, 2012
- Damaging Winds in Arkansas, October 17, 2012
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, October 2012
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: 413026, 413027, 413028, 413022, 413023, 413082, 413083, 413084, 413085, 413086, 413029, 413024, 413021, 413030, 413032, 413087, 413088, 413089, 413014, 413015, 413016, 413018, 413036, 413033, 413034, 413035, 413037, 413070, 413072, 413075, 413077, 413078, 413079, 413080, 413090, 413091.