An area of surface low pressure drifted to near Bismarck, North Dakota, by the early morning hours of the 4th and stalled there until the early morning hours of the 5th. This resulted in a prolonged period of snow over most of eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota.
Every event with a place to put it; 24 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 FGF wrote it up.
An area of surface low pressure drifted to near Bismarck, North Dakota, by the early morning hours of the 4th and stalled there until the early morning hours of the 5th. This resulted in a prolonged period of snow over most of eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota. The Karlstad (MN) station reported 12 inches of snow for the event.
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 Mar 3, 8:38 PM CST, 22 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
838 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013
.DISCUSSION...
FORECAST CHALLENGE TONIGHT WILL BE DEVELOPING WINTER STORM AND
HEADLINE UPDATE. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY CONTINUES TO SHOW POTENT
SHORT WAVE MOVING THROUGH MONTANA. REGIONAL RADARS SHOWING A
COUPLE OF AREAS OF HEAVIER PRECIPITATION DEVELOPING...ONE IN
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND EASTERN MONTANA. PRECIPITATION AREAS
SHOULD CONTINUE TO MERGE AND FILL IN OVERNIGHT AND BEGIN TO MOVE
EAST-SOUTHEASTWARD.
CURRENT REFLECTIVITY ECHOES ON KMVX CONTINUE TO BE MAINLY VIRGA AS
THE LOWER ATMOSPHERIC COLUMN CONTINUES TO MOISTEN UP. INITIAL
CONCERN FOR THE FAR NORTHEASTERN ZONES WAS AMOUNT OF DRY AIR.
HOWEVER...THERE WAS GENERAL CONSENSUS WITH THE 18Z RUNS THAT THOSE
AREAS SHOULD ALSO OVERCOME THE DRY AIR DURING THE LATE OVERNIGHT
AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF
MONDAY. THUS...AFTER COORDINATION WITH DLH...HAVE INCLUDED THE
REMAINING COUNTIES IN THE WINTER STORM WARNING. THIS AREA WILL
LIKELY SEE SLIGHTLY LOWER STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS COMPARED TO
AREAS TO THE WEST.
&&
.AVIATION...
CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO DETERIORATE OVERNIGHT FROM WEST TO EAST
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO FIRST
APPEAR AT KDVL LATER THIS EVENING AND THEN REACH THE RED RIVER
VALLEY AFTER 06Z MONDAY. KBJI SHOULD NOT HAVE A SERIOUS
DEGRADATION OF CONDITIONS UNTIL AFTER SUNRISE MONDAY. IFR
CONDITIONS SHOULD PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON MONDAY AS THE
WINTER STORM FULLY IMPACTS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. WINDS ARE NOT
EXPECTED TO BE NEAR BLIZZARD CRITERIA. HOWEVER...SUSTAINED SURFACE
WINDS OF 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL HIGHER GUSTS WILL PRODUCE
A MIXTURE OF DRIFTING AND SOME BLOWING SNOW.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR NDZ006>008-
014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054.
MN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY FOR MNZ001>003-029-
030-040.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY
FOR MNZ004>009-013>017-022>024-027-028-031-032.
&&
BRAMERHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 342 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 MNZ001>004-007-008-013>016-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016- 024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054-042145- WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL- PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-MAHNOMEN- SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN- WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-GRANT-TOWNER-CAVALIER- PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS- GRIGGS-STEELE-TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND- WESTERN WALSH- 342 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO THE DEVILS LAKE AND VALLEY CITY AREAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AND THEN INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY AND FAR WESTERN MINNESOTA LATE THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT. SNOW WILL BE HEAVY AT TIMES MONDAY MORNING OVER NORTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE DEVILS LAKE REGION. SNOW WILL END MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 6 TO 12 INCHES ARE LIKELY OVER A WIDESPREAD AREA INCLUDING ALL OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. WINDS WILL NOT BE A HUGE FACTOR WITH THIS SYSTEM GENERALLY REMAINING EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 25 MPH LATER TONIGHT INTO MONDAY AND THEN NORTHERLY AT 10 TO 25 MPH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED. MNZ005-009-017-042145- ROSEAU-NORTH BELTRAMI-SOUTH BELTRAMI- 342 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 ...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST TUESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SNOW WILL SPREAD INTO THE ROSEAU AND BEMIDJI AREAS LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SNOW WILL CONTINUE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT BEFORE ENDING TUESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED. MNZ006-042145- LAKE OF THE WOODS- 342 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY SNOW IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE LAKE OF THE WOODS AREA MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SNOWFALL REPORTS ARE APPRECIATED. ROGERS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
23 heavy snow, 1 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches impacted northwest Minnesota from late Sunday evening through Monday evening. Blowing and drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain began late Sunday night, changing to heavy wet snow by early Monday morning. Snow accumulations of from 5 to 8 inches were common on Monday. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain produced very slippery travel conditions late on Sunday evening. Through Monday forenoon from 3 to 5 inches of heavy wet snow had also accumulated.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 6 to 12 inches occurred from early Monday morning into early Tuesday morning.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, March 2013
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: 443783, 443784, 443785, 443786, 443787, 443788, 443789, 443790, 443791, 443792, 443793, 443794, 443795, 443796, 443797, 443798, 443799, 443800, 443801, 443802, 443803, 443804, 443805, 443806.