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.
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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 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. Several stations in northeast North Dakota reported snow amounts of over a foot, with the Sarles (ND) station reporting 18 inches.
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, 3:16 PM CST, 4 hours 44 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
316 PM CST SUN MAR 3 2013
.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY
ALL EYES ON THE APPROACHING WINTER STORM TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY
NIGHT/TUESDAY MORNING. STILL SOME MODEL DIFFERENCES...BUT ENOUGH
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF SURFACE LOW TRACK AND QPF FOR HIGH
CONFIDENCE IN A SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT. LATEST NAM IS A BIT OF AN
OUTLIER AND WILL NOT INCLUDE ITS SOLUTION IN THIS FORECAST
PACKAGE.
21 UTC SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS A BROAD SURFACE TROUGH FROM NORTH-
CENTRAL MT TO NORTHWEST NE. MODELS COALESCE CENTER OF THE LOW
ALONG THE ND/MT BORDER BY 06 UTC AS THE UPPER WAVE APPROACHES
FROM THE WEST...THEN MOVE IT FROM NEAR DICKINSON TO ABERDEEN BY
00 UTC TUESDAY. IMPRESSIVE ISENTROPIC LIFT ON THE 280 TO 290 K
SURFACE...COMBINED WITH MIXING RATIOS FROM 2 TO 3 G/KG AND STRONG
Q-VECTOR DIVERGENCE ALOFT WILL RESULT IN AN AREA OF MODERATE TO
HEAVY SNOW MOVING INTO EASTERN ND THIS EVENING AND CONTINUING INTO
NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MN OVERNIGHT. THE OVERALL SYSTEM
CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD A BIT MORE SLOWLY THAN PREVIOUSLY
FORECAST...SO DO NOT EXPECT THE PRIMARY SNOW BAND TO REACH THE
VALLEY UNTIL NEAR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR.
WIDESPREAD SNOW TOTALS FROM 6 TO 12 INCHES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS
MUCH OF THE REGION THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS
SHOULD FALL ACROSS A BROAD AREA CENTERED ON A LINE FROM MINOT TO
DEVILS LAKE TO MAYVILLE TO WADENA...WHERE 9 TO 12 INCHES ARE
EXPECTED. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE TRACK OF
THE MID-LEVEL LOW. EXPANDED THE WINTER STORM WARNING ONE TIER OF
COUNTIES FARTHER TO THE EAST TO INCLUDE EASTERN MARSHALL/
CLEARWATER/HUBBARD/WADENA COUNTIES. GIVEN THE SLOWER PROGRESSION
OF THE STORM...ALSO ADJUSTED THE WARNING START-TIME EAST OF THE
VALLEY TO 06 UTC TONIGHT. EAST-SOUTHEAST WIND FROM 15 TO 25 MPH
WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT TO THE NORTH-NORTHEAST BY TUESDAY MORNING AS
THE SURFACE LOW PASSES TO THE SOUTH. DO NOT ANTICIPATE TRUE
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS...BUT THE COMBINATION OF MODERATE TO HEAVY
SNOW AND SOME WIND WILL CAUSE BLOWING/DRIFTING SNOW AND SOME
REDUCED VISIBILITY. TRAVEL MAY BECOME DIFFICULT...ESPECIALLY FOR
THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
WILL LEAVE THE WINTER STORM WATCH IN PLACE FOR ROSEAU AND BELTRAMI
COUNTIES GIVEN LINGERING UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING THE EASTWARD
EXTENT OF THE HIGHEST SNOW TOTALS AND A MUCH DRIER AIR MASS
CURRENTLY ACROSS MUCH OF NORTH-CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST MN. SNOW WILL
NOT REACH THESE AREAS UNTIL MONDAY MORNING...SO THIS SHOULD
PROVIDE THE EVENING/MIDNIGHT SHIFTS AT LEAST ONE MORE SET OF MODEL
RUNS TO MAKE A FINAL CALL ON HEADLINES. AT THE LEAST...STILL EXPECT
3 TO 5 INCHES ACROSS THE NORTHEAST FORECAST AREA AND IF NOT A
WARNING...AN ADVISORY WILL EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.
LIGHT SNOW WILL LINGER ALONG AND EAST OF THE VALLEY FOR MUCH OF
TUESDAY BEFORE COMPLETELY MOVING OUT THE REGION TUESDAY NIGHT.
TUESDAY SHOULD BE COOLER THAN TODAY/MONDAY...BUT THERE IS NOT A
BIG ARCTIC COLD AIR DUMP ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DEPARTING LOW...
SO HIGHS ON TUESDAY STILL LIKELY TO CLIMB INTO THE UPPER TEENS TO
MID 20S. STRONG SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION ON
WEDNESDAY...RESULTING PARTLY SUNNY SKIES AND DRY CONDITIONS WITH
HIGHS IN THE 20S.
.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY
MODELS AGREE THAT THE REGION WILL BE IN SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THROUGH
FRIDAY. MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES A STRONGER UPPER WAVE WITHIN THIS
FLOW TO AFFECT THE FA THUR/THUR NIGHT AND KEPT THE 20-30 PERCENT
POPS. A CUTOFF LOW WILL THEN DEVELOP ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST CONUS BY
THE WEEKEND...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE REGARDING LOCATION IS MINIMAL.
WHEN AND WHERE THIS FEATURE IS LOCATED SAT-SUN WILL DETERMINE IF THE
NORTHERN PLAINS IS INFLUENCED BY RIDGING OR CONTINUED SOUTHWEST FLOW
ALOFT (AND DRY VS. SNOW CHANCES). TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL
VALUES.
&&
.AVIATION...
CEILINGS ACROSS THE REGION HAVE LIFTED WITH MOST AREAS VFR. EXPECT
THESE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE INTO THE EVENING HOURS. THEN...EXPECT
LOWERING CONDITIONS WITH THE APPROACH OF THE WINTER STORM THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY
FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054.
MN...WINTER STORM WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY
FOR MNZ004-007-008-013>016-022>024-027-028-031-032.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 6 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST TUESDAY
FOR MNZ001>003-029-030-040.
WINTER STORM WATCH FROM MIDNIGHT CST TONIGHT THROUGH LATE MONDAY
NIGHT FOR MNZ005-009-017.
&&
ROGERS/TGHAZARDOUS 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.
15 heavy snow, 3 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 8 to 18 inches fell across northeast northeastern North Dakota from late on Sunday evening into Monday night. Additional blowing an drifting snow continued into early Tuesday morning.
Areas of light freezing rain changed to heavy wet snow from Sunday evening into early Monday morning. This created very slippery conditions across portions of southeast North Dakota and led to prolonged road closures.
Areas of light freezing rain changed to heavy wet snow from Sunday evening into early Monday morning. This created very slippery conditions across portions of southeast North Dakota and led to prolonged road closures.
Areas of light freezing rain changed to heavy wet snow from Sunday evening into early Monday morning. This created very slippery conditions across portions of southeast North Dakota and led to prolonged road closures.
Heavy snow of from 5 to 8 inches affected most of east central North Dakota. Areas of light freezing rain preceded the snow on Sunday evening leading to very icy roads and walkways. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 5 to 8 inches affected most of east central North Dakota. Areas of light freezing rain preceded the snow on Sunday evening leading to very icy roads and walkways. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 5 to 8 inches affected most of east central North Dakota. Areas of light freezing rain preceded the snow on Sunday evening leading to very icy roads and walkways. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 5 to 8 inches affected most of east central North Dakota. Areas of light freezing rain preceded the snow on Sunday evening leading to very icy roads and walkways. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into Tuesday morning.
Heavy snow of from 5 to 8 inches affected most of east central North Dakota. Areas of light freezing rain preceded the snow on Sunday evening leading to very icy roads and walkways. Blowing and drifting snow persisted into Tuesday morning.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, 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: 443764, 443765, 443766, 443767, 443768, 443769, 443770, 443771, 443772, 443777, 443779, 443780, 443782, 443773, 443774, 443775, 443776, 443778.