An intense very early winter storm October 4-5 impacted southwest and parts of south central North Dakota, bringing wind gusts over 45 mph and snowfall of twenty inches in some locations. A classic Colorado Low storm moved out of the central Rocky Mountains on the 4th, then moved slowly northeast before exiting into the Upper Mississippi Valley later on the 5th.
Every event with a place to put it; 7 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.
An intense very early winter storm October 4-5 impacted southwest and parts of south central North Dakota, bringing wind gusts over 45 mph and snowfall of twenty inches in some locations.
A classic Colorado Low storm moved out of the central Rocky Mountains on the 4th, then moved slowly northeast before exiting into the Upper Mississippi Valley later on the 5th. Bands of heavy snow developed underneath the system's TROWAL (Trough Of Warm Air ALoft) from over southwest North Dakota into Western South Dakota. The heaviest snow with this system occurred over the northern Black Hills of western South Dakota, where over three feet of snow fell due to the TROWAL and a strong upslope northerly low level flow. Snowfall amounts tapered off into North Dakota, but were still significant with over twenty inches reported in southern Hettinger County. Snowfall north of Interstate 94 quickly dropped to less than one inch with decreased forcing aloft, and also near the Missouri River where the rain/snow line was located.
In addition to the heavy snow, strong northeast winds with peak gusts over 45 miles per hour during the late afternoon and evening of the 4th resulted in blizzard conditions over Adams, Grant, and Sioux counties. Winds decreased later on the 5th as the surface low moved into Minnesota.
Impacts from this storm were severe, with President Obama signing a disaster declaration for parts of the state. Impacts included an estimated eight million dollars in damages to public infrastructure and power utilities. Significant losses occurred to both cattle and crops. The wet snow and high wind killed cattle and the storm delayed a harvest that was already behind schedule due to a wet fall.
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 Oct 4, 10:01 AM CST, 59 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
7 heavy snow, 3 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Storm total snowfall of six to nine inches was reported over central and eastern Bowman County. Up to a foot was estimated in far southeastern Bowman County.
Storm total snowfall of 18 to 22 inches was reported near the city of Hettinger in south central Adams County. Snowfall amounts tapered off across northern Adams County to around eight to twelve inches.
Storm total snowfall of six to twelve inches was reported across Hettinger County.
Storm total snowfall of six to eight inches occurred over far southern Slope County.
Storm total snowfall of six to ten inches was reported across Grant County.
Storm total snowfall of six to eight inches was reported across western Sioux County.
Storm total snowfall of six to ten inches was reported across western and central Morton County.
Hettinger airport recorded winds gusting over 45 miles per hour along with visibilities less than one quarter of a mile for several hours.
Winds gusting over 45 miles per hour along with visibilities less than one quarter of a mile occurred for several hours.
Winds gusting over 45 miles per hour along with visibilities less than one quarter of a mile occurred for several hours.
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, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 477349, 477350, 477351, 477345, 477352, 477353, 477355, 477358, 477360, 477361.