Deep low pressure moved over northeast Minnesota while a pair of strong cold fronts moved through North Dakota. This produced two surges of strong winds across all of western and central North Dakota.
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.
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.
Deep low pressure moved over northeast Minnesota while a pair of strong cold fronts moved through North Dakota. This produced two surges of strong winds across all of western and central North Dakota. The strongest wind gusts of 68 mph were reported in Oliver and Morton counties.
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 Feb 6, 12:33 PM CST, 1 hour 27 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1233 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1226 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 A FEW SHOWERS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE AREA AS WARM AIR SLIDES INTO THE REGION. FOR EARLY AFTERNOON UPDATE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS BY ADDING RAIN CHANCES OVER MANY LOCATIONS. OTHERWISE...GOING FORECAST LOOKS GOOD AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM AND WINDS INCREASE OVER THE WEST. UPDATE ISSUED AT 630 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 WINDS ALREADY PICKING UP ACROSS THE WEST AND ARE GUSTING CLOSE TO 30 MPH. CURRENTLY ON TRACK FOR STRONG WINDS BY AFTERNOON. BROAD WARM ADVECTION SHOWING UP WITH 2 TO 4 MB 3 HR PRESSURE FALLS ON LATEST RAP13 MODEL OUTPUT OVER ND. SEVEN TO 8 MB 3HR PRESSURE RISES NOW IN CENTRAL MONTANA. CURRENT FORECAST LOOKS GOOD. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 330 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A HIGH WIND WARNING FOR WESTERN AND MOST OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND A BLIZZARD WARNING FROM NEAR THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY LOOP SHOWS OUR NEXT POTENT SHORTWAVE LOCATED NEAR OMAK WASHINGTON WITH STRONG WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF IT INTO NORTH DAKOTA. THAT WILL BE THE THEME FOR THE MORNING HOURS INTO EARLY AFTERNOON...THEN A TRANSITION TO COLD AIR ADVECTION WILL OCCUR AROUND 21Z WEST AND INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA 00Z-06Z SUNDAY. LATEST BUFKIT SOUNDINGS PER NAM/GFS SHOW WARNING LEVEL WINDS BEING DELAYED ACROSS BISMARCK AND JAMESTOWN UNTIL 12Z SUNDAY...THEN STRENGTHENING THEREAFTER AND MAINTAINING WARNING LEVEL WIND CRITERIA THROUGH THE REST OF THIS SHORT TERM PERIOD. THIS IS WHEN THE STEEPEST LAPSE RATES OF 8 TO 8.5 C/KM AND STRONGEST ISALLOBARIC FORCING EMERGES. WILL LIKELY SEE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA DEVELOP AFTER 06Z SUNDAY DUE TO THE INITIAL SURGE OF COLD AIR ADVECTION/ISALLOBARIC FORCING COMING IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. MADE MINOR TIMING ADJUSTMENTS ACROSS THE REST OF CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BASED UPON THE SAME LOGIC AS ABOVE. ESSENTIALLY BEGAN THE HIGH WIND WARNING EARLIER IN NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WITH THIS AREA FIRST IN LINE TO FEEL THE STRONGEST PRESSURE RISES AND STRONGEST WINDS. HAVE UPGRADED THE BLIZZARD WATCH TO A BLIZZARD WARNING FROM THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS AND VICINITY SOUTH INTO THE UPPER JAMES RIVER VALLEY. MOST LOCATIONS WILL RECEIVE 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW WITH LOCALIZED 4 TO 6 INCHES IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS. THE BAGGALEY SNOW MODEL HINTS AT A BLIZZARD AND FELT WITH FALLING SNOW INTERACTING WITH VERY STRONG WINDS...VISIBILITIES WILL BE NEAR ZERO. FOR TODAY PRIOR TO THE MAIN EVENT...TEMPERATURES WILL BE WARM WITH 40S...AND LOWER 50S SOUTHWEST TO PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL. VERTICAL MOTION INCREASES THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD...THUS MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL THICKEN AND LOWER THROUGH THE DAY INTO TONIGHT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ENTERS THE FAR NORTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON WITH CHANCES FOR RAIN AND SNOW SPREADING SOUTH SATURDAY EVENING BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH CENTRAL WILL SEE LITTLE OR NO PRECIPITATION WITH THIS SYSTEM...JUST THE STRONG WINDS. WHEREAS NORTH AND EAST WILL EXPERIENCE THE STRONG WINDS AND SNOW. THE HIGH WIND WARNING TRUMPS THE MENTION OF LOWER VISIBILITIES AT TIMES IN AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW FOR THOSE AREAS JUST OUTSIDE THE BLIZZARD WARNING...AND WITH MUCH UNCERTAINTY REMAINING ON HOW LOW VISIBILITIES WILL BE AND FOR WHAT LENGTH OF TIME...FELT IT WAS BEST TO UPGRADE TO A HIGH WIND WARNING AS OPPOSED TO A WINTER HEADLINE. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 330 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 RESIDUAL BLOWING SNOW WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE EAST ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRING WINDS AND LIGHT SNOW SUNDAY NIGHT. BY MONDAY THE UPPER LOW EXITING THE NORTHERN PLAINS WILL DEVELOP INTO A LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES SOUTH TO THE GULF COAST WITH A LARGE H500 RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN CONUS AND CANADA. THIS LEAVES A STRONG BAROCLINIC ZONE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS WHICH WILL PRETTY MUCH DEFINE THE EXTENDED PERIOD WITH MILD AIR SOUTHWEST AND COLD TEMPERATURES EAST. NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WITH SEVERAL PERTEBATIONS WILL RESULT IN SOME SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW DURING THE WEEK BUT NO SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SUNDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1226 PM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH TODAY. CIGS WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY TO MVFR LEVELS AT ALL MAJOR TERMINALS. STRONG WEST TO NORTHWESTELRY WINDS WILL DEVELOP FROM WEST TO EAST THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT...AND WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY. THESE WINDS WILL COMBINE WITH SNOW EARLY SUNDAY MORNING TO BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ THIS EVENING TO 6 AM CST /5 AM MST/ MONDAY FOR NDZ003-011-012-019>022-034-042-045. HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ SUNDAY FOR NDZ001- 002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. BLIZZARD WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY FOR NDZ004-005-013-023-025. HIGH WIND WARNING FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM CST MONDAY FOR NDZ035>037-046>048-050-051. && UPDATE...JJS SHORT TERM...KS LONG TERM...WAA AVIATION...JJS
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 930 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 NDZ004-005-013-023-025-071530- BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-PIERCE-WELLS-FOSTER- 930 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. NEAR ZERO VISIBILITIES CAN BE EXPECTED. SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A BLIZZARD WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-071530- DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY- BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS- 930 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 /830 AM MST SAT FEB 6 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY EVENING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ003-011-012-019>022-034-042-045-071530- RENVILLE-WARD-MCHENRY-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-MORTON-GRANT- SIOUX- 930 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 /830 AM MST SAT FEB 6 2016/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT SATURDAY EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES SATURDAY NIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ035>037-046>048-050-051-071530- BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 930 AM CST SAT FEB 6 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THE PROBABILITY FOR WIDESPREAD HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. SEE WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. AREAS OF BLOWING SNOW MAY REDUCE VISIBILITIES AT TIMES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
36 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Dickinson ASOS reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
Williston ASOS reported a sustained wind of 40 mph.
Wind Gusts are estimated for southern Hettinger County based on the Hettinger ASOS report in Adams County.
Crosby RAWS reported a wind gust of 63 mph.
Blaisdell NDDOT site reported a sustained wind of 40 mph.
New Town NDDOT site reported a wind gust of 59 mph.
Beach AWOS reported a wind gust of 58 mph.
Fryburg NDDOT site reported a sustained wind of 42 mph.
Sand Creek RAWS reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
Bowman NDDOT site reported a wind gust of 58 mph.
Sustained winds are estimated for southern Burke County based on the Blaisdell NDDOT site report in Mountrail County.
Wind gusts are estimated for southern Dunn County based on the Dickinson ASOS report in Stark County.
Hettinger ASOS reported a wind gust of 66 mph.
Minot ASOS reported a sustained wind of 44 mph.
Garrison ASOS reported a wind gust of 63 mph.
Hazen AWOS reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
Center CWOP reported a wind gust of 68 mph.
Denhoff NDDOT site reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
Glen Ullin AWOS reported a wind gust of 68 mph.
Tatanka Prairie RAWS reported a wind gust of 60 mph.
Sustained winds are estimated for southern Renville County based on the Minot ASOS report in Ward County.
Sustained winds are estimated for western McHenry County based on the Minot ASOS report in Ward County.
Wind gusts are estimated for southern Grant County based on the Tatanka Prairie RAWS in Sioux County.
Bismarck ASOS reported a wind gust of 62 mph.
Jamestown ASOS reported a wind gust of 58 mph.
Linton AWOS reported a sustained wind of 43 mph.
Oakes AWOS reported a sustained wind of 40 mph.
Wind gusts are estimated for eastern Kidder County based on the Jamestown ASOS report in Stutsman County.
Sustained winds are estimated for southern LaMoure County based on the Oakes AWOS report in Dickey County.
Wind gusts are estimated for northern Logan County based on the Jamestown ASOS report in Stutsman County.
Sustained winds are estimated for western McIntosh County based on the Linton AWOS report in Emmons County.
Harvey AWOS reported a sustained wind of 40 mph.
Rolla AWOS reported a sustained wind of 47 mph.
Sustained winds are estimated for eastern Bottineau County based on the Rolla AWOS report in Rolette County.
Sustained winds are estimated for southern Pierce County based on the Harvey AWOS report in Wells County.
Wind gusts are estimated for southern Foster County based on the Jamestown ASOS report in Stutsman County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 2016
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: 613767, 613774, 613776, 614030, 614040, 614052, 614083, 614085, 614263, 614264, 614506, 614519, 614520, 613773, 613775, 614060, 614065, 614066, 614086, 614265, 614508, 614511, 614521, 613766, 613770, 614267, 614268, 614522, 614523, 614524, 614525, 614031, 614514, 614516, 614517, 614518.