A deep low pressure system moved through the Northern Plains which pulled cold air into the Dakotas. Some light freezing rain developed early in the day on December 4 over the James River Valley, with a transition to snow around mid-day.
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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 BIS wrote it up.
A deep low pressure system moved through the Northern Plains which pulled cold air into the Dakotas. Some light freezing rain developed early in the day on December 4 over the James River Valley, with a transition to snow around mid-day. This combined with winds gusting as high as 55 mph to produce a blizzard.
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 Dec 4, 11:51 AM CST, 1 hour 9 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1151 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 .UPDATE... Issued at 1103 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 Snow and blowing snow have diminished over southwestern North Dakota, but gusty winds will continue through the afternoon so have converted that area from a winter weather advisory to a wind advisory. Have also slowed down the ending of the snow on the back side of this system a bit in line with latest high-res guidance. Updates have been sent. UPDATE Issued at 758 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 Have sent out a quick update to increase chances for freezing rain over the lower James River Valley. Have received reports of slick roads over Dickey County, and KABR radar is showing some enhanced reflectivity stretching over Dickey and LaMoure Counties. UPDATE Issued at 641 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 Starting to get some freezing rain at Jamestown and have added a period of freezing rain in the James River Valley this morning. Not getting as much blowing snow northwest and winds not quite as strong there so reduced the blowing snow northwest. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 319 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 As the main low/trough shifts through southern ND and northern SD today, large scale ascent will increase and eventually overlap a strengthening low level frontogenesis field mainly across the James River Valley. Winds will increase to around 35 mph gusting to around 50 mph by this afternoon. These winds in combination with the falling/accumulating snow will likely lead to reduced visibility and hazardous travel. Generally, around an inch is expected across central North Dakota and between two and three inches across the James Valley. While the latest forecast soundings are not as impressive (drier air moving in and less significant lapse rates) with the lake effect snow forecast for today, there still appears to be favorable conditions later tonight and therefore maintained precip chances in the forecast along and downwind of the lake. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 319 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 Near daily clippers are forecast this week. Brisk winds and a chance of snow can be expected with each clipper. However, moisture will be limited and therefore only minor snowfall accumulations are anticipated. High temperatures will mostly be in the 20s Tuesday and Wednesday. The typical colder spots around the Turtle Mountains will be in the upper teens, while the warmer locations in southwest ND will see highs around 30F. But with the brisk northwest winds, windchill temperatures will mostly be in the single digits to lower teens. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 1149 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 MVFR conditions are KBIS are expected to improve around 19/20Z though MVFR ceilings with visibilities of 1/2SM at KJMS are expected through 00Z. Also around 00Z light snow is forecast to move southeastward into western areas of the state. MVFR/IFR ceilings may impact KISN/KDIK; areas with snow may have reduced visibilities. Gusty NW winds will persist through the 18Z TAF period. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for NDZ020-022-023-025-034>037-042-045>047-050. Wind Advisory until 5 PM MST this afternoon for NDZ040-041-043- 044. Blizzard Warning until 8 PM CST this evening for NDZ048-051. && UPDATE...JJS SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...AC
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1257 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 NDZ048-051-051900- La Moure-Dickey- 1257 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Winds gusting to 55 mph will combine with snow resulting in blizzard conditions. A blizzard warning has been issued for this afternoon through mid-evening Monday. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ022-023-025-035>037-045>047-050-051900- Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Sioux-Emmons-Logan- McIntosh- 1257 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 /1157 AM MST Mon Dec 4 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Winds gusting to 50 mph will combine with falling snow and snow on the ground to result in poor visibilities. A winter weather advisory has been issued. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ001>005-009>013-017>019-021-031>033-051900- Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-Mountrail-Ward- McHenry-Pierce-McKenzie-Dunn-Mercer-McLean-Golden Valley-Billings- Stark- 1257 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 /1157 AM MST Mon Dec 4 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ020-034-040>044-051900- Oliver-Morton-Slope-Hettinger-Grant-Bowman-Adams- 1257 PM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 /1157 AM MST Mon Dec 4 2017/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Northwest winds will gust to around 50 mph today. A wind advisory has been issued. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Bismarck ND 752 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 NDZ025-037-047-048-050-051-041600- Foster-Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- Including the cities of Carrington, Jamestown, Napoleon, Gackle, Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm, Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, and Ellendale 752 AM CST Mon Dec 4 2017 ...PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN POSSIBLE THIS MORNING OVER PORTIONS OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY... Periods of freezing rain will continue across portions of the James River Valley early this morning before the precipitation changes over to all snow later this morning and afternoon. This will make travel hazardous along portions of Interstate 94 and Highways 52 and 281 in the Jamestown, Edgeley, and Ellendale areas. Be prepared for slippery conditions and increased stopping distances.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Ongoing snow and strong northwest winds combined to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing snow and strong northwest winds combined to produce a blizzard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2017Every state in 2017This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, December 2017
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: 723941, 723943.