Extreme Cold in Minnesota, February 7 to 8, 2019

Name: Extreme Cold in Minnesota, February 7 to 8, 2019
Start: 2019-02-07T21:00
End: 2019-02-08T12:00
Location: Minnesota

February 7 to 8, 2019 · NWS FGF · 24 events in 24 counties and zones

Surface high pressure built into western North Dakota during the early morning hours of February 8th. Steady northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph combined with temperatures mainly in the 20s below zero to produce wind chills of 40 below to 60 below zero.

Where it happened

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.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 24

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FGF wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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 Feb 7, 7:06 PM CST, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 7, 7:06 PM CST, 1 hour 54 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
706 PM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

.UPDATE...
Issued at 659 PM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

Radar indicated light snow between FAR and GFK and into west central
MN. The snow was moving to the southeast about 15 knots. Tweaked
temps, dewpoints and winds for tonight. Lowest visibilities remain
between FAR and GFK. No other update at this time. Blizzard warning
remains in effect.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday)
Issued at 307 PM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

Through the afternoon, valley winds have maintained sustained values
in the upper 20s mph with gusts into the 30s and 40s and
widespread valley visibility of a quarter mile or less. As the
departing system builds into the Great Lakes region and surface
high pressure builds into the Dakotas tonight, winds will
gradually weaken. Winds falling under 20 kts by later evening are
expected to lessen coverage of blowing snow, considerably
improving visibility. There may still be patchy blowing snow
lingering overnight but think timing is still on track so will
transition from current snow/blowing snow headlines to wind
chills at 9 PM.

As winds decrease tonight, clouds will lift and begin to scatter out
and colder air builds back into the region. Issuing a Wind Chill
Warning for widespread dangerous -40 to -50F wind chills developing
tonight and into early Friday. With winds weakening and temperatures
rising back into the upper teens and single digits below during the
day Friday, wind chills are expected to remain in wind chill
advisory criteria through the entire day Friday and that night.
Suspect there will need to be a transition from Wind Chill Warning
to Advisory later in Friday morning but will leave that to
subsequent shifts.

.LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 307 PM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

Dangerous wind chills are the main focus each night and morning
from Friday night through the weekend, with wind chills dropping
into the 20 to 40 below range each night.

Models in general agreement this run and will opt for a blended soln
at this time. Sfc high pressure is expected to retreat into the
Great Lakes to start the period.  Return flow will help prop up
temperatures for Saturday and Sunday...although values will still
remain below normal. Monday will remain tranquil with below normal
temperatures.

By Tuesday...another wave is forecast to develop over the central
Plains...with an inverted trof extending back into Minnesota and the
Dakotas. Abundant moisture ahead of the system will help produce
measurable precipitation...although amounts are uncertain for now
and will continue to monitor as the event gets closer. As the system
departs early Wednesday...will see another brief drop in
temperatures...and quieter weather to end the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening)
Issued at 659 PM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

IFR conditions were down the Red River proper and extended into
southeast ND. MVFR conditions were across the rest of northwest MN
and VFR conditions were across the Devils Lake basin. Clearing over
the Devils Lake basin will slowly move east and the IFR area will
slowly shift south overnight. Expect VFR conditions for Fri for much
of the area.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Friday for NDZ006>008-014>016-
     024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054.

     Blizzard Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for NDZ008-016-027-
     029-030-038-039-049-052-053.

     Wind Chill Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for NDZ006-007-
     014-015-024.

     Winter Weather Advisory until 9 PM CST this evening for NDZ026-
     028-054.

MN...Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Friday for MNZ001>009-013>017-
     022>024-027>032-040.

     Blizzard Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for MNZ001>004-007-
     029-030-040.

     Winter Storm Warning until 9 PM CST this evening for MNZ005-006-
     008-009-013>017-022>024-027-028-031-032.

&&

UPDATE...JH
SHORT TERM...BP
LONG TERM...Hopkins
AVIATION...JH

Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 7, 9:44 AM CST, 11 hours 16 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
944 AM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

MNZ001>004-007-029-030-040-NDZ008-016-027-029-030-038-039-049-052-
053-081545-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-West Marshall-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-Grant-Pembina-Eastern Walsh County-Grand Forks-
Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
944 AM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Blizzard conditions will continue through this evening. White out
conditions due to widespread blowing snow will cause difficult to
impossible travel conditions. Additional snowfall of 1 to 3
inches is expected through this afternoon. Dangerous wind chill
values of 30 to 50 below zero are expected today and tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Dangerous wind chill values 20 to 40 below zero are expected
Friday through Saturday morning and again Sunday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow and visibility reports are appreciated.

NDZ006-007-014-015-024-026-028-054-081545-
Towner-Cavalier-Benson-Ramsey-Eddy-Nelson-Griggs-
Western Walsh County-
944 AM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Additional snowfall amounts up to one inch are expected today.
Through this evening, blowing snow could reduce visibility to a
half mile at times. Dangerous wind chill values of 30 to 50 below
zero are expected today and tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Dangerous wind chill values 20 to 40 below zero are expected
Friday through Saturday morning and again Sunday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow and visibility reports are appreciated.

MNZ005-006-008-009-013>017-022>024-027-028-031-032-081545-
Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-
Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-East Otter Tail-
Wadena-
944 AM CST Thu Feb 7 2019

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central
and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Additional snowfall amounts 2 to 4 inches are expected today.
Through this evening, blowing snow could reduce visibility to a
half mile at times. Dangerous wind chill values of 30 to 45 below
zero are expected today and tonight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Dangerous wind chill values 20 to 40 below zero are expected
Friday through Saturday morning and again Sunday morning.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snow and visibility reports are appreciated.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:26 PM CST, 4 hours 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
426 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1135 AM     BLIZZARD         1 SW CAVALIER           48.79N 97.64W
02/07/2019                   Pembina            ND   AWOS

            VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AND WINDS
            GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH REPORTED AT THE CAVALIER
            AIRPORT AWOS /K2C8/.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:29 PM CST, 4 hours 31 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
429 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1235 PM     BLIZZARD         2 ESE GRAFTON           48.40N 97.36W
02/07/2019                   Walsh              ND   AWOS

            VISIBILITIES FREQUENTY BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE WITH WINDS
            GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH REPORTED AT THE GRAFTON
            AIRPORT /KGAF/.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:33 PM CST, 4 hours 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
433 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1016 AM     BLIZZARD         MALLORY                 47.88N 96.91W
02/07/2019                   Polk               MN   MESONET

            VISIBILITY FREQUENTLY BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE WITH WINDS
            GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH REPORTED BY THE MNDOT RWIS
            STATION ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 2.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:39 PM CST, 4 hours 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
439 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1131 AM     BLIZZARD         HILLSBORO               47.40N 97.06W
02/07/2019                   TRAILL             ND   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            THE STRETCH OF INTERSTATE 29 WAS CLOSED FROM GRAND FORKS
            THROUGH HILLSBORO TO FARGO ND DUE TO PERSISTENT WHIT-OUT
            CONDITIONS.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:43 PM CST, 4 hours 17 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
443 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1120 AM     BLIZZARD         2 WSW DONALDSON         48.56N 96.94W
02/07/2019                   Kittson            MN   MESONET

            VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE WITH WINDS
            GUSTING IN EXCESS OF 35 MPH REPORTED BY THE MNDOT RWIS
            STATION ALONG HWY 11 NEAR MILE POST 11.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Feb 7, 4:46 PM CST, 4 hours 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
446 PM CST THU FEB 7 2019

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0935 AM     BLIZZARD         7 WNW GRAND FORKS       47.96N 97.21W
02/07/2019                   Grand Forks        ND   ASOS

            VISIBILITIES FRWEQUENTLY BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE WITH
            WINDS GUSTING TO 40 MPH OR GREATER AT THE GRAND FORKS
            AIRPORT/KGFK/ AND THE NEARBY GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE
            /KRDR/.

&&

GGUST

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 extreme cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Clay

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.892, -96.491 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, East Becker

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: East Becker forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, East Marshall

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: East Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, East Otter Tail

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: East Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, East Polk

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: East Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Grant

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.934, -96.012 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Hubbard

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Hubbard forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.109, -94.917 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Kittson

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Kittson forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.777, -96.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Lake of the Woods

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Mahnomen

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Mahnomen forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.325, -95.809 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Norman

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Norman forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.327, -96.455 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, North Beltrami

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: North Beltrami forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, North Clearwater

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: North Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Pennington

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Pennington forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.066, -96.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Red Lake

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Red Lake forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.872, -96.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Roseau

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Roseau forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.775, -95.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, South Beltrami

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: South Beltrami forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, South Clearwater

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: South Clearwater forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.578, -95.379 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wadena

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wadena forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.586, -94.969 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, West Becker

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: West Becker forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.935, -95.674 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, West Marshall

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: West Marshall forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, West Otter Tail

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: West Otter Tail forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.409, -95.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, West Polk

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: West Polk forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Wilkin

When: February 7, 9:00 PM CST to February 8, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Wilkin forecast zone
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.357, -96.468 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill: Temperatures or wind chills at or below the local warning criteria, or cold that caused deaths.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, February 2019

Sources

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: 796585, 796586, 796587, 796588, 796589, 796590, 796591, 796592, 796593, 796594, 796595, 796596, 796597, 796598, 796599, 796600, 796601, 796602, 796603, 796604, 796605, 796606, 796607, 796608.