North Dakota, 2019

Heavy Snow in North Dakota, February 3 to 4, 2019

February 3 to 4, 2019 · NWS FGF · 15 events in 15 counties and zones

Heavy snow fell across portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota from Sunday, February 3rd, to Monday, February 4th. At the surface, an inverted trough extended back into northwest Minnesota, helping to enhance the snowfall in that area.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 15 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
15

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.

Heavy snow fell across portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota from Sunday, February 3rd, to Monday, February 4th. At the surface, an inverted trough extended back into northwest Minnesota, helping to enhance the snowfall in that area. The most snow, 8 to 10 inches, fell from Hallock to Thief River Falls to Crookston in Minnesota, and around Petersburg in North Dakota. Elsewhere, amounts generally ranged from 6 to 8 inches.

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 3, 11:38 AM CST, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 3, 11:38 AM CST, 22 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 3, 7:17 AM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
717 AM CST Sun Feb 3 2019

MNZ001>009-013>017-022-023-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-
054-041330-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-
West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-
East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-
Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-
Barnes-Cass-Western Walsh County-
717 AM CST Sun Feb 3 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Snow will spread from west to east this afternoon first across the
Devils Lake basin and into the northern valley. Another band of
snow will develop and lift north along the I-94 corridor into the
central valley this evening. Heavy snow and blowing snow with
accumulations of widespread 4 to 8 inches are expected by Monday
morning, with localized 10 inches possible along the international
border. Winds gusting 30 to 35mph may result in blowing snow and
reduced visibilities in open country this evening into the
overnight. Expect difficult travel conditions with slippery roads
and limited visibilities this afternoon into the evening and overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Snow and in the valley blowing snow will be ending in the morning
from west to east with visibilities improving. Storm total
snowfall from 4 to 8 inches with locally higher amounts especially
near the international border will create snow covered roads
Monday morning. Wind chills will be a concern as values will be
dangerously low for much of the week, in the -20 to -50F range
during the overnights and mornings through Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall reports are appreciated.

MNZ024-027>032-040-NDZ049-052-053-041330-
Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
717 AM CST Sun Feb 3 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Mixed precipitation is possible before precip turns to snow this
evening. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches and ice
accumulations of a light glaze expected. Locally higher snowfall
accumulations are possible if an intense snow band persists.
Additionally areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce
visibility as winds gust to 35mph. Expect slippery roads and
limited visibilities this evening and into the overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Snow and in the valley blowing snow will be ending in the morning
from west to east with visibilities improving. Storm total
snowfall from 2 to 4 inches with higher amounts possible if
banding occurs. Wind chills will be a concern as values will be
dangerously low for much of the week, in the -20 to -50F range
during the overnights and mornings through Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Snowfall reports are appreciated.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Towner

When
February 3, 12:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Towner forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cavalier

When
February 3, 12:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Benson

When
February 3, 12:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Benson forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.069, -99.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Ramsey

When
February 3, 12:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Ramsey forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.269, -98.720 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eddy

When
February 3, 12:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Eddy forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Pembina

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Pembina forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Western Walsh

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Western Walsh forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Eastern Walsh

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Eastern Walsh forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
48.370, -97.721 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Nelson

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Nelson forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.922, -98.192 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Grand Forks

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Griggs

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Griggs forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.457, -98.237 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Steele

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Steele forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.456, -97.725 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Traill

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Barnes

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Barnes forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Snow, Cass

When
February 3, 6:00 PM CST to February 4, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow
Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 796750, 796751, 796752, 796753, 796754, 796763, 796764, 796765, 796766, 796767, 796768, 796769, 796770, 796771, 796772.