A low pressure system tracking through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest led to snow developing over much of eastern and central North Dakota. Strong winds then developed and combined with the new snow to result in a blizzard over the north central and into the James River Valley.
Every event with a place to put it; 10 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.
A low pressure system tracking through the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest led to snow developing over much of eastern and central North Dakota. Strong winds then developed and combined with the new snow to result in a blizzard over the north central and into the James River Valley.
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 Jan 17, 10:48 PM CST, 12 minutes earlier.
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</html>The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
Ongoing and previously fallen snow combined with strong winds to produce a blizzard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, January 2020
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: 868565, 868566, 868567, 868568, 868569, 868570, 868571, 868572, 868573, 868574.