A tight pressure gradient formed over the region as a surface low gradually passed to the north. A cold front pushing through the area resulted in some light showers developing which enhanced the mixing of stronger winds aloft to the surface.
Every event with a place to put it; 5 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 tight pressure gradient formed over the region as a surface low gradually passed to the north. A cold front pushing through the area resulted in some light showers developing which enhanced the mixing of stronger winds aloft to the surface. This led to some strong wind gusts developing. The strongest wind gust was 69 mph which occurred in Adams County at the Hettinger Airport.
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 22, 9:50 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 950 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 .UPDATE... Issued at 950 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 A weak cold front has started to push across the state from north to south this morning. As a result a few rain and snow showers have developed across northern portions and are quickly moving east southeast. Expect these showers to make their way across central and eastern portions of the CWA through the early afternoon hours. The added cloud cover from this wave has delayed mixing and strong winds for the time being. Still feel after the front moves through this morning winds should mix out to at least advisory levels this afternoon. Will maintain the current Wind Advisory for the time being. Temperatures today are still on track for widespread 40s and perhaps some 50s in the southwest. UPDATE Issued at 642 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 For early morning update only change needed was to clear out cloud cover a bit in parts of the southwest. Remainder of forecast remains in good shape. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 417 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 Current surface analysis places low along the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border with high over the Great Basin into the Four Corners region. Upper level analysis places trough through the midwest with ridge over the Pacific coast. Multiple weak shortwaves noted in the flow. Over our little neck of the woods, a rather quiet morning continues with some higher clouds passing by and a west to southwest wind that is a bit gusty at times. For today, the main concern will be wind. Relatively tight pressure gradient remains over the region today. Main concern will come later this morning into this afternoon where models have been quite consistent with mixing down 40-50kt winds over much of western and central North Dakota. The exact timing of this remains a bit shaky as timing of the cloud cover breaking up will have an effect on the mixing. With that said, have expanded the advisory to cover almost all of western and central North Dakota. Along with the elevated winds, RAP/HRRR have shown relative humidity values dipping into the 30s more or less along and southwest of the Missouri River, which will combine with the wind to result in near critical fire weather conditions. With that all said, the only thing left is one of the aforementioned short waves zipping through the are this morning through mid day, that may bring a little rain or snow. This should be to the east by mid-afternoon with clearing in its wake. Tonight, skies start out mostly clear with quiet conditions while a stout short wave busts through the west coast ridge and works its way over the Rockies with a surface low spinning up to the lee of the Canadian Rockies. This will result in precipiation chances after midnight over western locations. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 417 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 On Tuesday, aforementioned wave continues its eastward progression, while surface low drops through North Dakota dragging a cold front through. Models have come into a rather good agreement with spreading precipitation over our area, mainly north of Interstate 94. With the anticipated snow combined with the cold air advection behind the progressing front, have dropped high temperatures down some, mainly where the greatest precipitation chances are. Current forecast places the greatest snow amounts of around two to three inches more or less along and north of Highway 52 and south of Highway 5. This system still has a ways to go, so the placement and snow amounts are still subject to change. Further south in warmer air a rain/snow mix is anticipated. Temperatures look to be on a warming trend as we head towards the end of the work week, but each day looks to be breezy. A cold front drops through on Friday which will bring in colder temperatures for the weekend. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Tuesday morning) Issued at 642 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 Low level wind shear expected at most locations early this morning. Winds gusting around 45kts then possible late this morning through this afternoon, decreasing this evening. VFR conditions expected today with a few rain or snow showers possible. Ceilings will start dropping to MVFR levels from west to east late tonight, with snow possible over the far west. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ this evening for NDZ001>004-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051. && UPDATE...Anglin SHORT TERM...JJS LONG TERM...JJS AVIATION...JJS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 943 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 NDZ001-009-010-017>021-031>035-040>046-231545- Divide-Williams-Mountrail-McKenzie-Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-McLean- Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Morton-Burleigh-Slope-Hettinger- Grant-Bowman-Adams-Sioux-Emmons- 943 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 /843 AM MST Mon Feb 22 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A wind advisory is in effect today. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. The gusty winds will combine with low relative humidity values to produce near critical fire weather conditions. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage. NDZ002>004-011>013-022-023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051-231545- Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Ward-McHenry-Pierce-Sheridan-Wells- Foster-Kidder-Stutsman-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 943 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A wind advisory is in effect today. 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... Spotters are encouraged to report any wind damage. NDZ005-231545- Rolette- 943 AM CST Mon Feb 22 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today 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.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hettinger ASOS reported wind gusts to 69 mph.
Beach AWOS reported wind gusts to 64 mph.
Dickinson ASOS reported wind gusts to 62 mph.
Sand Creek RAWS reported wind gusts to 59 mph.
Long Lake RAWS reported wind gusts to 61 mph.
Garrison ASOS reported wind gusts to 58 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 2021
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: 945237, 945238, 945245, 945253, 945257, 945258.