Short-wave upper level troughs lifted into the region resulting in heavy snow developing over southern North Dakota. The snow was the heaviest during the late night hours of February 20 into the early morning hours of February 21.
Every event with a place to put it; 16 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.
Short-wave upper level troughs lifted into the region resulting in heavy snow developing over southern North Dakota. The snow was the heaviest during the late night hours of February 20 into the early morning hours of February 21. Light snow then continued over many locations during the day into the evening, but northerly winds increased, especially during the overnight hours. This led to blizzard conditions developing over the James River Valley. The most snow was eleven inches in the Fort Yates area of Sioux County, with around ten inches reported in both Adams and McIntosh counties.
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 20, 3:54 PM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 354 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday night) Issued at 353 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 A Winter Storm will impact southern North Dakota this evening through Monday night. A prolonged period of dangerously cold wind chills will also begin on Monday. An upper trough landing on the Pacific Northwest coast this afternoon will deepen over the Northern Rockies through Monday. A continuous stream of cyclonic shear vorticity will eject from the main trough during this time period, overlaying a low level baroclinic zone. Currently, light snow across western North Dakota is mostly be maintained by ascent along isentropic surfaces. Chances for snow along and north of Highway 2 will gradually wane this evening. A variety of forcing mechanisms, both synoptic and mesoscale, are forecast to materialize across the southern half of the state tonight, including Q-vector convergence, differential advection of the aforementioned cyclonic vorticity, isentropic ascent, and strong low to mid level frontogenesis. The synoptic scale forcing alone appears sufficient to produce advisory to near warning criteria snow amounts generally along and south of Highway 200. The mid level frontogenesis is forecast to be coupled with near- zero to negative EPV and steep mid level lapse rates, setting the stage for a mesoscale banding event within the broader synoptic scale snowfall. Applying probabilistic thinking to deterministic guidance, the most likely location for banding is along to just north of the South Dakota border, but south of Interstate 94. This thinking is confirmed by high-resolution ensemble guidance designed to identify banding potential. Additionally, despite another slight shift to the north of the highest QPF axis in the 12 UTC suite of ensembles, a dry northeasterly flow at the surface usually keeps the heaviest snow on the southern half of ensemble consensus. Snow amounts within the narrow band of heavier snow should easily exceed 6 inches, and may approach a foot. It should be noted though that these highest amounts will likely occur in a much more narrow corridor than our most-likely forecast depicts, which is limited to some extend by ensemble average. Accumulating snow will commence over southwest North Dakota early this evening and rapidly spread east by the overnight hours. The timing of the heaviest snow potential is from mid evening through early Monday morning. Lighter snow may continue through the day Monday before dissipating Monday evening. Another hazard that needs to be considered is blowing snow. Northeast winds are expected to remain sustained around 15 to 25 mph through the duration of the event with forecast peak gusts around 30 to 40 mph. The strongest winds are expected east of the Missouri River. Blowing snow guidance suggests that these wind speeds combined with falling snow and temperatures ranging from zero to 10 below should produce near blizzard conditions. However, the guidance is very sensitive at these temperatures and sustained speeds. A few degrees and/or mph in either direction could be the difference between widespread blizzard conditions and no blizzard conditions. The timing of the greatest blowing snow impacts appear to be Monday morning and afternoon, but could last beyond the falling snow through Monday night in the southern James River Valley and adjacent areas to the west. We gave strong consideration to a Blizzard Warning from Steele to Jamestown and points south. But given the uncertainties regarding the sensitivity of the blowing snow guidance, we opted for a Winter Storm Warning for these areas. Counties south of I-94 carry high confidence that warning criteria snowfall will be achieved, at least in parts of those counties. Most likely snow amounts are more advisory-level for Kidder and Stutsman Counties, but we feel that the combined impacts from falling and blowing snow support a warning. A similar approach was applied to Burleigh and Morton Counties, who are also now under a Winter Storm Warning. It should be emphasized though that our confidence in warning impacts is far greater in rural parts of those counties than urban. The Bismarck- Mandan area could see a noticeably lower level of impacts compared to immediately surrounding areas. The Winter Storm Warning also extends west to the Montana border, but remains south of I-94. A buffer Winter Weather Advisory has also been issued for counties generally along the Highway 200 corridor across central North Dakota. The main hazards within the advisory area will range from accumulating snow west to a combination of accumulating and blowing snow east. Lastly, bitterly cold Arctic air will continue to infiltrate the region tonight through Monday. NBM low temperature guidance tonight ranges from around 5 below south to 15 below north, and daytime highs on Monday are only expected to be around 5 degrees warmer. Dangerous wind chills will commence across northern North Dakota this evening. By Monday night, most of northern and central North Dakota are forecast to be experiencing wind chills in the 35 to 45 below range. For counties across northern North Dakota that are not currently under headlines for falling or blowing snow, Wind Chills Warnings and Advisories have been started tonight, lasting all the way through Wednesday morning. Southward expansion of wind chill headlines will be made at the conclusion of the falling and blowing snow hazards. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday night through Sunday) Issued at 353 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 Bitterly cold Arctic air will remain entrenched over the region through at least the middle of the week, when the center of the synoptic scale surface high is forecast to migrate over the Dakotas. Small NBM temperature spread through Wednesday night suggests high confidence in daytime maximum temperatures in the single digits below zero, and overnight lows in the teens and 20s below. A small reprieve from hazardous wind chills is possible Wednesday afternoon, but concerns for overnight and morning hours could persist all the way through Friday. Wind Chill headline thinking and issuance was discussed in the short term section above. A very slow warmup could commence by the end of the week, but ensemble spread greatly increases over this time period, and below normal temperatures remain favored. Beyond the current storm system, there is little to no chance of additional snow the rest of the week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Monday afternoon) Issued at 1227 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 Light snow with MVFR ceilings and MVFR/IFR visibility will continue across western North Dakota this afternoon. Heavy snow will then develop across southern North Dakota this evening into tonight, and continue through the forecast period. Expect MVFR ceilings and IFR to LIFR visibility at KDIK, KBIS, and KJMS. KXWA could return to VFR conditions later tonight. KMOT could see a period of MVFR ceilings and light snow later this afternoon and evening, with VFR conditions expected otherwise. Winds will remain northeasterly around 15 kts through the forecast period, becoming gusty at times. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ Monday for NDZ018>021-031>033. Winter Storm Warning until 6 PM CST /5 PM MST/ Monday for NDZ034- 040>045. Wind Chill Advisory from midnight CST /11 PM MST/ tonight to noon CST /11 AM MST/ Wednesday for NDZ017. Wind Chill Warning until noon CST Wednesday for NDZ001>005- 009>013. Winter Storm Warning from 9 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Tuesday for NDZ036-037-047-048-050-051. Winter Storm Warning until 6 AM CST Tuesday for NDZ035-046. Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM this evening to 6 PM CST Monday for NDZ022-023-025. && SHORT TERM...Hollan LONG TERM...Hollan AVIATION...Hollan
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 259 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 NDZ034>037-040>048-050-051-212100- Morton-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Slope-Hettinger-Grant-Bowman- Adams-Sioux-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 259 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 /159 PM MST Sun Feb 20 2022/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota, southeast North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Winter Storm Warning is in effect tonight. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A Winter Storm Warning is in effect through Monday. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. Dangerously cold wind chills are likely through Wednesday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snow amounts to the National Weather Service via social media or by calling 1-800-247-0212. NDZ018>023-025-031>033-212100- Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Golden Valley- Billings-Stark- 259 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 /159 PM MST Sun Feb 20 2022/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota, southeast North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect tonight. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through Monday. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. Dangerously cold wind chills are likely through Wednesday morning. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report snow amounts to the National Weather Service via social media or by calling 1-800-247-0212. NDZ001>005-009>013-212100- Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-Mountrail-Ward- McHenry-Pierce- 259 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota and northwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Wind Chill Warning is in effect tonight. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A Wind Chill Warning is in effect through Wednesday morning. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ017-212100- McKenzie- 259 PM CST Sun Feb 20 2022 /159 PM MST Sun Feb 20 2022/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect tonight. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect through Wednesday morning. See www.weather.gov/bis for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. Hollan
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
14 heavy snow, 4 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Locations northeast of Lemmon, SD received ten inches of snow.
Fort Yates received eleven inches of snow.
Elgin received six inches of snow.
Eastern Bowman County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southeast Slope County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southern Hettinger County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southern Morton County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Ellendale received eight inches of snow.
Locations near Hazelton received six inches of snow.
Ashley received ten inches of snow.
Southern Burleigh County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southern Kidder County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southern Logan County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Southern LaMoure County received an estimated six inches of snow.
Strong northerly winds combined with fresh snow on the ground to produce a blizzard.
Strong northerly winds combined with fresh snow on the ground to produce a blizzard.
Strong northerly winds combined with fresh snow on the ground to produce a blizzard.
Strong northerly winds combined with fresh snow on the ground to produce a blizzard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 2022
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: 1010342, 1010343, 1010685, 1010710, 1010711, 1010712, 1010713, 1010352, 1010687, 1010691, 1010723, 1010724, 1010726, 1010727, 1010751, 1010755, 1010756, 1010758.