Ice Storm in North Dakota, December 25 to 27, 2023

Name: Ice Storm in North Dakota, December 25 to 27, 2023
Start: 2023-12-25T16:00
End: 2023-12-27T02:00
Location: North Dakota

December 25 to 27, 2023 · NWS BIS · 16 events in 16 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 13 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: $5.8 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 16

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 BIS wrote it up.

Strong low pressure meandered near the Minnesota-Iowa border while a deep upper low was slightly offset to the southwest. This resulted in a large area of precipitation developing to the north and west of the surface low. With warmer air aloft and temperatures at the surface just below freezing, freezing rain occurred through the James River Valley and back west into south central North Dakota. Initially, the freezing rain started during the late afternoon of December 25 over the far southern James River Valley, and gradually spread west-northwest through the evening and overnight as the surface low deepened and backed a bit to the west. The freezing rain continued through much of December 26, and even into the 27th over eastern areas. There were significant impacts to the power and transportation infrastructure due to the freezing rain. Over 1.5 inches of ice was noted on many power lines as far west as Burleigh County. The hardest hit areas were in the James River Valley where the heavier precipitation fell for a prolonged period of time. Multiple communities in Stutsman, LaMoure, and Logan counties were without power from December 26 through December 28, with two small communities without power until December 29. The longest reported rural residence outage was five days. Travel and walking outdoors were extremely dangerous. A portion of Interstate 94 was closed for a period of time due to the ice. Many rural electric cooperatives that were either not affected by the storm or had minimal impacts sent workers to the affected areas through mutual aid agreements to help restore power.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 ice storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Ice Storm, Dickey

When: December 25, 4:00 PM CST to December 26, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Dickey forecast zone
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.110, -98.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 400 utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. Power service was out over most of the county at some time during the storm. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, La Moure

When: December 25, 4:00 PM CST to December 26, 8:00 PM CST
Where: La Moure forecast zone
Property damage: $1.3 million
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.457, -98.535 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over 400 utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. At one point, 48% of services were without power. The community of Gackle was without power from early on December 26 until late evening of December 28, while Jud was without power until mid-day on December 29. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, McIntosh

When: December 25, 4:00 PM CST to December 26, 8:00 PM CST
Where: McIntosh forecast zone
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.112, -99.441 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Around 300 utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. Most power service was out throughout the county at some time during the storm. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, Stutsman

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Stutsman forecast zone
Property damage: $1.3 million
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.979, -98.959 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over 200 utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. At one point, approximately 9,500 customer services were without power, which was roughly 77% of all services in the county. Most of Jamestown was without power on December 26, while the communities of Cleveland, Eldridge, Medina, Streeter, Montpelier, and Winsor were without power from December 26-28. The small community of Millarton was without power until December 29. The longest rural residential outage lasted five days. Roads became nearly undrivable given the icy conditions, and Interstate 94 was closed for a period of time.

Ice Storm, Logan

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Logan forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. The American Red Cross and The Salvation Army deployed to Gackle to establish a shelter as the entire community was without power from early on December 26 until the late evening of December 28. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, Foster

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Foster forecast zone
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 47.457, -98.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. At one point, 48% of utility customers were without power. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, Wells

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Wells forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 47.588, -99.661 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Utility poles were broken and power lines were down, mainly over the southeastern part of the county. At one point, 12% of utility customers were without power. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions.

Ice Storm, Kidder

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Kidder forecast zone
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.980, -99.780 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Multiple utility poles were broken, along with multiple cross-members. Many miles of power lines throughout the county were down. Travel became nearly impossible given the icy conditions. Interstate 94 was closed for a period of time.

Ice Storm, Burleigh

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Burleigh forecast zone
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.977, -100.469 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some utility wires were down, mainly on the southeastern portion of the county, and a few poles were broken. Travel and walking outdoors became nearly impossible given the slippery conditions as ice accumulations of well over a quarter inch occurred.

Ice Storm, Emmons

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Emmons forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Utility Company
Coordinates: 46.285, -100.239 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Utility wires were down in some locations. Travel and walking outdoors became nearly impossible given the slippery conditions as ice accumulations of well over a quarter inch occurred.

Ice Storm, Sioux

When: December 26, 12:00 AM CST to December 27, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Sioux forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Utility Company

Utility wires were down in some locations. Travel and walking outdoors became nearly impossible given the slippery conditions as ice accumulations of well over a quarter inch occurred.