North Dakota, 2023

Blizzard and High Wind in North Dakota, February 14 to 15, 2023

February 14 to 15, 2023 · NWS FGF · 17 events in 9 counties and zones

Blizzard conditions occurred in the southern Red River Valley in North Dakota from February 14th through the 15th, 2023.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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
17

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.

Blizzard conditions occurred in the southern Red River Valley in North Dakota from February 14th through the 15th, 2023.

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 14, 2:32 PM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 14, 2:32 PM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Feb 14, 5:58 AM CST, 11 hours 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
558 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-151200-
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-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier-
Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-
Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
Western Walsh-
558 AM CST Tue Feb 14 2023

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Refer to the latest warnings and advisories for the latest
information.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Refer to the latest warnings and advisories for the latest
information.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Reports of snow, ice, visibility, and poor road conditions will
be appreciated.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 blizzard, 7 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Cavalier

When
February 14, 5:15 PM CST to February 15, 12:35 AM CST
Where
Cavalier forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Blizzard conditions at KD55 AWOS, with vsby 0.25 mile and sustained winds 35 mph and gusts 45-50 mph from 515 pm Tuesday to 1235 am Wednesday.

Blizzard, Towner

When
February 14, 5:35 PM CST to 9:15 PM CST
Where
Towner forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
48.686, -99.246 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

K9D7 AWOS blizzard 535 pm to 915 pm. Sustained winds 35-40 mph and gusts 50 mph.

Blizzard, Sargent

When
February 14, 6:15 PM CST to 9:15 PM CST
Where
Sargent forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Gwinner AWOS reporting frequent gusts over 35 mph and 0.25 SM or less visibility since 6:15 pm.

Blizzard, Traill

When
February 14, 6:25 PM CST to 9:25 PM CST
Where
Traill forecast zone
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Video from a basketball coach stuck in Hillsboro in ongoing blizzard conditions.

Blizzard, Pembina

When
February 14, 7:15 PM CST to 11:55 PM CST
Where
Pembina forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

K2C8 AWOS blizzard started 715 pm and lasted until 1155 pm with vsby 0.25 mile and sustained winds 35 mph and gusts 45- 50 mph.

Blizzard, Ransom

When
February 14, 7:15 PM CST to February 15, 5:15 AM CST
Where
Ransom forecast zone
Reported by
COOP Observer
Coordinates
46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

CO-OP observer reported blizzard occurred Tuesday night in his wed am report. Nearby weather stations all report sustained winds 35-40 and wind gusts in the 45-57 mph range from approximately 7 pm Tuesday to 5 am Wednesday.

High Wind, Grand Forks

When
February 14, 7:19 PM CST to 7:24 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Grand Forks Airport ASOS reports 66 mph gust.

Blizzard, Sargent

When
February 14, 7:55 PM CST to February 15, 4:15 AM CST
Where
Sargent forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KGWR AWOS blizzard conditions 755 pm Tue to 415 am Wed (and ongoing at time of report). sustained winds 35-40 mph and gusts 45-55 mph.

Blizzard, Cass

When
February 14, 8:25 PM CST to 11:25 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fargo ASOS reporting frequent gusts over 35 mph and 0.25 SM or less visibility since 8:25 pm. Blizzard ongoing.

High Wind, Cass

When
February 14, 8:32 PM CST to 8:37 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fargo Airport ASOS reports 58 mph gust.

High Wind, Cass

When
February 14, 9:22 PM CST to February 15, 12:22 AM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Measured
57 kt (66 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Fargo Airport ASOS reports a 66 mph wind gust.

Blizzard, Richland

When
February 14, 10:15 PM CST to February 15, 2:04 AM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trained Spotter reports blizzard ongoing, began at 10:15 pm.

Blizzard, Richland

When
February 14, 10:15 PM CST to February 15, 3:35 AM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KBWP AWOS blizzard 1015 pm Tuesday to 335 am Wednesday. Sustained winds 35-40 mph and gusts 45-55 mph.

High Wind, Cass

When
February 14, 10:55 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Measured
54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Prospect NDAWN reports a 62 mph 10 meter wind gust. Time estimated.

High Wind, Grand Forks

When
February 14, 10:55 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks forecast zone
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Emerado NDAWN reports a 60 mph 10 meter wind gust. Time estimated.

High Wind, Richland

When
February 14, 11:55 PM CST to February 15, 12:00 AM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Mooreton NDAWN reports a 59 mph 10 meter wind gust. Time estimated.

High Wind, Richland

When
February 15, 4:10 AM CST to 4:15 AM CST
Where
Richland forecast zone
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
AWOS
Coordinates
46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

KBWP Wahpeton AWOS reports a 58 mph wind gust.

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, February 2023

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1083150, 1083152, 1083122, 1083155, 1083151, 1083156, 1083129, 1083154, 1083123, 1083121, 1083135, 1083132, 1083153, 1083138, 1083143, 1083142, 1083148.