A very strong Alberta Clipper moved through Western and Central North Dakota, producing very strong winds and blizzard conditions. The surface low with this system rapidly deepened as it approached the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan, maintaining is strength as it tracked towards northern Minnesota.
Every event with a place to put it; 41 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 very strong Alberta Clipper moved through Western and Central North Dakota, producing very strong winds and blizzard conditions. The surface low with this system rapidly deepened as it approached the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan, maintaining is strength as it tracked towards northern Minnesota. This resulted in a very tight surface pressure gradient over Montana into the Dakotas. Southerly winds were on the increase before the approach of the system's cold front, with winds increasing rapidly behind the cold front with strong cold air advection. Although the strongest winds with this storm of around 100 mph were found to the east of the Black Hills of South Dakota, winds around 70 to 90 mph occurred over much of southwest North Dakota, with winds over 60 mph over most of northwest and central North Dakota. The strongest reported wind gust was 91 mph at Amidon in Slope County. In addition, snow developed with this system which combined with the strong winds to produce blizzard conditions over western and north central North Dakota, stretching into the upper 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 Dec 17, 3:14 PM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 314 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Damaging westerly winds will be found tonight through Thursday. Most of North Dakota will see wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph, with far southwestern portions of North Dakota expected to see wind gusts of 80 to 90 mph with some locally higher gusts possible. - Snow fall tonight through Thursday morning will generally range from 1 to 4 inches across western and central North Dakota. Blizzard conditions are expected across the north and east. - Areas not in a Blizzard Warning, could still see near blizzard conditions in falling snow. Snow squalls are also possible in these same areas later this evening into the early overnight hours. - Dangerous wind chills will be found in the north Thursday morning. - Warming temperatures, breezy winds, patchy blowing snow, and low to medium chances (20 to 60%) for a wintry mix will be found on Friday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 314 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 A strong and elongated surface low currently on the border of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan is hovering around 974 mb. Ahead of this low is a weak warm front bringing some weak returns on the radar, although dry air is limited the rain that is reaching the surface. Regardless this chance of rain will push eastward the rest of this afternoon into the early evening. Behind these rain showers, strong westerly winds will start to increase. Although the strongest winds sill remain in Montana, this initial push of wind could still approach High Wind Warning Criteria. Thus left the High Wind Warning as is for start times. After sunset until around midnight, there could be a brief period of dry conditions while we wait for the cold front to push through. By mid to late evening an initial front moves through. Along this will be chances for light snow, and snow squalls. The snow squall parameter remains high and generally south and west of the Missouri River. Those traveling in these areas tonight will need to stay alert for snow squalls, which can bring brief blizzard conditions with little notice. From around 9 pm to 3 am CT will see the strongest winds as the very strong pressure rises on the back side of this very strong low pressure system move through. 850 mb winds are forecast to be in excess of 50 knots for most areas, with 700 mb winds in excess of 90 knots across the southwest. This is important to note because these will be the potential winds that could mix down to the surface tonight. Thus the potential range of wind gusts are 60 to 100+ mph. This will greatly depend on the low level lapse rates, which are the best in the southwest. Forecast soundings in these areas showing 80+ knots may mix down, which could bring gusts to 90 mph. These kind of winds are usually reserved for higher end severe thunderstorms. Although different types of systems, the impacts from tonights strong winds could be similar. On the backside of this low later this evening through tonight will be widespread light snow, with perhaps some slight enhancement in the north. Snowfall of 1 to 4 inches combined with the strong winds will bring near blizzard to blizzard conditions. Areas with the highest confidence in blizzard conditions are now in a Blizzard Warning. Areas just short of this high confidence mark now have a Winter Weather Advisory for impactful blowing snow. On top of all that, cold arctic air will move in behind this front. Dangerous wind chills are expected in the north, with a Cold Weather Advisory now in effect for Thursday across these areas. Lows tonight will drop into the single digits above and below zero. A much colder day is then in store for Thursday, with snow, blowing snow, and strong winds ending from west to east. East of Highway 83 could see strong winds and blowing snow impacts linger through the day, while west of Highway 83 sees impacts diminish as early as late Thursday morning. High temperatures for most areas will be in the single digits and teens. Cold temperatures return Thursday night, with lows from the teens below zero northeast to the teens above zero southwest. Light winds may become a breezy southerly wind through the night, perhaps bringing some dangerous winds chills again, although temperatures are expected to start warming ahead of the next clipper system late Thursday night or early Thursday morning. Forecast track for the next clipper system on Friday may take a more northerly track, with precipitation along the warm front of this system. NBM has mainly snow as a precip type in today's forecast, although a mix of rain and freezing rain will also be possible given the potential warming conditions. Winds could be breezy to windy through the day Friday, with patchy blowing snow to any areas with blowable snow, mainly in the north. Highs will be in the 20s west to 40s east. Winds then go westerly Friday night with perhaps some lingering snow and blowing snow chances. Cold temperatures will return with lows near zero north to the teens south. Perhaps some dangerous wind chills may also return. Zonal flow then looks to take over this weekend into early next week. At times this could lead to weak ridging or weak troughing. Moist pacific air may hold together long enough to bring brief chances for showers as well. NBM spreads are high during this period given the uncertainty on when the pattern is more ridge like versus trough like. Some days could see highs and lows above normal, while others are near to slightly below normal. This pattern does not favor strong winds. NBM pop chances are also currently low (20% or less) although this could change if more of a trough pattern develops. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 115 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 Rain showers will push from west to east this afternoon. This could bring low VFR to periods of MVFR. A brief break in precipitation will then be found late this afternoon through the early evening hours, where VFR conditions are generally expected. The next round of snow will combine with strong winds and bring periods of LIFR and IFR across most sites with snow and blowing snow. Blizzard conditions are expected from KXWA to KMOT to KRUG to KJMS with this system, and are briefly possible elsewhere. Conditions then improve from west to east later Thursday morning through Thursday afternoon, with MVFR to VFR conditions returning to most sites, except those with lingering blowing snow. Strong westerly winds will be found with this system. Most sites will see gusts over 50 knots, with southwestern sites perhaps seeing gusts over 60 knots. Strong winds will also bring periods of low level wind shear to most sites, possibly through the night. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Blizzard Warning from 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ this evening to noon CST /11 AM MST/ Thursday for NDZ001>003-009>011-017-021. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 AM to noon CST Thursday for NDZ001>003-009>011. Blizzard Warning from midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Thursday for NDZ004-005-012-013-022-023-025-037. Cold Weather Advisory from 6 AM to 3 PM CST Thursday for NDZ004-005-012-013. High Wind Warning until noon CST /11 AM MST/ Thursday for NDZ009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. Winter Weather Advisory from 9 PM CST /8 PM MST/ this evening to noon CST /11 AM MST/ Thursday for NDZ018>020-031>034- 040>045. High Wind Warning until 3 PM CST /2 PM MST/ Thursday for NDZ019>021-034>036-042-045>048-050-051. Winter Weather Advisory from midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Thursday for NDZ035-036-046>048-050-051. && DISCUSSION...Anglin AVIATION...Anglin
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 557 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 NDZ018>020-031>036-040>048-050-051-190000- Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Morton-Burleigh- Kidder-Slope-Hettinger-Grant-Bowman-Adams-Sioux-Emmons-Logan- La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 557 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 /457 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota, southeast North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight A High Wind Warning and Winter Weather Advisory are in effect tonight. See weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday A High Wind Warning and Winter Weather Advisory are in effect into Thursday. See weather.gov/bis for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard procedures, including through our social media accounts. NDZ001>005-009>013-017-021>023-025-037-190000- Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-Mountrail-Ward- McHenry-Pierce-McKenzie-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Stutsman- 557 PM CST Wed Dec 17 2025 /457 PM MST Wed Dec 17 2025/ 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...Tonight A Blizzard Warning is in effect tonight into Thursday. High winds are also expected. See weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday A Blizzard Warning is in effect into Thursday. High winds and low wind chills are also expected, prompting additional warnings and advisories in the area. See weather.gov/bis for details. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard procedures, including through our social media accounts. NH
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
23 high wind, 23 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.
Williston ASOS reported wind gusts to 68 mph.
Watford City RAWS reported wind gusts to 65 mph.
Kildeer AWOS reported wind gusts to 63 mph.
Beach AWOS reported wind gusts to 66 mph.
Fryburg NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 72 mph.
The public southeast of South Heart reported wind gusts to 82 mph.
Glen Ullin AWOS reported wind gusts to 67 mph.
Amidon CWOP reported wind gusts to 91 mph.
New Leipzig NDDOT reported wind gusts to 73 mph.
Bowman AWOS reported wind gusts to 84 mph.
Hettinger ASOS reported wind gusts to 76 mph.
Tatanka Prairie RAWS reported wind gusts to 64 mph.
McLean County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Mercer County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
The public southwest of Center reported wind gusts to 73 mph.
Williams Lookout RAWS reported wind gusts to 90 mph.
Bismarck ASOS reported wind gusts to 59 mph.
Hazelton NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 62 mph.
Verona NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 62 mph.
Wishek NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 60 mph.
Oakes AWOS reported wind gusts to 59 mph.
Kidder County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Logan County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, December 2025
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: 1301519, 1301522, 1301525, 1301660, 1301661, 1301663, 1301664, 1301668, 1301670, 1301671, 1301673, 1301674, 1301681, 1301682, 1301683, 1301685, 1301666, 1301676, 1301677, 1301678, 1301679, 1301705, 1301706, 1306145, 1306146, 1306147, 1306148, 1306149, 1306150, 1306151, 1306152, 1306153, 1306154, 1306155, 1306156, 1306157, 1306158, 1306159, 1306170, 1306171, and more.