A surface low pressure system passed over North Dakota and deepened over the Red River Valley. This, combined with strong winds aloft mixing down, resulted in very strong wind gusts over much of western and central North Dakota.
Every event with a place to put it; 26 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 surface low pressure system passed over North Dakota and deepened over the Red River Valley. This, combined with strong winds aloft mixing down, resulted in very strong wind gusts over much of western and central North Dakota. The strongest wind gust reported was 89 mph which occurred at Hettinger in Adams County.
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 Mar 12, 8:48 AM CST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 948 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Very strong winds expected over western and central North Dakota today into this evening, with gusts up to 70 mph. - Critical fire weather conditions for portions of western North Dakota this afternoon through early this evening. - Periods of snow are possible Thursday/Thursday night primarily over northern locations. Greatest chances for accumulation remains over and adjacent to the Turtle Mountains where 1 to 3 inches are possible, which combined with the wind could significantly reduce visibility. - Snow again develops over much of the area Saturday into early Sunday. Greatest chances for impacts due to snow remain along and south of Interstate 94. && .UPDATE... Issued at 907 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 Over northern portions of the area, a broad area of snow continues, but an item of interest is a line of snow now running more or less along Highway 83 through south central North Dakota that is sliding east. In this band, a brief period of heavy snow can be expected, but it is quite narrow. Otherwise, going forecast remains in good shape as surface low is now passing over Plentywood, MT. Winds are starting to pick up over western areas, while well into Montana winds are already pushing to 60 mph or greater. UPDATE Issued at 637 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 The forecast remains in decent shape for this morning. Radar returns continue to increase. See below for discussion. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 445 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 Currently, northwest flow aloft with a strong embedded wave and upper level jet streak over southwestern Canada, with associated surface low pressure rapidly intensifying the past few hours in the lee of the Rockies over far southern Alberta. Lead embedded waves resulting in increasing clouds across the Northern Plains, with increasing radar returns over eastern Montana into western North Dakota as isentropic upglide increases ahead of the sfc low. Cloud bases remain elevated but are lowering, with a decent dry layer from the sfc up to 6K feet AGL, so suspect moisture is starting to reach the surface under the more enhanced returns. Above mentioned S/WV and upper jet streak advance east-southeast this morning across the Rockies, with the center of the sfc low over northwestern North Dakota by roughly 18Z. S/WV becomes more defined during the day, closing off over the Upper Mississippi Valley of northern Minnesota by this evening, while a deep area of sfc low pressure advances east-southeast across northern into eastern ND this afternoon. As the above occurs, precipitation continues to spread east across the area this morning and afternoon, with the initial push this AM coming as snow or maybe even some light freezing rain considering WAA aloft above sub-freezing sfc temperatures. A transition towards mainly rain is then expected over many locations except the far north, where CAA on the backside of the low advances south. This transition to snow continues from north to south for any lingering precipitation mid to late afternoon and into the evening. We still expect very strong winds to develop south and on the backside of the deep sfc low this morning and through the afternoon, with BUFKIT soundings still showing a strong jet within the mixed layer and winds up to 60-65 knots (~70 mph) available to mix to the surface. Pressure rise bubble then advances across the region this evening, maintaining strong winds past 00Z. Thus no changes to the High Wind Warning which is in effect into this evening west and overnight east. For the Turtle Mountains and surrounding locations, up to 3 inches of snow still expected given the sfc low track, combined with winds gusting to 50 mph still forecast (perhaps stronger), so will maintain the Winter Weather Advisory there as is for blowing snow impacts. Near blizzard wording will be maintained, and an upgrade is not out of the question. Storm Prediction Center has maintained a general thunderstorm outlook for western and central North Dakota today, with latest RAP indeed showing several hundred J/KG of CAPE (up to around 500) spreading southeast across the local area along and ahead of the main mid level wave this afternoon. Opted then to put a slight chance of thunder for the afternoon all locations, with the main CAPE push coming with any wrap-around rain or snow showers. Snow squall parameter peaks during the evening, but doesn't coincide with the best instability. Still, will monitor. RAP, HRRR, and NBM have also come into better agreement with an area of very dry air advancing into western North Dakota after 18Z, with Min RH values in the 20-25% range over portions of western North Dakota south of the Missouri River coinciding with the very strong west/northwest winds. Our fire behavior calculations give us 3-4 hours of Red Flag conditions across McKenzie and Dunn counties and points south. Opted to then issue a Red Flag warning for this afternoon through early evening for my 9 west central and southwestern counties. Strong west-northwest flow aloft for Friday, along with a sfc ridge of high pressure building across the central Dakotas. Cooler temperatures in the 20s and 30s along with medium snow chances mainly west and south central, west of the sfc ridge and underneath upper jet forcing. Widespread snow chances quickly return on Saturday, when an upper level trough develops in response to right entrance region jet dynamics with a departing jet streak and left exit region forcing with an incoming strong jet nosing into the Montana Rockies. An associated lee side sfc low develops over eastern Wyoming/Colorado, then develops east into the Central Plains. A broad area of DivQ forcing and low/mid level frontogensis sets up on the north side of the sfc low track, bringing decent chances for snow across central and southern areas of the Northern Plains. GEFS and EC ensembles in fair agreement with a broad area of a 50-60 percent chance of at least 3" of snow along and mainly south of I-94. Depending on the eventual DivQ/Fn forcing linkage for banded precip, higher amounts are possible, but it is also possible areas to the south see more. thus uncertainty remains but impactful weather remains a possibility. This system departs the area through Sunday, but some gusty winds may linger along with some blowing snow. Thereafter, a large and broad upper level ridge of high pressure is favored by ensembles to develop over the western CONUS next week, gradually moving east through the week. Resultant weather would be mainly dry conditions along with a moderate to strong warming trend. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 637 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 A clipper system will push into the area today. Expect periods of snow this morning, with a transition to rain later in the morning. The exception may be far northern North Dakota where precipitation may remain as snow. Snowfall could bring periods of MVFR to IFR visibility. Southerly winds will shift west to northwest this morning into the afternoon and increasing. Gusts to 50-60 kts will be possible over western locations this morning. West to northwest winds continue to expand east through the afternoon, with wind gusts to 70 mph possible over the area. The southwest and south central look to be favored for the strongest gusts this afternoon. Conditions slowly improve tonight as winds subside slowly from west to east and precipitation ends. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 907 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 A strong low pressure system moving through the region today will bring very strong winds. The winds will shift from southerly to west-northwesterly and increase through the day. Gusts up to 70 mph are expected. Minimum relative humidity values are expected to be at or above 40 percent north and east of the Missouri River, but will drop during the afternoon south and west of the river to as low as 20 percent mid to late this afternoon. Thus, critical fire weather conditions are expected across portions of western North Dakota today, when there will be a 3-4 hour period of low relative humidity combining with the very strong winds. A Red Flag Warning has been issued for these areas from mid-day through early this evening. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... High Wind Warning until 10 PM CDT /9 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. High Wind Warning from 1 PM CDT /noon MDT/ this afternoon to 1 AM CDT /midnight MDT/ Friday for NDZ002-003-010-011-019>021- 034-035-042-045-046. Winter Weather Advisory from 1 PM this afternoon to 7 AM CDT Friday for NDZ004-005-013. High Wind Warning from 1 PM this afternoon to 4 AM CDT Friday for NDZ012-022-023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051. Red Flag Warning until 8 PM CDT /7 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. && UPDATE...NH DISCUSSION...NH AVIATION...NH FIRE WEATHER...JJS
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 849 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 NDZ001>003-009>012-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-131400- Divide-Burke-Renville-Williams-Mountrail-Ward-McHenry-Mercer- Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Morton-Burleigh-Kidder- Stutsman-Grant-Sioux-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 849 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 /749 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026/ 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 High Wind Warning is in effect today through this evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Snow is expected Saturday into early Sunday. Heavy snow is possible which could impact travel, mainly along and south of Interstate 94. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard procedures, including through our social media accounts. NDZ004-005-013-131400- Bottineau-Rolette-Pierce- 849 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect this afternoon through tonight. See weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard procedures, including through our social media accounts. NDZ017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-131400- McKenzie-Dunn-Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Slope-Hettinger-Bowman- Adams- 849 AM CDT Thu Mar 12 2026 /749 AM MDT Thu Mar 12 2026/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect today through this evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. A Red Flag Warning is in effect this afternoon through early this evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Snow is expected Saturday into early Sunday. Heavy snow is possible which could impact travel, mainly along and south of Interstate 94. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard procedures, including through our social media accounts.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
30 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hettinger ASOS reported wind gusts to 89 mph.
Williams Lookout RAWS reported wind gusts to 88 mph.
Sand Creek RAWS reported wind gusts to 81 mph.
Watford City RAWS reported wind gusts to 67 mph.
Killdeer AWOS reported wind gusts to 72 mph.
Beach AWOS reported wind gusts to 71 mph.
Medora NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 63 mph.
Dickinson ASOS reported wind gusts to 75 mph.
Bowman AWOS reported wind gusts to 76 mph.
Williams County had estimated gusts to 60 mph.
Golden Valley NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 64 mph.
Garrison ASOS reported wind gusts to 58 mph.
Denhoff NDDOT reported sustained winds to 44 mph.
Harvey AWOS reported sustained winds to 40 mph.
New Salem NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 63 mph.
Long Lake RAWS reported wind gusts to 71 mph.
Medina NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 63 mph.
Lake Tschida CWOP reported wind gusts to 79 mph.
Tatanka Prairie RAWS reported wind gusts to 70 mph.
Hazelton NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 67 mph.
Verona NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 68 mph.
Wishek NDDOT site reported wind gusts to 62 mph.
Oakes AWOS reported wind gusts to 71 mph.
Mountrail County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Ward County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
McHenry County had estimated sustained winds to 40 mph.
Oliver County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Foster County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Kidder County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Logan County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, March 2026
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: 1321784, 1321785, 1321786, 1321864, 1321865, 1321870, 1321871, 1321872, 1321877, 1321883, 1321866, 1321867, 1321868, 1321869, 1321873, 1321874, 1321875, 1321876, 1321878, 1321879, 1321880, 1321881, 1321882, 1321884, 1321885, 1321886, 1321887, 1321888, 1321889, 1321890.