March 6-8, 2017 Storm Summary

Overview

A strong low pressure system brought light snow and long-lived strong winds to eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota beginning the evening of Monday, March 6, 2017 and continuing into the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Although this system brought generally light snow accumulations to the area, the long period of strong winds allowed for blizzard conditions to persist across portions of the Devils Lake basin throughout much of Tuesday, March 9, 2017. Reduced visibilities were also experienced for brief periods across the northern Red River Valley and into northwest Minnesota on Tuesday as quick bouts of snow easily blew around in 50-60 mph wind gusts.

Wind
Snow
Pressure
Radar

Wind:

...Graphical Depiction of Highest Wind Gusts March 7-8, 2017...



...Highest Wind Reports for March 7-8, 2017...

Location                     Speed     Time/Date
Gwinner ND (APT)             66 MPH    0415 PM 03/07
Devils Lake ND (APT)         64 MPH    1129 AM 03/07
Fargo ND (APT)               62 MPH    0537 PM 03/07
Rothsay MN (DOT)             62 MPH    0540 PM 03/07
Cooperstown ND (APT)         62 MPH    0235 PM 03/07
Wahpeton ND (APT)            61 MPH    0615 PM 03/07
Grafton ND (APT)             61 MPH    0855 PM 03/07
Grand Forks ND (APT)         61 MPH    0511 PM 03/07
Park Rapids MN (APT)         61 MPH    1236 AM 03/08
Mahnomen MN (APT)            60 MPH    0715 PM 03/07
E Grand Forks MN (DOT)       59 MPH    0505 PM 03/07
Grand Forks ND (AFB)         59 MPH    0420 PM 03/07
Dilworth MN (DOT)            58 MPH    0340 AM 03/08
Tenney MN (DOT)              58 MPH    0650 PM 03/07
Staples MN (APT)             58 MPH    1153 PM 03/07
Mcleod ND 3 N                58 MPH    1049 PM 03/07
Lake Park MN (DOT)           57 MPH    1120 PM 03/07
Brooks MN (DOT)              57 MPH    0635 PM 03/07
Mahnomen MN (DOT)            56 MPH    1035 PM 03/07
Hendrum MN (DOT)             56 MPH    0926 AM 03/07
Thief R Falls MN (APT)       56 MPH    0426 PM 03/07
Elbow Lake MN (APT)          56 MPH    0319 PM 03/07
Crookston MN (APT)           55 MPH    1214 AM 03/08
Ottertail MN (DOT)           55 MPH    0435 AM 03/08
Walhalla ND (APT)            54 MPH    0915 PM 03/07
Fergus Falls MN (APT)        54 MPH    0634 PM 03/07
Detroit Lakes MN (DNR)       53 MPH    0320 AM 03/08
Moorhead MN (APT)            53 MPH    1034 PM 03/07
Donaldson MN (DOT)           53 MPH    0710 PM 03/07
Verndale MN (DOT)            53 MPH    1135 PM 03/07
Fosston MN (APT)             52 MPH    0933 PM 03/07
Gatzke MN 2 ENE              52 MPH    0450 PM 03/07
Detroit Lakes MN (APT)       51 MPH    1133 PM 03/07
Badger MN (DOT)              50 MPH    0131 PM 03/07
Wadena MN (APT)              49 MPH    1135 PM 03/07
Flag Island MN               49 MPH    0413 PM 03/07
Hallock MN (APT)             49 MPH    0854 PM 03/07
Karlstad MN (DNR)            49 MPH    0506 PM 03/07
Gatzke MN 9 SW (DNR)         48 MPH    0920 PM 03/07
Baudette MN (APT)            48 MPH    0227 PM 03/07
St Vincent MN (DOT)          48 MPH    0915 AM 03/07
Roseau MN (DNR)              48 MPH    0208 PM 03/07
Waskish MN (APT)             48 MPH    0352 PM 03/07
Bemidji MN (APT)             47 MPH    1253 AM 03/08
Chamberlain MN (DOT)         47 MPH    0735 PM 03/07
Warroad MN (APT)             46 MPH    0134 PM 03/07
Ponsford MN 10 N             45 MPH    1203 AM 03/08
Badoura MN (DNR)             45 MPH    0306 AM 03/08
Kelliher MN (DNR)            45 MPH    0607 PM 03/07
Roseau MN (APT)              45 MPH    0534 PM 03/07

Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying
equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.

...Wind Damage Reports for March 7-8, 2017...

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 S FINLEY              47.44N 97.84W
03/07/2017                   STEELE             ND   PUBLIC

            SEMI TRUCK BLOW OFF ND HIGHWAY 32 SOUTH OF FINLEY.

1100 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG HILLSBORO               47.40N 97.06W
03/07/2017                   TRAILL             ND   PUBLIC

            A SEMI TRUCK WAS BLOWN OFF OF INTERSTATE 29. TIME
            ESTIMATED, NOT EXACT.

1100 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG DRAYTON                 48.56N 97.18W
03/07/2017                   PEMBINA            ND   PUBLIC

            A SEMI TRUCK WAS BLOWN OFF OF INTERSTATE 29. TIME
            ESTIMATED, NOT EXACT.

1117 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG MOORHEAD                46.86N 96.76W
03/07/2017                   CLAY               MN   PUBLIC

            TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN THE CITY OF MOORHEAD DAMAGED AND BLOWN
            OVER.

0500 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG FARGO                   46.88N 96.82W
03/07/2017                   CASS               ND   PUBLIC

            A METAL LIGHT WAS BLOWN DOWN AT THE VA IN NORTH FARGO.

0700 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG GRAND FORKS             47.92N 97.07W
03/07/2017                   GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC

            A PORTION OF THE ROOF OF AN RV REPAIR BUSINESS WAS BLOWN
            OFF. TIME IS ESTIMATED, NOT EXACT.

0700 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 1 S LARIMORE            47.89N 97.63W
03/07/2017                   GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC

            A SEMI TRUCK WAS BLOWN OFF ND HIGHWAY 18. TIME ESTIMATED,
            NOT EXACT.

Snow:

Areas of snowfall accompanied the strong low pressure system on and off from the evening of Monday, March 6, 2017 through the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 8, 2017. The graphic below depicts estimated snowfall amounts provided by trained observers, spotters, and the general public. Snowfall amounts for this event were extremely difficult to measure due to the strong winds and more than likely do not represent exact totals.

...Estimated Snowfall Totals March 6-8, 2017...

Pressure:

The mean sea level pressure (MSLP) measured with this strong system rivaled the record for lowest pressure recorded in the area for the month of March. The Fargo Airport measured a reading of 980.4 mb as the center of the low moved across eastern North Dakota on Monday, March 7, 2017. The current record for the month of March still stands at 979.3 mb which was recorded on March 15, 1920. As this system tracked to the northeast on Tuesday, the recorded pressure dropped to near 966 mb as it entered western Ontario.

Below is the MSLP plot at 5 pm on Tuesday, March 7, 2017:

Radar:


12 pm Monday to 12 am Tuesday	12 am Tuesday to 12 pm Tuesday	12 pm Tuesday to 12 am Wednesday

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