Overview
An arctic cold front moved through the region during the overnight December 30, 2018. Northerly winds gusting in excess of 45 mph combined with a fresh snowpack to create blizzard conditions the following day, New Year's Eve. This created dangerous travel conditions throughout much of the day within the affected areas. Blizzard conditions were largely confined to an area within the Red River Valley in far eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota extending into far northeastern South Dakota. While snow did fall over some areas leading up to the blizzard, no snow was actually falling during blizzard conditions. This became what is known as a ground blizzard. Gusty winds also combined with temperatures behind the arctic cold front into the teens below zero creating dangerous wind chills near -50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Photos
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| Blizzard conditions at 9 AM CST December 31, 2018, on I-94 just east of Fargo in Dilworth, MN. (Courtesy of MNDOT) | Classic scene of a ground blizzard on US Highway 2 in East Grand Forks, MN. Notice the extreme reduction in visibility yet the morning sun is shining through. (Courtesy of MNDOT) |
Reduced visibility due to blowing snow on I-94 west of Fargo in Casselton, ND. (Courtesy of ND DOT) |
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| True whiteout conditions were observed on Highway 13 just west of Wahpeton in southeast North Dakota. (Courtesy of Matt Walberg) |
Warnings and advisories around the region the morning of December 31, 2018. Notice how the thin corridor blizzard warnings (red) follow along the Red River Valley into far northeast South Dakota. | GOES East was able to "see" the ground blizzard within the central and northern Red River Valley due to the satellite's capability to detect blowing snow (shown as a thin strip of lavender). |
Radar
This a radar loop from 6:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST on December 31, 2018.
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Notice there are very little to no radar returns during this time even though blizzard conditions are occurring. This is typical of ground blizzard scenarios where very little to no snow falls during blizzard conditions. There are other ways of viewing the aerial extent of blizzard conditions using other remote sensing instruments like satellite data. This video shows a satellite loop of the ground blizzard and how local terrain influences the boundary of these conditions. |
Blizzard Reports
...BLIZZARD REPORT SUMMARY...
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 AM BLIZZARD CAVALIER 48.80N 97.62W
12/31/2018 PEMBINA ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS PRIOR TO SUNRISE ACROSS
PEMBINA COUNTY.
0600 AM BLIZZARD FARGO 46.88N 96.82W
12/31/2018 CASS ND ASOS
ONE QUARTER MILE VISIBILITY AND 36 MPH WINDS
AT FARGO AIRPORT.
0630 AM BLIZZARD SABIN 46.78N 96.65W
12/31/2018 CLAY MN CO-OP OBSERVER
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS REPORTED WITH ESTIMATED
40 MPH WINDS.
0645 AM BLIZZARD 1 N ARVILLA 47.93N 97.49W
12/31/2018 GRAND FORKS ND NWS EMPLOYEE
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ALONG HIGHWAY 2 BETWEEN
TURTLE RIVER STATE PARK AND JUST WEST OF
GRAND FORKS AFB.
0755 AM BLIZZARD GWINNER 46.22N 97.66W
12/31/2018 SARGENT ND AWOS
ONE QUARTER MILE VISIBILITY OR LESS WITH 38
MPH WINDS.
0818 AM BLIZZARD MOORHEAD 46.86N 96.76W
12/31/2018 CLAY MN AWOS
ONE QUARTER MILE VISIBILITY WITH 44 MPH
WINDS.
0959 AM BLIZZARD 4 W CAMPBELL 46.10N 96.49W
12/31/2018 WILKIN MN DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS VIA MN DOT SNOWPLOW
CAMERAS ALONG HIGHWAY 75.
1002 AM BLIZZARD 2 E FISHER 47.80N 96.76W
12/31/2018 POLK MN DEPT OF HIGHWAYS
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS VIA MN DOT SNOWPLOW
CAMERAS ALONG HIGHWAY 2. ALSO REPORTED THAT
NUMEROUS CARS ARE IN THE DITCH BETWEEN EAST
GRAND FORKS AND CROOKSTON.
1037 AM BLIZZARD 1 W WAHPETON 46.27N 96.63W
12/31/2018 RICHLAND ND PUBLIC
WHITEOUT CONDITIONS REPORTED ALONG HIGHWAY
13 JUST WEST OF WAHPETON. REPORT RECEIVED
VIA TWITTER.
Wind Gusts
...HIGHEST WIND GUSTS... LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE PROVIDER GRAND FORKS ND 47 MPH 0228 AM 12/31 ASOS GRAFTON ND 45 MPH 0135 AM 12/31 ASOS WAHPETON ND 44 MPH 1055 AM 12/31 ASOS MOORHEAD MN 44 MPH 0755 AM 12/31 ASOS FARGO ND 43 MPH 0136 PM 12/31 ASOS DILWORTH MN (DOT) 43 MPH 0745 AM 12/31 MNDOT WAHPETON ND (DOT) 42 MPH 1109 AM 12/31 NDDOT DONALDSON MN (DOT) 42 MPH 0210 AM 12/31 MNDOT BUFFALO ND 7 N (DOT) 41 MPH 0809 AM 12/31 NDDOT COOPERSTOWN ND 41 MPH 0235 AM 12/31 ASOS LEEDS ND (DOT) 40 MPH 0324 AM 12/31 NDDOT GRAND FORKS AFB ND 40 MPH 0232 AM 12/31 ASOS HENDRUM MN (DOT) 39 MPH 0605 AM 12/31 MNDOT GWINNER ND 39 MPH 0555 AM 12/31 ASOS CAVALIER ND 38 MPH 0435 AM 12/31 ASOS EMERADO ND (DOT) 38 MPH 0324 AM 12/31 NDDOT CANDO ND 38 MPH 1115 PM 12/30 ASOS DEVILS LAKE ND (DOT) 37 MPH 0439 AM 12/31 NDDOT E GRAND FORKS MN (DOT) 36 MPH 0620 AM 12/31 MNDOT BUXTON ND 4 S (DOT) 35 MPH 0109 PM 12/31 NDDOT MCLEOD ND 3 N (USFW) 35 MPH 1249 PM 12/31 RAWS LAKE PARK MN (DOT) 35 MPH 1120 AM 12/31 MNDOT CROOKSTON MN 35 MPH 1015 AM 12/31 ASOS GRAND FORKS ND (DOT) 35 MPH 0324 AM 12/31 NDDOT LANGDON ND 35 MPH 0315 AM 12/31 ASOS ST VINCENT MN (DOT) 35 MPH 1220 AM 12/31 MNDOT WALHALLA ND 35 MPH 0955 PM 12/30 ASOS MAHNOMEN MN (DOT) 34 MPH 0845 AM 12/31 MNDOT DETROIT LAKES MN 33 MPH 0255 PM 12/31 ASOS FERGUS FALLS MN 33 MPH 0155 PM 12/31 ASOS PARK RAPIDS MN 33 MPH 0122 PM 12/31 ASOS ELBOW LAKE MN 33 MPH 0655 AM 12/31 ASOS DEVILS LAKE ND 33 MPH 1046 PM 12/30 ASOS DETROIT LAKES MN (DNR) 32 MPH 0220 PM 12/31 RAWS MAHNOMEN MN 32 MPH 0815 AM 12/31 ASOS HALLOCK MN 32 MPH 0355 AM 12/31 ASOS VERNDALE MN (DOT) 31 MPH 0315 PM 12/31 MNDOT THIEF RIVER FALLS MN 31 MPH 1009 AM 12/31 ASOS MOORHEAD MN (NORTH) 31 MPH 0916 AM 12/31 CWOP ROTHSAY MN (DOT) 30 MPH 0320 PM 12/31 MNDOT FOSSTON MN 29 MPH 0655 AM 12/31 ASOS MUNICH ND 29 MPH 0210 AM 12/31 AWS STAPLES MN 28 MPH 0115 PM 12/31 ASOS MOORHEAD MN (DOT) 28 MPH 1220 PM 12/31 MNDOT GATZKE MN (DOT) 28 MPH 0935 AM 12/31 MNDOT WADENA MN 28 MPH 0755 AM 12/31 ASOS FARGO ND (DOT) 27 MPH 0339 PM 12/31 NDDOT BEMIDJI MN (DNR) 27 MPH 0306 PM 12/31 RAWS FARGO ND (SOUTH) 27 MPH 0302 PM 12/31 CWOP FRAZEE MN 3 E 26 MPH 0834 AM 12/31 CWOP GATZKE MN 9 SW (DNR) 26 MPH 0620 AM 12/31 RAWS BEMIDJI MN 25 MPH 0155 PM 12/31 ASOS CHAMBERLAIN MN (DOT) 25 MPH 0120 PM 12/31 MNDOT GRAND FORKS ND 5 WSW 25 MPH 0730 AM 12/31 CWOP BAUDETTE MN 25 MPH 0153 AM 12/31 ASOS ROSEAU MN (DNR) 24 MPH 0408 AM 12/31 RAWS FLAG ISLAND MN 24 MPH 0335 AM 12/31 ASOS BADGER MN (DOT) 24 MPH 0245 AM 12/31 MNDOT BROOKS MN (DOT) 23 MPH 0830 AM 12/31 MNDOT KARLSTAD MN (DNR) 23 MPH 0206 AM 12/31 RAWS FORT TOTTEN ND (USFW) 23 MPH 1251 AM 12/31 RAWS SHOOKS MN (DOT) 22 MPH 0320 PM 12/31 MNDOT FERGUS FALLS MN 6 SW 22 MPH 0700 AM 12/31 HADS HARWOOD ND 22 MPH 0631 AM 12/31 CWOP WASKISH MN 22 MPH 0435 AM 12/31 ASOS ROSEAU MN 22 MPH 0135 AM 12/31 ASOS BADOURA MN (DNR) 21 MPH 1206 PM 12/31 RAWS WARROAD MN 21 MPH 1035 AM 12/31 ASOS KELLIHER MN (DNR) 21 MPH 0907 AM 12/31 RAWS BAUDETTE MN (DNR) 20 MPH 0306 AM 12/31 RAWS
Wind Chill Reports
...LOWEST WIND CHILLS... LOCATION TEMP TIME/DATE PROVIDER MUNICH ND -49 F 0530 AM 12/31 AWS GRAND FORKS ND -49 F 0953 AM 12/31 ASOS DONALDSON MN (DOT) -49 F 1115 AM 12/31 MNDOT DEVILS LAKE ND -46 F 0937 AM 12/31 ASOS HALLOCK MN -46 F 1015 AM 12/31 ASOS CANDO ND -45 F 0735 AM 12/31 ASOS GRAFTON ND -45 F 0815 AM 12/31 ASOS CAVALIER ND -45 F 1155 AM 12/31 ASOS CROOKSTON MN -45 F 0115 PM 12/31 ASOS DEVILS LAKE ND (DOT) -44 F 0809 AM 12/31 NDDOT LANGDON ND -44 F 0835 AM 12/31 ASOS WALHALLA ND -44 F 1015 AM 12/31 ASOS LEEDS ND (DOT) -43 F 0524 AM 12/31 NDDOT E GRAND FORKS MN (DOT) -43 F 0940 AM 12/31 MNDOT HENDRUM MN (DOT) -43 F 1205 PM 12/31 MNDOT GRAND FORKS AFB ND -42 F 0856 AM 12/31 ASOS MOORHEAD MN -42 F 0135 PM 12/31 ASOS GRAND FORKS ND (DOT) -41 F 1024 AM 12/31 NDDOT DILWORTH MN (DOT) -41 F 0110 PM 12/31 MNDOT FARGO ND -39 F 0353 PM 12/31 ASOS LAKE PARK MN (DOT) -38 F 0500 PM 12/31 MNDOT BADGER MN (DOT) -37 F 0945 AM 12/31 MNDOT COOPERSTOWN ND -37 F 0355 PM 12/31 ASOS WAHPETON ND -37 F 0455 PM 12/31 ASOS ROTHSAY MN (DOT) -36 F 0445 PM 12/31 MNDOT KARLSTAD MN (DNR) -35 F 0806 AM 12/31 RAWS GWINNER ND -35 F 1115 AM 12/31 ASOS GRAND FORKS ND 5 WSW -34 F 1002 AM 12/31 CWOP FERGUS FALLS MN -34 F 0435 PM 12/31 ASOS FARGO ND (SOUTH) -33 F 1242 PM 12/31 CWOP MAHNOMEN MN (DOT) -33 F 0410 PM 12/31 MNDOT FOSSTON MN -33 F 0435 PM 12/31 ASOS GATZKE MN (DOT) -33 F 0445 PM 12/31 MNDOT THIEF RIVER FALLS MN -33 F 0456 PM 12/31 ASOS FLAG ISLAND MN -32 F 1055 AM 12/31 ASOS MOORHEAD MN (DOT) -32 F 0320 PM 12/31 MNDOT FERGUS FALLS MN 6 SW -32 F 0445 PM 12/31 HADS FORT TOTTEN ND (USFW) -31 F 0751 AM 12/31 RAWS RED LAKE FALLS MN (ES) -31 F 0449 PM 12/31 AWS MAHNOMEN MN -31 F 0455 PM 12/31 ASOS ROSEAU MN -30 F 0955 AM 12/31 ASOS ELBOW LAKE MN -30 F 0455 PM 12/31 ASOS WARROAD MN -29 F 0955 AM 12/31 ASOS BROOKS MN (DOT) -29 F 0500 PM 12/31 MNDOT ROSEAU MN (DNR) -28 F 0908 AM 12/31 RAWS MCLEOD ND 3 N (USFW) -28 F 1149 AM 12/31 RAWS MOORHEAD MN (NORTH) -28 F 1240 PM 12/31 CWOP GATZKE MN 9 SW (DNR) -28 F 0420 PM 12/31 RAWS DETROIT LAKES MN -28 F 0435 PM 12/31 ASOS BAUDETTE MN -27 F 0453 PM 12/31 ASOS DETROIT LAKES MN (DNR) -25 F 0420 PM 12/31 RAWS OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Snow Totals
...SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM 12 UTC DEC 30 2018 THROUGH 12 UTC DEC 31 2018... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE PROVIDER CLITHERALL 5.0 IN 0800 AM 12/31 LIDGERWOOD ND 4.0 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COOP BATTLE LAKE 3.8 IN 0800 AM 12/31 DEVILS LAKE 3.0 IN 1127 PM 12/30 SEBEKA MN 3.0 IN 0700 AM 01/01 UCOOP MCLEOD ND 3 E 2.6 IN 0900 AM 01/01 COOP BROCKET 2.5 IN 0700 PM 12/30 DEVILS LAKE 2.5 IN 0700 PM 12/30 HAVANA ND 2.5 IN 0700 AM 01/01 UCOOP RICHVILLE MN 5.8 SSW 2.5 IN 0800 AM 01/01 COCORAHS ESMOND ND 9 NNW 2.4 IN 0815 AM 01/01 COOP NORTHWOOD 2.0 IN 0700 PM 12/30 GILBY 2.0 IN 0700 PM 12/30 ARVILLA 2.0 IN 1127 PM 12/30 MICHIGAN ND 2.0 IN 0700 AM 01/01 UCOOP LAKE PARK MN 6.0 S 1.6 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS TURTLE RIVER MN 3.6 E 1.5 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS BEMIDJI MN 4.8 NNE 1.4 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS FARGO ND 3.4 SSE 1.3 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS GRAND FORKS ND (NWS) 1.2 IN 0602 AM 01/01 COOP MOORHEAD MN 2.0 N 1.2 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS WARREN MN 6.6 NW 1.1 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS 3 W LEROY 1.0 IN 0700 PM 12/30 LANKIN ND 6 E 1.0 IN 0700 AM 01/01 UCOOP WOLVERTON MN 1.1 ENE 1.0 IN 0700 AM 01/01 COCORAHS OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
Environment
Although the weather pattern on December 31st was not a set up for a classic blizzard like the region saw just four days earlier, it was a fairly common setup for a ground blizzard through the Red River Valley. Typically, these types of blizzards are caused by strong, northerly pressure gradient winds that push southward down the valley. The ingredients for this type of blizzard are fairly straightforward, you need:
1) A region of high and low surface pressure in close proximity to each other - this was provided by an arctic high pushing southward out of Canada right behind a Canadian clipper low. These areas of high and low pressure can be seen in the middle loop below with the surface low moving across the bottom of the image and the surface high building across the upper left part of the image. The close proximity of these two features helped increase the pressure gradient, which in turn produced strong winds near the surface.
2) Cold temperatures - cold arctic air pushed southward out of Canada behind the low and with the surface high, taking temperatures from the teens above zero into the single digits below zero within a few hours. This substantial change in temperature can be seen in the "3-hour Surface Temperature Change" loop below as the cold arctic air pushed southward through the region.
3) Snow on the ground to blow around! - Much of the eastern North Dakota/northwest Minnesota region saw multiple inches of snowfall during the last blizzard just a few days earlier, so there was plenty of snow on the ground ready to be blown around by the wind! The far southern Red River Valley area, including the Fargo metro, received one to three inches of snowfall just prior to the onset of the strongest winds on the 31st. This led to prolonged blizzard conditions as compared to the northern Red River Valley which did not receive much snowfall during the hours before the onset of the strong winds.
These three ingredients, combined with the favorable terrain of the floor of the Red River Valley, helped create blizzard conditions from the Canadian border all the way to the Sisseton Hills in South Dakota.
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| 3-hour Surface Temperature Change | Mean Sea Level Pressure & Surface Wind | Station Observations |
But, two additional environmental factors helped enhance the blizzard conditions. The first was strong low to mid level cold advection that helped create a temperature profile that was favorable for stronger winds just above the surface to mix downwards towards the ground. The second was wind shear that was unidirectional (in the same direction) with height. These two factors can be seen in the 850 mb temperature advection (left) and the 925 mb field (right) loops below. Notice the cold air pushing southward in both loops and the very strong northerly winds at 925 mb.
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| 850 mb Heights, Winds, Temperature Advection | 925 mb Heights, Winds, Temperature |
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