Overview
A powerful Colorado Low moved into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest on the weekend of December 28 and 29, 2019, leading to widespread heavy snow and blizzard conditions. The heavy snow and blowing snow shut down most roads across eastern North Dakota, roads in the Red River Valley in Minnesota, and the Grand Forks and Fargo International Airports. Unlike some blizzard events, this storm led to bad conditions in both rural and urban areas from the heavy amounts of snow. The City of Fargo had to close some roads within the city and issue a city wide travel alert.Wind:
Peak Wind
...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... Location Speed Time/Date Lat/Lon Valley City ND Airport 51 MPH 0815 AM 12/29 46.93N/98.02W Grand Forks ND Airport 51 MPH 1104 AM 12/29 47.95N/97.18W Devils Lake ND 4 S (Hwy 20) 50 MPH 0239 PM 12/29 48.04N/98.89W Dazey ND 2 E 49 MPH 0840 AM 12/29 47.18N/98.14W Cooperstown ND Airport 49 MPH 0615 PM 12/29 47.42N/98.10W Fargo ND Airport 48 MPH 0325 PM 12/29 46.93N/96.82W Grand Forks ND AFB 47 MPH 0117 PM 12/29 47.97N/97.40W Gwinner ND Airport 46 MPH 0135 PM 12/29 46.22N/97.65W E Grand Forks MN 6 SE 46 MPH 1045 AM 12/29 47.87N/96.92W Mayville ND 2 E 45 MPH 1055 AM 12/29 47.50N/97.26W Buffalo ND 7 N (Hwy 38) 45 MPH 0354 PM 12/29 47.02N/97.56W Leonard ND 5 N 44 MPH 1255 PM 12/29 46.73N/97.24W Cando ND Airport 44 MPH 0755 PM 12/29 48.48N/99.23W Devils Lake ND Airport 44 MPH 0225 PM 12/29 48.12N/98.92W Grafton ND Airport 44 MPH 0135 PM 12/29 48.40N/97.37W Buxton ND 4 S (I-29) 44 MPH 0724 AM 12/29 47.54N/97.08W Leeds ND 7 E (US 2) 44 MPH 0109 PM 12/29 48.28N/99.29W Pillsbury ND 1 N 43 MPH 0805 AM 12/29 47.23N/97.79W Tenney MN 2 W 43 MPH 0845 PM 12/29 46.04N/96.49W Emerado ND 3 W 43 MPH 1254 PM 12/29 47.93N/97.43W Lisbon ND 2 W 42 MPH 0855 AM 12/29 46.44N/97.72W Mooreton ND 3 SW 42 MPH 1155 AM 12/29 46.22N/96.89W Hampden ND 3 SE 42 MPH 0458 PM 12/29 48.53N/98.62W Dilworth MN 2 S 42 MPH 0905 AM 12/29 46.85N/96.67W Hendrum MN 4 ENE 42 MPH 0142 PM 12/29 47.30N/96.73W Grand Forks ND 5 N (I-29) 42 MPH 0824 AM 12/29 47.98N/97.09W Lisbon ND 18 E (Sheyenne) 42 MPH 0249 PM 12/29 46.47N/97.32W Fingal ND 4 W 41 MPH 0840 AM 12/29 46.75N/97.91W Galesburg ND 4 SW 41 MPH 0100 PM 12/29 47.21N/97.43W Brampton ND 2 WSW 40 MPH 0225 PM 12/29 45.98N/97.82W Kempton ND 6 SE 40 MPH 1050 AM 12/29 47.78N/97.49W McHenry ND 8 N 40 MPH 0120 PM 12/29 47.69N/98.62W Cavalier ND Airport 40 MPH 1255 PM 12/29 48.78N/97.63W Thief River Falls MN Airport 40 MPH 0806 AM 12/29 48.07N/96.17W Shooks MN 0.5 E 40 MPH 0715 AM 12/29 47.87N/94.43W Brooks MN 3 S 40 MPH 0730 AM 12/29 47.77N/96.00W Wahpeton ND 6 W (Hwy 13) 40 MPH 0139 AM 12/30 46.23N/96.74W Mentor MN 3 NW 40 MPH 0632 AM 12/29 47.72N/96.21W Cooperstown ND 3 W 39 MPH 0805 AM 12/29 47.44N/98.18W Inkster ND 3 W 39 MPH 1155 AM 12/29 48.17N/97.71W Logan Center ND 2 E 39 MPH 0635 PM 12/29 47.80N/97.77W Prosper ND 5 NW 39 MPH 0225 PM 12/29 47.00N/97.11W Finley ND 1 NNW 39 MPH 0730 AM 12/29 47.53N/97.85W Mahnomen MN 3 SSE 39 MPH 0821 AM 12/29 47.27N/95.93W Bowesmont ND 2 NNW 39 MPH 0609 PM 12/29 48.71N/97.19W Eldred MN 2 W 38 MPH 0940 AM 12/29 47.69N/96.82W Pekin ND 2 NE 38 MPH 1240 PM 12/29 47.81N/98.31W Perley MN 6 E 37 MPH 0830 AM 12/29 47.18N/96.68W Sabin MN 2 NE 37 MPH 0940 AM 12/29 46.79N/96.61W Ulen MN 7 SSE 37 MPH 0830 AM 12/29 47.05N/96.11W Niles ND 3 SE 37 MPH 0550 PM 12/29 48.25N/99.33W Wahpeton ND 6 N 37 MPH 1025 AM 12/29 46.35N/96.67W Langdon ND Airport 37 MPH 0155 PM 12/29 48.75N/98.40W Fergus Falls MN Airport 37 MPH 1136 AM 12/30 46.28N/96.15W Fosston MN Airport 37 MPH 1018 AM 12/29 47.58N/95.77W Park Rapids MN Airport 37 MPH 0758 AM 12/29 46.90N/95.07W St Vincent MN 1 E 37 MPH 0215 PM 12/29 48.97N/97.20W Lake Park MN 0.5 W 37 MPH 0815 AM 12/29 46.88N/96.11W Ada MN 1 N 36 MPH 0705 AM 12/29 47.32N/96.51W Kennedy MN 6 W 36 MPH 0300 PM 12/29 48.64N/97.04W Adams ND 5 N 36 MPH 0140 PM 12/29 48.50N/98.08W Cando ND 2 SE 36 MPH 0640 PM 12/29 48.47N/99.17W Hope ND 5 NE 36 MPH 0940 AM 12/29 47.37N/97.64W Crary ND 1 E 36 MPH 0150 PM 12/29 48.05N/98.61W Edmore ND 3 NW 36 MPH 0655 PM 12/29 48.42N/98.51W St Thomas ND 2 WSW 36 MPH 0540 PM 12/29 48.60N/97.49W Webster ND 2 N 36 MPH 0540 PM 12/29 48.31N/98.88W Wahpeton ND Airport 36 MPH 0835 PM 12/29 46.25N/96.62W Roseau MN 2 E 36 MPH 0208 PM 12/29 48.85N/95.70W Red Lake MN 36 MPH 1009 AM 12/29 47.87N/95.03W Campbell MN 3 SE 35 MPH 1150 AM 12/30 46.06N/96.37W Fargo ND 1 NNW 35 MPH 0255 PM 12/29 46.90N/96.81W Maddock ND 2 N 35 MPH 0340 PM 12/29 47.99N/99.53W Michigan ND 2 W 35 MPH 0125 PM 12/29 48.02N/98.17W Walhalla ND Airport 35 MPH 0415 PM 12/29 48.93N/97.90W Flag Island MN 35 MPH 0119 PM 12/29 49.32N/94.90W Roseau MN Airport 35 MPH 1258 PM 12/29 48.85N/95.70W Humboldt MN 4 SW 34 MPH 0455 PM 12/29 48.88N/97.15W Warren MN 6 SW 34 MPH 0940 AM 12/29 48.14N/96.84W Baker ND 1 N 34 MPH 0735 PM 12/29 48.17N/99.65W Barrie ND 2 SW (Ekre) 34 MPH 1205 AM 12/30 46.54N/97.14W Grand Forks ND 3 S 34 MPH 0640 PM 12/29 47.84N/97.07W Hillsboro ND 7 SE 34 MPH 1155 AM 12/29 47.35N/96.92W Rothsay MN 0.5 NW 34 MPH 0200 PM 12/30 46.49N/96.29W Donaldson MN 1 W 34 MPH 0410 AM 12/30 48.57N/96.91W Moorhead MN 34 MPH 0310 PM 12/29 46.85N/96.78W Warren MN 8 NW 33 MPH 1243 AM 12/30 48.24N/96.92W Mahnomen MN Airport 33 MPH 0956 AM 12/29 47.25N/95.88W Bemidji MN Airport 33 MPH 0855 AM 12/29 47.50N/94.92W Crookston MN Airport 33 MPH 0315 AM 12/30 47.85N/96.62W Waukon MN 3 S 32 MPH 0935 AM 12/29 47.33N/96.13W Roseau MN 11 S 32 MPH 0240 PM 12/29 48.69N/95.73W Detroit Lakes MN 1 N 32 MPH 0220 PM 12/30 46.85N/95.85W Devils Lake ND 32 MPH 0530 PM 12/29 48.10N/98.90W Kelliher MN 1 W 32 MPH 1207 PM 12/29 47.94N/94.46W Moorhead MN Airport 32 MPH 0735 PM 12/29 46.83N/96.67W Elbow Lake MN Airport 32 MPH 0236 PM 12/30 45.98N/96.00W Gatzke MN 3 ENE 32 MPH 0345 PM 12/29 48.44N/95.73W Williams MN 6 N 31 MPH 1240 PM 12/29 48.86N/94.98W Stephen MN 1 NE 31 MPH 1150 AM 12/29 48.46N/96.85W Cavalier ND 4 NNW 31 MPH 0305 PM 12/29 48.84N/97.64W Forest River ND 7 WNW 31 MPH 1125 AM 12/29 48.30N/97.60W Bemidji MN 2 WNW 31 MPH 0906 AM 12/29 47.50N/94.93W Detroit Lakes MN Airport 31 MPH 0755 AM 12/30 46.82N/95.87W Waskish MN Airport 31 MPH 1236 PM 12/29 48.15N/94.52W Badger MN 3 NE 31 MPH 1135 AM 12/29 48.82N/95.96W 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/Ice
...SNOWFALL REPORTS... Location Amount Time/Date Provider 5 NNE Luverne 17.3 in 0440 PM 12/29 Trained Spotter Forman 17.0 in 0711 PM 12/29 Public Frontier 17.0 in 0343 PM 12/29 Public Mapleton 14.0 in 0225 AM 12/30 Public Mayville 14.0 in 0146 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media Fargo 13.5 in 0813 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media Climax 13.0 in 0611 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media 2 N Fisher 13.0 in 0535 PM 12/29 Public 5 N Leonard 13.0 in 0150 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media Bemidji 13.0 in 1245 PM 12/29 Public Elbow Lake 13.0 in 1045 AM 12/29 Public Grand Forks 12.9 in 0654 AM 12/30 Official NWS Obs Mekinock 12.0 in 0502 PM 12/29 Public Hendrum 12.0 in 0400 PM 12/29 Public 1 SE Park Rapids 12.0 in 0230 PM 12/29 Trained Spotter 1 N Detroit Lakes 12.0 in 0220 PM 12/29 Public Crookston 12.0 in 1245 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media 2 N Holt 11.6 in 1258 PM 12/29 Public Saum 11.5 in 0535 PM 12/29 Public Moorhead 11.5 in 1054 AM 12/29 Broadcast Media Lisbon 11.0 in 0500 PM 12/29 Public Frazee 11.0 in 1230 PM 12/29 Public 3 ESE Westbury 10.4 in 0725 AM 12/30 Cocorahs Thorhult MN 10.2 in 0500 PM 12/29 COOP Twin Valley 10.0 in 0503 PM 12/29 Broadcast Media Pennington 10.0 in 0130 PM 12/29 Public Northwood 10.0 in 0130 PM 12/29 Public Kelliher 10.0 in 0845 AM 12/29 Public Callaway 9.5 in 1259 PM 12/29 Public Pelican Rapids 9.0 in 0255 AM 12/30 CO-OP Observer Hendrum 9.0 in 1035 AM 12/29 Broadcast Media Lidgerwood 8.5 in 0722 AM 12/30 CO-OP Observer Newfolden 8.5 in 1030 AM 12/29 Public Park Rapids 8.0 in 0830 AM 12/29 Public Roseau 7.0 in 0228 AM 12/30 Public 3 NW Oylen 6.5 in 0900 AM 12/29 Public Warroad 4 W 5.9 in 1000 PM 12/29 COOP Devils Lake 5.0 in 0534 AM 12/30 Broadcast Media 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.
Ice Accumulation Area
Temperatures in this area also warmed above 32 degrees at several times during the event, which caused melting that contributed to the slippery roads.
Photos
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| Winter Storm Watch Area NWS Grand Forks |
Winter Storm Warning Area NWS Grand Forks |
Blizzard Warning Area NWS Grand Forks |
NWS Grand Forks Parking Lot |
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| Car in Parking Lot (Nick Carletta) |
Road Conditions Dec 29, 2019 (ND, MN, and SD DOT) |
I-94 East of Moorhead (MN Highway Patrol) |
I-94 East of Moorhead, MN (MN Highway Patrol) |
Radar
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