Overview
Blizzard conditions developed within portions of the Red River Valley and Devils Lake Basin as a strong low pressure system moved into the Upper Midwest February 14-15, 2023.Impacts
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| North Dakota Road Conditions and Closures. Courtesy: North Dakota Department of Transportation. | Blizzard Storm Reports. |
Severe blizzard conditions led to impossible travel conditions for portions of the Devils Lake basin and southern Red River Valley starting the evening of February 14 lasting into the morning of February 15. This is in spite of the general lack of new snow (less than 6 inches) received from this event, as well as the overall lack of blowable snow around the region. Rather, the very strong winds exceeding 60 mph combined with just heavy enough snowfall to drive these severe blizzard conditions.
This event resulted in:
Wind
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 521 AM CST Wed Feb 15 2023 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS... Listed are reports for 40 mph and higher wind gusts Location Speed Time/Date Provider Fargo AP ND 66 MPH 1222 AM 02/15 ASOS Grand Forks AP ND 66 MPH 0724 PM 02/14 ASOS Halstad MN DOT 64 MPH 0915 PM 02/14 MESOWEST Herman MN DOT 63 MPH 0350 AM 02/15 MESOWEST East Grand Forks MN DOT 59 MPH 0320 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Wahpeton AP ND 58 MPH 0415 AM 02/15 AWOS Grafton AP ND 56 MPH 0935 PM 02/14 AWOS Cooperstown AP ND 56 MPH 0115 AM 02/15 AWOS Dilworth MN DOT 56 MPH 1210 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Donaldson MN DOT 56 MPH 0805 PM 02/14 MESOWEST Beltrami MN DOT 56 MPH 0230 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Kent MN DOT 56 MPH 1245 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Eldred MN NDAWN 55 MPH 0935 PM 02/14 NDAWN Prosper ND NDAWN 55 MPH 1120 PM 02/14 NDAWN Valley City AP ND 55 MPH 0955 PM 02/14 AWOS Crookston AP MN 55 MPH 1135 PM 02/14 AWOS Grand Forks ND AFB 55 MPH 0526 PM 02/14 ASOS Warren MN NDAWN 54 MPH 1145 PM 02/14 NDAWN Fergus Falls AP MN 54 MPH 1135 PM 02/14 AWOS Sabin MN NDAWN 53 MPH 0945 PM 02/14 NDAWN Hampden ND 3 SE 53 MPH 0858 PM 02/14 RAWS Cando AP ND 53 MPH 0955 PM 02/14 AWOS Moorhead AP MN 53 MPH 1055 PM 02/14 AWOS Mooreton ND NDAWN 52 MPH 0945 PM 02/14 NDAWN Gwinner AP ND 52 MPH 0115 AM 02/15 AWOS McHenry ND NDAWN 51 MPH 0845 PM 02/14 NDAWN Langdon AP ND 51 MPH 0955 PM 02/14 AWOS Fergus Falls MN DOT 51 MPH 0505 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Ada MN NDAWN 50 MPH 0945 PM 02/14 NDAWN Dazey ND NDAWN 50 MPH 1220 AM 02/15 NDAWN Galesburg ND NDAWN 50 MPH 0755 PM 02/14 NDAWN Campbell MN NDAWN 49 MPH 1145 PM 02/14 NDAWN Inkster ND NDAWN 49 MPH 0655 PM 02/14 NDAWN Wahpeton ND NDAWN 49 MPH 0210 AM 02/15 NDAWN East Grand Forks MN 4 N 49 MPH 0900 PM 02/14 DAVIS Cavalier AP ND 49 MPH 0815 PM 02/14 AWOS Devils Lake AP ND 49 MPH 0908 PM 02/14 AWOS Moorhead MN DOT 49 MPH 0130 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Hillsboro ND NDAWN 48 MPH 1120 PM 02/14 NDAWN Kempton ND NDAWN 48 MPH 0755 PM 02/14 NDAWN St Thomas ND NDAWN 48 MPH 1000 PM 02/14 NDAWN East Grand Forks MN 5 ENE 48 MPH 1055 PM 02/14 DAVIS Rothsay MN DOT 48 MPH 0200 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Mahnomen MN DOT 48 MPH 1100 PM 02/14 MESOWEST St Vincent MN DOT 48 MPH 0650 PM 02/14 MESOWEST Kennedy MN NDAWN 47 MPH 1040 PM 02/14 NDAWN Hope ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0935 PM 02/14 NDAWN Cooperstown ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0210 AM 02/15 NDAWN Edmore ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0830 PM 02/14 NDAWN Grand Forks ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0210 AM 02/15 NDAWN Logan Center ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0845 PM 02/14 NDAWN Mayville ND NDAWN 47 MPH 1120 PM 02/14 NDAWN Walhalla AP ND 47 MPH 0755 PM 02/14 AWOS Hallock AP MN 47 MPH 0915 PM 02/14 AWOS Adams ND NDAWN 46 MPH 1040 PM 02/14 NDAWN Pekin ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0530 PM 02/14 NDAWN Webster ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0750 PM 02/14 NDAWN Tenney MN DOT 46 MPH 0925 PM 02/14 MESOWEST Perley MN NDAWN 45 MPH 1120 PM 02/14 NDAWN Stephen MN NDAWN 45 MPH 1040 PM 02/14 NDAWN Crary ND NDAWN 45 MPH 1000 PM 02/14 NDAWN Fargo ND NDAWN 45 MPH 1055 PM 02/14 NDAWN Brampton ND NDAWN 45 MPH 1040 PM 02/14 NDAWN Lisbon ND NDAWN 45 MPH 1000 PM 02/14 NDAWN Park Rapids AP MN 45 MPH 0239 AM 02/15 ASOS Cando ND NDAWN 44 MPH 1055 PM 02/14 NDAWN Leonard ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0745 PM 02/14 NDAWN Pillsbury ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0310 AM 02/15 NDAWN Fosston AP MN 44 MPH 1255 AM 02/15 AWOS Elbow Lake AP MN 44 MPH 0455 AM 02/15 AWOS Michigan ND NDAWN 43 MPH 0945 PM 02/14 NDAWN Niles ND NDAWN 43 MPH 0620 PM 02/14 NDAWN Finley ND NDAWN 43 MPH 1000 PM 02/14 NDAWN Crary ND 15 N 43 MPH 0755 PM 02/14 DAVIS Brooks MN DOT 43 MPH 1210 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Frazee MN DOT 43 MPH 0125 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Osage MN DOT 43 MPH 0410 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Baker ND NDAWN 42 MPH 0845 PM 02/14 NDAWN Cavalier ND NDAWN 42 MPH 0845 PM 02/14 NDAWN Fingal ND NDAWN 42 MPH 0210 AM 02/15 NDAWN Lake Park MN DOT 42 MPH 0455 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Forest River ND NDAWN 41 MPH 0745 PM 02/14 NDAWN Maddock ND NDAWN 41 MPH 0830 PM 02/14 NDAWN Grand Forks ND 7 SW 41 MPH 1015 PM 02/14 CWOP Karlstad MN 1 NE 41 MPH 1206 AM 02/15 RAWS Thief River Falls AP MN 41 MPH 0338 AM 02/15 AWOS Mahnomen AP MN 40 MPH 1055 PM 02/14 AWOS Gatzke MN DOT 40 MPH 1145 PM 02/14 MESOWEST Thief River Falls MN DOT 40 MPH 0420 AM 02/15 MESOWEST Goodridge MN DOT 40 MPH 0100 AM 02/15 MESOWEST 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. $$
Photos & Video
WC MN - I94 (W/B)5 miles east of Moorhead. Working with MNDOT & tow trucks to remove vehicles and clear the roads. Some of these vehicles have been here since after 8pm last night. Now 2/15/23 8am roads are still closed. https://t.co/UtVIO3l2qZ (many more than what is in video) pic.twitter.com/O1XLX1ewty
— Sgt. Jesse Grabow (@MSPPIO_NW) February 15, 2023
Environment
An upper low moving out of the southwest CONUS merged with an upper trough over the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. As these upper systems interacted and merged, a surface low rapidly deepened to an unseasonably strong magnitude as it entered Minnesota. The strong pressure gradient combined with strong cold air advection rush down the back side of the low from Canada resulted in over 60 mph wind gusts within the Red River Valley, with widespread sustained winds over 35 mph across the region, as well as rapidly falling temperatures from the 20s and 30s to single digits either side of zero in less than 12 hours. As this system developed and winds increased, small snow bands developed on the northern and western flanks of the surface low. The combination of very strong winds and sufficiently heavy snow rates produced blizzard conditions within portions of the Red River Valley and Devils Lake Basin during the afternoon and overnight hours of February 14. As snow pulled away to the east the morning of February 15, blizzard conditions ceased despite gusty winds lingering.
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| Upper Air Analysis - 500 mb | Upper Air Analysis - 700 mb | Surface Analysis - WPC |
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