Overview
A strong arctic front pushed through the area from north to south on the night of February 10th, 2022. Strong cold air advection and sustained winds at 30-40 mph led to blizzard conditions in the Red River Valley into the morning of the 11th. With this cold front, there was also a flash freeze, where temperatures dropped from the 30s ahead of the front, to below zero behind the front.
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 816 PM CST Fri Feb 11 2022 ...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS FOR FEBRUARY 10 EVENING THROUGH FEBRUARY 11 AFTERNOON... Location Speed Time/Date Provider Fargo AP ND 60 MPH 0759 AM 02/11 ASOS Grafton AP ND 58 MPH 0955 AM 02/11 AWOS Grand Forks AP ND 58 MPH 0636 AM 02/11 ASOS Bowesmont I-29 MP 196 56 MPH 0431 AM 02/11 NDDOT Fergus Falls AP MN 56 MPH 0935 AM 02/11 AWOS Grand Forks AP ND 55 MPH 0413 AM 02/11 ASOS Grand Forks I-29 MP 145 55 MPH 0416 AM 02/11 NDDOT Warren MN 6 SW 55 MPH 0345 AM 02/11 NDAWN Wahpeton AP ND 54 MPH 0955 AM 02/11 AWOS Hampden ND 3 SE 54 MPH 0658 AM 02/11 RAWS Fargo AP ND 54 MPH 0326 AM 02/11 ASOS Tenney MN 2 W 54 MPH 0740 AM 02/11 MNDOT E Grand Forks MN 6 SE 54 MPH 0151 AM 02/11 MNDOT Hendrum MN 4 ENE 53 MPH 0819 AM 02/11 MNDOT Grafton AP ND 52 MPH 0615 AM 02/11 AWOS Hampden ND 3 SE 52 MPH 0558 AM 02/11 RAWS Cavalier AP ND 52 MPH 0615 AM 02/11 AWOS Leeds ESS,US-2 52 MPH 1116 PM 02/10 NDDOT Crookston AP MN 52 MPH 0435 AM 02/11 AWOS Fergus Falls AP MN 52 MPH 0415 AM 02/11 AWOS Donaldson MN 1 W 52 MPH 0520 AM 02/11 MNDOT Walhalla AP ND 51 MPH 0415 AM 02/11 AWOS Eldred MN 2 W 51 MPH 0855 AM 02/11 NDAWN St Thomas ND 2 WSW 50 MPH 0155 AM 02/11 NDAWN Tenney MN 2 W 50 MPH 0535 AM 02/11 MNDOT Rothsay MN 0.5 NW 50 MPH 1040 AM 02/11 MNDOT Cando AP ND 49 MPH 0115 AM 02/11 AWOS Wahpeton ND 6 N 49 MPH 0500 AM 02/11 NDAWN Dazey ND 2 E 49 MPH 1245 AM 02/11 NDAWN Eldred MN 2 W 49 MPH 0510 AM 02/11 NDAWN Hendrum MN 4 ENE 49 MPH 0404 AM 02/11 MNDOT Ada MN 1 N 49 MPH 0510 AM 02/11 NDAWN Moorhead MN 49 MPH 0305 AM 02/11 MNDOT Moorhead AP MN 49 MPH 0555 AM 02/11 AWOS Wahpeton ND 13 MP 384.5 48 MPH 1031 AM 02/11 NDDOT Edmore ND 3 NW 48 MPH 0350 AM 02/11 NDAWN Michigan ND 2 W 48 MPH 0310 AM 02/11 NDAWN Pekin ND 2 NE 48 MPH 0325 AM 02/11 NDAWN McHenry ND 8 N 48 MPH 0445 AM 02/11 NDAWN Buffalo ND 38 MP 10 48 MPH 0801 AM 02/11 NDDOT Prosper ND 5 NW 48 MPH 1140 AM 02/11 NDAWN Leeds ESS,US-2 48 MPH 0116 AM 02/11 NDDOT Valley City AP ND 48 MPH 0115 AM 02/11 AWOS Campbell MN 3 SE 48 MPH 1115 AM 02/11 NDAWN Kennedy MN 6 W 48 MPH 0425 AM 02/11 NDAWN Dilworth MN 2 S 48 MPH 0620 AM 02/11 MNDOT Detroit Lakes AP MN 48 MPH 0415 AM 02/11 AWOS Lake Park MN 0.5 W 48 MPH 0805 AM 02/11 MNDOT Detroit Lakes AP MN 48 MPH 0935 AM 02/11 AWOS Wahpeton AP ND 47 MPH 0515 AM 02/11 AWOS Grand Forks ND AFB 47 MPH 0413 AM 02/11 ASOS Rothsay MN 0.5 NW 47 MPH 0645 AM 02/11 MNDOT Lake Park MN 0.5 W 47 MPH 0520 AM 02/11 MNDOT Hillsboro ND 7 SE 46 MPH 0720 AM 02/11 NDAWN Devils Lake AP ND 46 MPH 0424 AM 02/11 AWOS Cooperstown ND 3 W 46 MPH 0235 AM 02/11 NDAWN Dazey ND 2 E 46 MPH 0255 AM 02/11 NDAWN Campbell MN 3 SE 46 MPH 0530 AM 02/11 NDAWN Elbow Lake AP MN 46 MPH 0555 AM 02/11 AWOS Sabin MN 2 NE 46 MPH 0715 AM 02/11 NDAWN Ulen MN 7 SSE 46 MPH 0345 AM 02/11 NDAWN Adams ND 5 N 45 MPH 0535 AM 02/11 NDAWN Hillsboro ND 7 SE 45 MPH 0435 AM 02/11 NDAWN Gwinner AP ND 45 MPH 0215 AM 02/11 AWOS Lisbon ND 2 W 45 MPH 0205 AM 02/11 NDAWN Webster ND 2 N 45 MPH 0325 AM 02/11 NDAWN Emerado US 2 MP 340.4 45 MPH 0601 AM 02/11 NDDOT Buffalo ND 38 MP 10 45 MPH 0301 AM 02/11 NDDOT Prosper ND 5 NW 45 MPH 0540 AM 02/11 NDAWN Brampton ND 2 WSW 44 MPH 0230 AM 02/11 NDAWN Cavalier ND 4 NNW 44 MPH 0620 AM 02/11 NDAWN Kempton ND 6 SE 44 MPH 0310 AM 02/11 NDAWN Fingal ND 4 W 44 MPH 0135 AM 02/11 NDAWN Stephen MN 1 NE 44 MPH 0610 AM 02/11 NDAWN Sabin MN 2 NE 44 MPH 0605 AM 02/11 NDAWN Forest River ND 7 WNW 43 MPH 0305 AM 02/11 NDAWN Cando ND 2 SE 43 MPH 0100 AM 02/11 NDAWN Wahpeton ND 13 MP 384.5 43 MPH 0631 AM 02/11 NDDOT Mooreton ND 3 SW 43 MPH 0635 AM 02/11 NDAWN Crary ND 1 E 43 MPH 0635 AM 02/11 NDAWN Crary ND 1 E 43 MPH 0900 AM 02/11 NDAWN Logan Center ND 2 E 43 MPH 0425 AM 02/11 NDAWN Grand Forks ND 3 S 43 MPH 0555 AM 02/11 NDAWN Leonard ND 5 N 43 MPH 0425 AM 02/11 NDAWN Baker ND 1 N 43 MPH 1125 PM 02/10 NDAWN Bemidji MN 2 WNW 43 MPH 0906 PM 02/10 RAWS Mayville ND 2 E 42 MPH 0525 AM 02/11 NDAWN Finley ND 1 NNW 42 MPH 0445 AM 02/11 NDAWN Fargo ND 1 NNW 42 MPH 0650 AM 02/11 NDAWN Niles ND 3 SE 42 MPH 1050 PM 02/10 NDAWN Pillsbury ND 1 N 42 MPH 0620 AM 02/11 NDAWN Parkers Prairie MN 2 NW 42 MPH 0445 AM 02/11 NDAWN Perley MN 6 E 42 MPH 0545 AM 02/11 NDAWN Hope ND 5 NE 41 MPH 0405 AM 02/11 NDAWN Lisbon ND 18 E 41 MPH 0549 AM 02/11 RAWS Inkster ND 3 W 41 MPH 0135 AM 02/11 NDAWN Waukon MN 3 S 41 MPH 0335 AM 02/11 NDAWN Detroit Lakes MN 1 N 41 MPH 0420 AM 02/11 RAWS Grafton ND 10 E 40 MPH 0335 AM 02/11 NDAWN Devils Lake ND 40 MPH 0335 AM 02/11 CWOP Verndale MN 2 NW 40 MPH 0640 AM 02/11 MNDOT Mahnomen AP MN 40 MPH 0335 AM 02/11 AWOS Mahnomen MN 3 SSE 40 MPH 0605 AM 02/11 MNDOT Humboldt MN 4 SW 40 MPH 0650 AM 02/11 NDAWN Bemidji AP MN 40 MPH 0755 PM 02/10 AWOS Brooks MN 3 S 39 MPH 0350 AM 02/11 MNDOT Gatzke MN 3 ENE 39 MPH 0645 AM 02/11 MNDOT Flag Island MN 39 MPH 0515 AM 02/11 AWOS Fort Totten ND 5 ENE 38 MPH 0151 AM 02/11 RAWS Thief River Falls AP MN 38 MPH 0432 AM 02/11 AWOS Baudette AP MN 38 MPH 0533 AM 02/11 ASOS 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
Here is a map showing new snowfall received from the evening of February 10th into the 11th.
Snowfall with the actual cold front itself was minimal, due to the warm-up in the afternoon leading to a lot of precipitation being liquid instead of frozen. The majority of areas received less than an inch of accumulation. Areas within and east of the central Red River Valley received about an inch of accumulation, with the North Dakota side of the river receiving upwards of 2 inches in some locations.
Photos & Video
Blizzard Conditions
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| Time-lapse of Blizzard conditions in downtown Cavalier, ND (EarthCam) |
Blizzard conditions seen on livestream in Wahpeton, ND(WDAY webcam) |
Conditions outside the Grand Forks, ND Amtrak station (NWS Meteorologist Carl Jones) |
Capture from the Lake Park MN Road webcam (MNDOT) |
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| Mooreton, ND Webcam (NDDOT) |
Plow camera from Wilkin county, MN(MNDOT) |
Plow camera from US59 in MN (MNDOT) |
Plow camera from Hwy75 S outside of Moorhead, MN. (MNDOT) |
Radar
Radar Imagery from 6 PM on February 10th through 9 AM on February 11th
Storm Reports
Below is our Preliminary LSR Summary. In addition to multiple reports of blizzard conditions, safety concerns resulted in the closure of many roads within the Red River Valley on both the North Dakota and Minnesota sides. Icy conditions and poor visibilities led to stranded motorists and accidents, some incurred serious injuries.
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| Road closures in both Minnesota and North Dakota (NDDOT and MNDOT) |
​PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
933 PM CST FRI FEB 11 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0115 AM BLIZZARD 2 SW LANGDON 48.75N 98.40W
02/11/2022 CAVALIER ND AWOS
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS OBSERVED FOR 3 HOURS AT
AWOS STATION KD55 LANGDON AP ND. STILL
ONGOING.
1256 AM BLIZZARD GRAND FORKS AFB 47.97N 97.40W
02/11/2022 GRAND FORKS ND AWOS
KRDR REPORTS BLIZZARD FROM 12:56 AM TO 7:56
AM. BLOWING SNOW ISSUES PERSISTED WELL AFTER
BUT ABOVE BLIZZARD CRITERIA. I-29 SHUT DOWN
NORTH OF GRAND FORKS.
1220 AM BLIZZARD 3 S BROOKS 47.77N 96.00W
02/11/2022 RED LAKE MN MESONET
FREQUENT VISIBILITY BELOW 0.50SM OVERNIGHT
WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AT OR ABOVE 35MPH FROM
12:20AM TO 8AM.
0235 AM BLIZZARD 2 ESE GRAFTON 48.40N 97.37W
02/11/2022 WALSH ND AWOS
KGAF REPORTS BLIZZARD FROM 2:35 AM THROUGH
10:15 AM. I-29 SHUT DOWN NORTH OF GRAND
FORKS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER.
1035 PM BLIZZARD LANGDON 48.76N 98.37W
02/10/2022 CAVALIER ND AWOS
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS LASTING FROM 10:35 PM
WITH FALLING SNOW TO 6:35 AM WITH SUSTAINED
WINDS AND GUSTS ABOVE 35MPH.
0215 AM BLIZZARD 3 SE DILWORTH 46.84N 96.65W
02/11/2022 CLAY MN AWOS
KJKJ REPORTS <0.50SM VISIBILITY FROM 2:15AM
TO 11:15 AM WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AT OR ABOVE
35 MPH. I-94 IN MINNESOTA WAS SHUT DOWN FROM
MOORHEAD TO FERGUS FALLS. MINNESOTA HIGHWAYS
ALSO SHUT DOWN IN WC MINNESOTA.
0240 AM BLIZZARD 1 N ROTHSAY 46.49N 96.29W
02/11/2022 WILKIN MN MESONET
VISIBILITY AT OR BELOW 1/2SM FROM 2:40 AM TO
12:05 PM WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AT OR ABOVE 35
MPH. I-94 AND NUMEROUS MINNESOTA HIGHWAYS
SHUT DOWN.
0807 PM BLIZZARD 2 WNW DETROIT LAKES 46.83N 95.89W
02/11/2022 BECKER MN AWOS
KDTL REPORTS LESS THAN 0.50SM VISIBILITY
FROM 2:55 AM TO 12:20 PM WITH FREQUENT GUSTS
ABOVE 35 MPH. NUMEROUS MINNESOTA HIGHWAYS
CLOSED.
0315 AM BLIZZARD 4 W FERGUS FALLS 46.29N 96.15W
02/11/2022 OTTER TAIL MN PUBLIC
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS REPORTED BETWEEN
MOORHEAD AND DETROIT LAKES. NUMEROUS
MINNESOTA HIGHWAYS SHUT DOWN.
0150 AM BLIZZARD FARGO 46.93N 96.81W
02/11/2022 CASS ND ASOS
KFAR REPORTS BLIZZARD CONDITIONS FROM 1:50
AM LASTING THROUGH 11:55 AM, WITH BRIEF
IMPROVEMENTS INTERMITTENTLY. I-29 SOUTH OF
FARGO SHUT DOWN.
0159 AM BLIZZARD 4 ENE HENDRUM 47.30N 96.73W
02/11/2022 NORMAN MN MESONET
VISIBILITY WELL BELOW 0.50SM FROM 1:59AM TO
12:19 PM....WINDS SUSTAINED AT OR ABOVE 35
MPH.
0255 AM BLIZZARD 2 S WAHPETON 46.24N 96.61W
02/11/2022 RICHLAND ND AWOS
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS REPORTED FROM 2:55 AM TO
1:15 PM. I-29 SHUT DOWN FROM FARGO TO THE SD
BORDER.
1115 PM BLIZZARD CAVALIER 48.80N 97.62W
02/10/2022 PEMBINA ND AWOS
BLIZZARD CONDITIONS BEGAN AT 11:15 PM
LASTING THROUGH 10:15 AM. FREQUENT
VISIBILITY <0.25SM.
1200 AM BLIZZARD 1 W DONALDSON 48.57N 96.92W
02/11/2022 KITTSON MN MESONET
MNDOT MN024 REPORTS VISIBILITY BELOW 0.25SM
FROM 12:00AM TO 11:35AM WITH SUSTAINED WINDS
ABOVE 35MPH.
0115 AM BLIZZARD 5 N CROOKSTON 47.84N 96.62W
02/11/2022 POLK MN AWOS
KCKN REPORTS 0.25SM VISIBILITY BEGINNING AT
1:15 AM WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AT OR ABOVE
35MPH. VISIBILITY REMAINED BELOW 1/2SM UNTIL
12:55PM.
&&
$$
Environment
Blizzard conditions were caused by a cold front associated with an Alberta clipper system. Behind this cold front, there was strong cold air advection and an upper level wave that lead to snowfall. The strong cold air advection and the snowfall led to reduced visibilities from blowing snow. In addition, convective snow showers developed post frontal, keeping blizzard conditions going well into the daylight hours on the 11th. You can really see the strong CAA in the 850mb Temperature Advection and 925mb GIFs.
All GIFs are from 0000 - 1200UTC on the 11th.
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| Figure 1: 300mb heights, divergence, and wind speeds | Figure 2: 500mb heights, temperature, and wind speeds | Figure 3: Differential Vorticity Advection from 700-400mb, with 500mb heights and vorticity |
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| Figure 4: 850mb Temperature Advection | Figure 5: 925mb heights, temperature, and wind speeds |
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