April 4-5, 2023 Blizzard

Overview

A powerful spring storm moved up into the Northern Plains on Tuesday, April 4th, causing bands of moderate to heavy snow to rotate from South Dakota into south central and southeastern North Dakota through the day. Moderate to heavy snow lasted into the early morning hours of Wednesday, April 5th, with the highest totals generally east of the Highway 83 corridor and into the James River Valley. Winds then increased during the late morning and afternoon hours on Wednesday, which promoted widespread blizzard conditions. Widespread wind gusts in the 40 to 60 mph range were observed through the afternoon. Many of the major routes across the eastern half of the state (including Interstate 94) were closed due to widespread blowing and drifting snow, with many sites seeing visibility values dropping to a quarter mile or less at times. Blizzard conditions then began to gradually subside from west to east during the evening of Thursday, April 6th.

Highway Patrol Facebook Post the morning of April 5th "The westbound lane on I-94 between from mile markers 272 to 275, east of Jamestown, is proving to be difficult. North Dakota Department of Transportation is working to make a path through several large snow drifts in this area. #patience #ndwx #NDRoads"

Photos & Video
Radar
Storm Reports

Photos & Video


Conditions in the Bismarck Area (NDDOT)	ND Highway 3 and 36 near Tuttle (NDDOT)	ND Highway 36 (NDDOT)	ND Highway 46 near Gackle (NDDOT)


I-94 West bound between Valley City and Jamestown (NDDOT)	I-94 West bound between Valley City and Jamestown (NDDOT)	I-94 Westbound Between Valley City and Jamestown (ND Highway Patrol)	Conditions near New Salem on I-94 (ND Highway Patrol)

Radar


Radar from 7:50 AM to 1:50 PM on Tuesday, April 4th	Radar from 1:50 PM to 7:50 PM on Tuesday, April 4th	Radar from 7:50 PM on Tuesday April 4th to 1:50 AM on Wednesday, April 5th	Radar from 1:50 AM to 7:50 AM on Wednesday, April 5th

Storm Reports

LOCATION                     AMOUNT    TIME/DATE       PROVIDER             
ASHLEY                       14.5 IN   0800 AM 04/05   COOP                 
MONTPELIER 3.3 ESE           13.3 IN   0700 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
7 NW BERLIN                  13.0 IN   0822 AM 04/05   PUBLIC
JAMESTOWN STATE HOSPITAL     12.1 IN   0600 AM 04/06   COOP                
5 ESE JAMESTOWN              12.0 IN   1018 AM 04/05   PUBLIC               
LA MOURE 4.6 ESE             12.0 IN   0700 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
EDGELEY 5.2 NW               10.3 IN   0800 AM 04/05   COCORAHS                             
ELLENDALE 7.3 NW             10.0 IN   0700 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
5 NE ASHLEY                  9.0 IN    0715 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
KULM 4.0 NNE                 8.3 IN    0800 AM 04/05   COCORAHS
PINGREE 5.4 NW               8.3 IN    0600 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
4 NW HAZELTON                6.3 IN    0747 AM 04/05   CO-OP OBSERVER       
HARVEY                       6.0 IN    0626 AM 04/05   BROADCAST MEDIA      
STEELE                       6.0 IN    0900 AM 04/05   PUBLIC                           
HUFF                         4.8 IN    1119 AM 04/05   PUBLIC               
BISMARCK 3 SSE               4.4 IN    0100 PM 04/05   OFFICIAL NWS OBS                
CATHAY 6.5 N                 4.0 IN    0700 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
BEULAH 0.4 S                 3.0 IN    0700 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
VELVA 3 NE                   2.9 IN    0800 AM 04/05   COOP                 
HAZEN                        2.7 IN    0600 AM 04/05   COCORAHS             
LAKE TSCHIDA                 2.3 IN    0800 AM 04/05   HADS                 
2 NNW MINOT                  2.0 IN    0229 PM 04/05   PUBLIC               
4.9 NW NEW SALEM             1.7 IN    0900 AM 04/05   COOP                 
BOWMAN                       1.5 IN    0800 AM 04/05   COOP                 
6 SSE LANDA                  1.5 IN    0900 AM 04/05   PUBLIC               
GLEN ULLIN                   1.4 IN    0749 AM 04/05   PUBLIC               
3.2 N WILLOW CITY            1.1 IN    0520 AM 04/05   COOP                 
UNDERWOOD                    1.0 IN    0800 AM 04/05   COOP                 
MAX                          1.0 IN    0800 AM 04/05   COOP                 

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.

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