Overview
This is an event summary of the blizzard that impacted portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest into west-central Minnesota on December 18, 2025.Blizzard
A very potent, quick moving system traversing the southern tier of Canada / northern tier of the contiguous United States brough severe to extreme wind gusts and snow to a large area within the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest of the United States. These high winds combined with falling snow to create blizzard conditions within these regions.

A strong cold front associated with this system brough crashing temperatures from near and above freezing into the single digits above and below zero. Wind chills during blizzard conditions were hazardous, into the 30s below zero.


Rain and freezing rain just ahead of the crashing temperatures of the cold front led to large area of flash freeze and icy roads, exacerbating travel impacts during blizzard conditions.

The combination of icy roads and hazardous wind chills during blizzard conditions led to life-threatening travel conditions.
Potentially icy roads, very strong winds, and wind chills into the -30s all during blizzard conditions make travel potentially life-threatening.
— NWS Grand Forks (@NWSGrandForks) December 18, 2025
📢If you don't have to travel Thursday - don't.
If you do, please see these graphics for preparedness.#ndwx #mnwx https://t.co/ZkNQN1Adod pic.twitter.com/QVoNS0I42j
Impacts
This blizzard caused significant impact to travel across the impacted areas of eastern North Dakota into northwest and west-central Minnesota, particularly within the Red River Valley, Devils Lake basin, and Sheyenne River Valley. Other areas within North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota were impacted by this blizzard as well (outside of NWS Grand Forks area of responsibility).
This included multi-vehicle accidents as well as numerous travelers becoming stranded in life-threatening travel conditions.
Numerous schools were closed across the region.
Some power outages and infrastructure was impacted by high winds.
High Winds
The very strong winds aloft and very tight pressure gradient led to abnormally severe wind gusts over a large portion of the eastern Rocky Mountains and northern/central High Plains.

This includes numerous wind gusts exceeding 90 mph within Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota, including extreme wind gusts between 120 mph & 144 mph measured in Wyoming and Colorado.
Locally within eastern North Dakota into northwest and west-central Minnesota, gusts were generally in the 40-70 mph, with highest wind gust measured in Beltrami, MN, at 72 mph. Gusts were coincident with falling snow, leading to blizzard conditions.

...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS ABOVE 40 MPH DURING THE DECEMBER 18 2025 BLIZZARD AND HIGH WIND EVENT... Location Speed Time/Date Provider Beltrami MN DOT 72 MPH 1155 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Grand Forks AP ND 67 MPH 1250 PM 12/18 ASOS Donaldson MN DOT 64 MPH 1055 AM 12/18 MESOWEST E Grand Forks MN DOT 64 MPH 1120 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Warren MN DOT 64 MPH 1135 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Herman MN DOT 64 MPH 1205 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Fargo AP ND 63 MPH 1230 PM 12/18 ASOS Fergus Falls AP MN 62 MPH 0135 PM 12/18 AWOS St Vincent MN DOT 61 MPH 0815 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Wahpeton AP ND 61 MPH 1035 AM 12/18 AWOS 2 SE Calvin 60 MPH 0615 AM 12/18 Mesonet Grand Forks ND AFB 60 MPH 0726 AM 12/18 ASOS Grafton AP ND 60 MPH 0755 AM 12/18 AWOS 1 NW Ayr 60 MPH 1004 AM 12/18 Mesonet Rothsay MN DOT 60 MPH 1215 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Crookston AP MN 59 MPH 0615 AM 12/18 AWOS Dilworth MN DOT 59 MPH 0825 AM 12/18 MESOWEST 2 NE Pekin NDAWN 59 MPH 0904 AM 12/18 NDAWN 1 E Brocket NDAWN 59 MPH 0934 AM 12/18 NDAWN Cavalier AP ND 59 MPH 1015 AM 12/18 AWOS Halstad MN DOT 59 MPH 1035 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Warren MN NDAWN 59 MPH 1215 PM 12/18 NDAWN 2 E Emerado NDAWN 58 MPH 0804 AM 12/18 NDAWN 2 W Rothsay NDAWN 58 MPH 0144 PM 12/18 NDAWN 5 SSW Norcross 58 MPH 0144 PM 12/18 Mesonet Hampden ND 3 SE 57 MPH 0458 AM 12/18 RAWS 5 NW Prosper NDAWN 57 MPH 0822 AM 12/18 NDAWN Tenney MN DOT 57 MPH 1220 PM 12/18 MESOWEST 4 E Foxhome NDAWN 57 MPH 1242 PM 12/18 NDAWN 2 S Elbow Lake NDAWN 57 MPH 0110 PM 12/18 NDAWN Kent MN DOT 57 MPH 0120 PM 12/18 MESOWEST 1 N Webster NDAWN 56 MPH 0337 AM 12/18 NDAWN 6 SSW Rocklake 56 MPH 0529 AM 12/18 Mesonet McHenry ND NDAWN 56 MPH 1100 AM 12/18 NDAWN Gwinner AP ND 56 MPH 1155 AM 12/18 AWOS Moorhead MN DOT 56 MPH 1215 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Fergus Falls MN DOT 56 MPH 0110 PM 12/18 MESOWEST 2 N Maddock NDAWN 55 MPH 0557 AM 12/18 NDAWN 3 W Cooperstown NDAWN 55 MPH 0634 AM 12/18 NDAWN Langdon AP ND 55 MPH 0735 AM 12/18 AWOS 2 E Wolverton NDAWN 55 MPH 0919 AM 12/18 NDAWN E Grand Forks MN 16 N 55 MPH 0935 AM 12/18 DAVIS Valley City AP ND 55 MPH 1235 PM 12/18 AWOS 1 NW Fargo NDAWN 54 MPH 0822 AM 12/18 NDAWN Cando AP ND 54 MPH 0855 AM 12/18 AWOS Eldred MN NDAWN 54 MPH 0905 AM 12/18 NDAWN 1 SW Casselton NDAWN 54 MPH 1045 AM 12/18 NDAWN Campbell MN NDAWN 54 MPH 1200 PM 12/18 NDAWN Moorhead AP MN 54 MPH 1255 PM 12/18 AWOS St Thomas ND NDAWN 53 MPH 0750 AM 12/18 NDAWN Ada MN NDAWN 53 MPH 1100 AM 12/18 NDAWN Walhalla AP ND 53 MPH 1115 AM 12/18 AWOS 1 S Milnor NDAWN 53 MPH 1137 AM 12/18 NDAWN Stephen MN NDAWN 53 MPH 1150 AM 12/18 NDAWN Elbow Lake AP MN 53 MPH 1235 PM 12/18 AWOS 3 SW Mooreton NDAWN 53 MPH 0102 PM 12/18 NDAWN Frazee MN DOT 53 MPH 0325 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Munich ND 5 SSE 52 MPH 0505 AM 12/18 DAVIS Cooperstown AP ND 52 MPH 0535 AM 12/18 AWOS Humboldt MN NDAWN 52 MPH 0610 AM 12/18 NDAWN Edmore ND NDAWN 52 MPH 0700 AM 12/18 NDAWN 2 E Logan Center NDAWN 52 MPH 0919 AM 12/18 NDAWN E Grand Forks MN 5 ENE 52 MPH 1015 AM 12/18 DAVIS Wahpeton ND NDAWN 52 MPH 1205 PM 12/18 NDAWN Saint Vincent MN 52 MPH 0110 PM 12/18 DAVIS Fergus Falls MN 52 MPH 0239 PM 12/18 CWOP Crary ND NDAWN 51 MPH 0440 AM 12/18 NDAWN Hallock AP MN 51 MPH 0655 AM 12/18 AWOS Mayville ND 1 W 51 MPH 0705 AM 12/18 DAVIS 5 N Adams NDAWN 51 MPH 0803 AM 12/18 NDAWN Prosper ND NDAWN 51 MPH 0845 AM 12/18 NDAWN 3 SE Niles NDAWN 51 MPH 0918 AM 12/18 NDAWN Inkster ND NDAWN 51 MPH 0955 AM 12/18 NDAWN Dazey ND NDAWN 51 MPH 1040 AM 12/18 NDAWN Hillsboro ND NDAWN 51 MPH 1040 AM 12/18 NDAWN Baudette AP MN 51 MPH 0146 PM 12/18 ASOS Goodridge MN DOT 50 MPH 0805 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Pekin ND NDAWN 50 MPH 0905 AM 12/18 NDAWN Gatzke MN DOT 50 MPH 0940 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Stephen MN 6 NNW 49 MPH 0745 AM 12/18 DAVIS Webster ND NDAWN 49 MPH 0955 AM 12/18 NDAWN Devils Lake AP ND 49 MPH 1104 AM 12/18 AWOS Kempton ND NDAWN 49 MPH 1150 AM 12/18 NDAWN 1 NW Underwood NDAWN 49 MPH 0304 PM 12/18 NDAWN Niles ND NDAWN 48 MPH 0915 AM 12/18 NDAWN Grand Forks ND NDAWN 48 MPH 1050 AM 12/18 NDAWN Mahnomen MN DOT 48 MPH 1140 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Osage MN DOT 48 MPH 1245 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Pillsbury ND NDAWN 48 MPH 1250 PM 12/18 NDAWN Hope ND NDAWN 47 MPH 0720 AM 12/18 NDAWN Perley MN NDAWN 47 MPH 0725 AM 12/18 NDAWN Lisbon ND NDAWN 47 MPH 1010 AM 12/18 NDAWN Thief River Falls AP MN 47 MPH 1012 AM 12/18 AWOS Northwood ND 12 NW 47 MPH 1045 AM 12/18 DAVIS Logan Center ND NDAWN 47 MPH 1210 PM 12/18 NDAWN Brampton ND NDAWN 47 MPH 1210 PM 12/18 NDAWN Sabin MN NDAWN 47 MPH 1255 PM 12/18 NDAWN Maddock ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0600 AM 12/18 NDAWN Dresden ND 46 MPH 0621 AM 12/18 CWOP Flag Island MN 46 MPH 0655 AM 12/18 AWOS Finley ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0750 AM 12/18 NDAWN Cooperstown ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0805 AM 12/18 NDAWN 1 SW Viking NDAWN 46 MPH 0812 AM 12/18 NDAWN Michigan ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0835 AM 12/18 NDAWN Mayville ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0835 AM 12/18 NDAWN Leonard ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0905 AM 12/18 NDAWN 1 E Langdon NDAWN 46 MPH 1018 AM 12/18 NDAWN Fingal ND NDAWN 46 MPH 1100 AM 12/18 NDAWN Moorhead MN 1 NE 46 MPH 1115 AM 12/18 CWOP Mooreton ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0120 PM 12/18 NDAWN Fargo ND NDAWN 46 MPH 0135 PM 12/18 NDAWN Forest River ND NDAWN 45 MPH 0450 AM 12/18 NDAWN Grafton ND NDAWN 45 MPH 0530 AM 12/18 NDAWN Lisbon ND 18 E 45 MPH 0849 AM 12/18 RAWS Cavalier ND NDAWN 45 MPH 1010 AM 12/18 NDAWN Arygle MN 12 WNW 45 MPH 1100 AM 12/18 CWOP Devils Lake ND 45 MPH 1110 AM 12/18 CWOP 6 SW Fosston NDAWN 45 MPH 1136 AM 12/18 NDAWN Goodridge MN 12 WNW 45 MPH 0120 PM 12/18 RAWS Mahnomen AP MN 45 MPH 0215 PM 12/18 AWOS Lake Park MN DOT 45 MPH 0220 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Ulen MN NDAWN 45 MPH 0230 PM 12/18 NDAWN Park Rapids AP MN 45 MPH 0335 PM 12/18 ASOS Cando ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0440 AM 12/18 NDAWN Adams ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0530 AM 12/18 NDAWN Baker ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0535 AM 12/18 NDAWN Galesburg ND NDAWN 44 MPH 0810 AM 12/18 NDAWN St Thomas ND 4 W 44 MPH 0935 AM 12/18 DAVIS Fosston AP MN 44 MPH 1035 AM 12/18 AWOS Lake Itasca MN DOT 44 MPH 1125 AM 12/18 MESOWEST 4 N Fertile 44 MPH 1200 PM 12/18 Mesonet Bemidji MN 2 WNW 44 MPH 0106 PM 12/18 RAWS Mount Carmel ND 3 NW 43 MPH 0635 AM 12/18 DAVIS Cooperstown ND 4 SW 43 MPH 0805 AM 12/18 DAVIS Blanchard ND 43 MPH 0925 AM 12/18 DAVIS Red Lake MN DOT 43 MPH 0100 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Ekre ND NDAWN 42 MPH 0805 AM 12/18 NDAWN Karlstad MN 1 NE 42 MPH 0806 AM 12/18 RAWS Brooks MN DOT 42 MPH 0930 AM 12/18 MESOWEST Gilby ND 2 NW 42 MPH 1005 AM 12/18 DAVIS Grand Forks ND 7 SW 41 MPH 0630 AM 12/18 CWOP Grafton ND 4 NE 41 MPH 0700 AM 12/18 DAVIS Fargo ND 7 SW 41 MPH 0808 AM 12/18 CWOP Crary ND 15 N 41 MPH 0935 AM 12/18 DAVIS Langdon ND 41 MPH 0945 AM 12/18 DAVIS Alvarado MN 1 S 41 MPH 1015 AM 12/18 DAVIS Karlstad MN DOT 41 MPH 1220 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Waukon MN NDAWN 41 MPH 0215 PM 12/18 NDAWN Williams MN NDAWN 40 MPH 0725 AM 12/18 NDAWN Warroad AP MN 40 MPH 0755 AM 12/18 AWOS Hatton ND 1 SE 40 MPH 1035 AM 12/18 DAVIS Warroad MN DOT 40 MPH 1050 AM 12/18 MESOWEST E Grand Forks MN 40 MPH 1150 AM 12/18 CWOP Badger MN DOT 40 MPH 1215 PM 12/18 MESOWEST Bemidji AP MN 40 MPH 0115 PM 12/18 AWOS Elbow Lake MN 4 N 40 MPH 0255 PM 12/18 DAVIS 3 E Rollag NDAWN 40 MPH 0329 PM 12/18 NDAWN Parkers Prairie MN NDAWN 40 MPH 0410 PM 12/18 NDAWN 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
![]() |
![]() |
| Figure 1: From TropicalTidBits.com - GFS Model Initalized MSLP Evolution | Figure 2: Description of Key Features |
![]() |
Media use of NWS Web News Stories is encouraged! Please acknowledge the NWS as the source of any news information accessed from this site. |
![]() |