Event Summary of the Blizzard 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.

📢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

— NWS Grand Forks (@NWSGrandForks) December 18, 2025

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.

Storm Reports

Snowfall Estimates

Ice Accumulation Estimates

Environment

Figure 1: From TropicalTidBits.com - GFS Model Initalized MSLP Evolution	Figure 2: Description of Key Features