The second winter storm of the season was also a mixed precipitation event.  A "hybrid" surface low pressure system moved nearly straight east across the northern plains.  It tracked across northern South Dakota to Aberdeen, then toward Bemidji (MN) and Duluth.  A strong thermal gradient developed during the day on thursday (30th), with highs from around 20 near Cando, ND, to around 40 from Forman, ND, to Parkers Prairie, MN.  A swath of freezing rain fell first, coating many areas with a quarter inch of ice.  As the temperature fell, the freezing rain changed to snow.  The most snow, 6 to 10 inches, fell along the canadian border from Langdon to Pembina (ND) to Hallock to Roseau (MN).  Less snow fell south of this area, roughly 2 to 5 inches along the U.S. Highway 2 corridor.  Wind speeds did pick up as the low pressure system moved east, producing some visibility restrictions in blowing snow.  Quite a bit more snow fell north of the international border, prompting the closure of Manitoba Highways 75 and 59 north of the Pembina (ND) and Lancaster (MN) border crossings.  This stranded many Canadian hockey fans in Grand Forks (ND) and Thief River Falls (MN), who had been watching the men's (under age 20) International Hockey Federation tournament.  In Grand Forks, all motel rooms quickly filled up.  This prompted the American Red Cross to open a relief center in the Alerus Center, which supplied cots, blankets, and a breakfast to 385 people.  A semi-truck jacknifed near Joliette, ND, causing a 4 vehicle pileup behind it.  Three injured people were taken to a Grand Forks hospital.  One of the injured, a 27 year-old Winnipeg man, later died.  Two other vehicles collided just south of the semi-vehicle accident site.  Traffic was diverted for hours onto a gravel road.

Winter Storm in GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in EDDY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in RAMSEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in TRAILL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in STEELE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in NELSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in EASTERN WALSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in CAVALIER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in WESTERN WALSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in TOWNER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.

Winter Storm in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 29-DEC-04 15:30:00 to 31-DEC-04 06:00:00 (CST)
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.