A significant and complex winter storm impacted much of western and central North Dakota beginning Wednesday, November 5th, and lasting into Friday, November 7th. Winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings were posted well in advance of the storm. Warning lead time averaged nearly 27 hours. The warnings encompassed the entire National Weather Service Bismarck County Warning Area, 36 counties, though not all counties had events or reached warning criteria. Counties in the Williston area and the Jamestown area were basically missed by the storm.
Blizzard conditions, or significant snow with near blizzard conditions, forced many schools and businesses to close and stranded travelers. Numerous roads were closed or no travel was advised due to the conditions.  In addition, numerous power outages were reported across central North Dakota due to a wintry mix of rain, freezing rain, and sleet that fell Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, preceding the stronger winds and change over to heavy snow.
On November third and fourth, an open wave upper level trough moving east across the central Rocky Mountains became a closed upper level low pressure system, and triggered lee-side cyclogenisis across the high plains of Wyoming. By Wednesday morning and afternoon, November fifth, the surface low moved into central and eastern parts of South Dakota, with a TROWAL (trough of warm air aloft) feature developing across the northern plains, along with plenty of moisture advection from the Gulf of Mexico. Warm air advection ahead of the surface low wrapped around into western and central North Dakota, producing moderate to heavy rain Wednesday, setting daily rainfall records. An addition, scattered thunderstorms in east-central North Dakota prompted one severe thunderstorm warning and yielded a report of large hail in Stutsman County. Farther west, rain quickly changed over to all snow Wednesday evening as colder air was pulled into the system.
Moderate to heavy snow continued across western North Dakota Wednesday night into Thursday morning, coinciding with increasing northwesterly winds which produced widespread blizzard conditions over the southwest part of the state. A band of thundersleet developed early Thursday morning over central areas. Later Thursday morning the storm system's dry slot worked into the Bismarck area cutting off precipitation altogether, at least temporarily.
By daybreak Thursday morning, as the initial TROWAL feature was dissipating across western North Dakota, a secondary TROWAL developed over southern Alberta and advancing south into north central North Dakota. Colder air aloft had also advected across the entire area by mid morning Thursday. By early Thursday afternoon, this secondary TROWAL continued to advance south, producing a band of heavy snow which lasted through Thursday night, and finally decreased Friday morning.
Additionally, strong north to northwest winds accompanying the snow produced widespread blizzard conditions central, with blizzard conditions continuing southwest due to the strong winds and existing heavy snow cover.
Conditions slowly improved statewide Friday as areas of snow dissipated and the strong northwest winds diminished. Storm total snowfall ranged from one to three inches around Williston and Jamestown, to six to twelve inches southwest through central, to a maximum of twenty inches in McHenry County. The strong wind resulted in blowing and drifting snow and so amounts had to be estimated. Snow drifts were four to six feet deep.

Heavy Snow in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 08:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A total of six inches of snow fell across southern and eastern portions of Mountrail County.

Heavy Snow in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 08:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A total of six inches of snow fell across southern parts of Renville County.

Heavy Snow in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 10:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Twelve to twenty inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across McHenry County. Broadcast media relayed a public report of 20 inches of snow in Voltaire, and 18 inches 11 miles east-southeast of Velva. Cooperative observers reported 15 inches of snow around Towner and Velva, 14 inches at Drake, and 12 inches at Balfour.

Heavy Snow in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 10:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Around six inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across southern and eastern Bottineau County.

Heavy Snow in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 08:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Around twelve inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Rolette County. The public reported 12 inches of snow in Saint John. Newspaper reports indicated widespread power outages across Rolette County Thursday morning into Friday due to the combination of rain, freezing rain, and heavy snow. Schools and businesses were forced to close Thursday.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 22:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Six to ten inches of total snowfall was reported by Thursday afternoon across Adams County. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to near 60 mph, combined with the snow, created a widespread and prolonged blizzard across Adams County with snow drifts five to six feet deep. City streets in Hettinger were impassable during the day Thursday. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Schools and most local businesses closed Thursday and Friday. In addition, the combination of heavy wet snow and high winds resulted in power outages in the town of Haynes Wednesday night through Thursday morning. The Automated Surface Observing System in Hettinger measured a 58 mph wind gust during the blizzard.

Blizzard in HETTINGER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 23:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to ten inches of total snowfall was reported by Thursday afternoon across Hettinger County. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts to near 55 mph, combined with the snow, created a widespread and prolonged blizzard across Hettinger County. Snow drifts were estimated to be five to six feet high. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Blizzard in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 03:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Six to ten inches of total snowfall was reported by Thursday afternoon across Stark County, with the heaviest snow amounts over central and eastern parts of the county. Richardton reported an estimate of eight inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts up to near 55 mph, combined with the snow Wednesday evening through Thursday night to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Interstate 94 was closed from Dickinson to Bismarck late Thursday afternoon through Thursday night.

Blizzard in DUNN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 04:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to nine inches of total snowfall was reported by Thursday afternoon across Dunn County, with the heaviest snow amounts over central and eastern parts of the county. Marshall reported an estimated snowfall of nine inches. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts to near 55 mph, combined with the snow late Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Blizzard in SIOUX, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Snowfall amounts by Friday morning ranged from four to seven inches across Sioux County. Fort Yates reported 6.5 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts up to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Snow drifts were reported to be three feet high. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.
In addition, patchy power outages from downed power lines were reported due to a combination of freezing rain and heavy wet snow. At the peak of the storm, 600 homes and businesses were without power across Grant and Sioux Counties. Power was eventually restored to all residents by  Sunday.

Blizzard in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Around nine inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Burleigh County. The National Weather Service Forecast Office in Bismarck reported a storm total of 9.1 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Snow drifts by Thursday evening were already three to four feet high in Bismarck.
Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. This included the closure of Interstate 94 from Dickinson to Bismarck and U.S. Highway 83 from Bismarck to Minot. In addition, schools and some businesses in Bismarck and the rest of the county were closed Friday due to the storm.

Blizzard in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Four to eight inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Emmons County, with the heaviest amounts across the northern third of the county. Hazelton had 7.7 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Blizzard in KIDDER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Six to eight inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Kidder County. The Tuttle area reported an estimated 8 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts up to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.  The winter storm developed into a full blizzard. See the earlier Kidder County winter storm entry for this same storm.

Blizzard in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Around five inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Logan County, with the heaviest amounts reported in the western half of the county. Napoleon reported 4.5 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts up to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions, and resulted in snow drifts four feet high. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Blizzard in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 16:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Seven to eleven inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across McLean County. Eleven inches of snow was reported in Wilton. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to around 55 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. This included the closure of U.S. Highway 83 from Bismarck to Minot late Thursday afternoon through Thursday night.

Heavy Snow in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 08:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Ten to around twenty inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Pierce County. Broadcast media relayed a public report of 22 inches of snow in Orrin. Cooperative observers reported snowfall amounts of twelve inches around Drake, McHenry County, and 13.5 inches in Rugby. Newspaper reports indicated roof damage to buildings in the Rugby area due to the heavy wet snow.

Blizzard in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 03:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Snowfall amounts by Friday morning ranged from six to eighteen inches across Grant County, with the heaviest snowfall occurring over western portions of the county. The city of Elgin reported a storm total of 18 inches along with snow drifts four feet high. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts to 50 mph, combined with the snow Wednesday evening through Thursday night to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Most schools and businesses were closed Thursday and Friday.
In addition, patchy power outages from downed power lines were reported due to the combination of freezing rain and heavy wet snow. At the peak of the storm, 600 homes and businesses were without power across Grant and Sioux Counties. Power was eventually restored to all residents by Sunday.

Blizzard in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 03:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 66.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Six to twelve inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Morton County, with the heaviest snow amounts over western parts of the county which experienced three days worth of snow. Near one foot of snow fell in Hebron, Glen Ullin, and New Salem. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to near 55 mph, combined with the snow Wednesday evening through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Interstate 94 was closed from Dickinson to Bismarck late Thursday afternoon through Thursday night. In addition, most schools and businesses in the county were closed Friday due to the storm.
A communication tower collapsed Thursday afternoon three miles south of New Salem due to the combination of rain, freezing rain, wind, and heavy snow. Damage was estimated at $66,000.
Emergency management advised people to not leave their homes Thursday night.

Winter Storm in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 06:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Six inches of heavy wet snow fell in Harvey. Gusty wind caused blowing and drifting snow. The winter storm developed into a full blizzard. See the later Wells County blizzard entry for this same storm.

Winter Storm in KIDDER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 06:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Tuttle had six inches of heavy wet snow along with gusty wind that caused blowing and drifting snow. The winter storm developed into a full blizzard. See the later Kidder County blizzard entry for this same storm.

Blizzard in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 09:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Around seven inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Oliver County, including the city of Center. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to near 55 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Most schools and businesses closed.

Blizzard in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 05:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Six to ten inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Mercer County, with the heaviest snow amounts over western parts of the county which experienced three days worth of snow. The Beulah area reported 9.4 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to near 55 mph, combined with the snow Wednesday evening through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. In addition, most schools and businesses in the county were closed Friday due to the storm.

Blizzard in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 16:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Seven to eleven inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday afternoon across Sheridan County. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to around 55 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Blizzard in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 10:30:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Around eight inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Wells County, including the Harvey area. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to around 55 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. The winter storm developed into a full blizzard. See the earlier Wells County winter storm entry for this same storm.

Heavy Snow in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 10:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six to eight inches of total snowfall was reported in the western part of Foster County.

Heavy Snow in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 06-NOV-08 08:00:00 to 07-NOV-08 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Six to twelve inches of total snowfall was reported by Friday morning across Ward County. Lighter amounts fell across the northwest part of the county with heavier amounts central and east. The Minot area recieved 9.5 inches of snow and Logan reported twelve inches.

Hail in STUTSMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 15:30:00 to 05-NOV-08 15:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: YPSILANTI
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Blizzard in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 22:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Seven inches of total snowfall was reported by late Thursday afternoon in the city of Bowman. Sustained wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 50 mph, combined with the snow, created a blizzard across Bowman County, with snow drifts estimated four to six feet high. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Schools and most businesses closed early on Thursday.

Blizzard in SLOPE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 23:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 18:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Sustained wind speeds of 25 to 40 mph, and gusts to near 50 mph, combined with falling snow, created a blizzard across Slope County. Snow drifts were four feet deep in southern and eastern parts of the county. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.

Heavy Snow in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 05-NOV-08 21:00:00 to 06-NOV-08 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Snowfall totals by Thursday morning across Billings County ranged from two inches in the west to six inches in the east.