A significant winter storm impacted all of western and central North Dakota beginning Saturday, December 13th, and lasting through much of Sunday, December 14th. A blizzard warning was posted well in advance of the storm, with the warning lead time more than a full day in advance. The blizzard warning encompassed the entire National Weather Service Bismarck County Warning Area, 36 counties, all of which verified.
Heavy snow and blizzard conditions, significant snow combined with very strong winds and near zero visibility, forced numerous road closures and the issuance of no travel advisories throughout Saturday and Saturday night. A statewide no travel advisory was then issued early Sunday morning by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. Conditions improved west to east later Sunday afternoon and into Sunday evening as snow ended and winds subsided. Wind chill warnings were then issued in the storm's wake, Sunday afternoon through Monday morning, for wind chill temperatures ranging from 40 below to near 55 below zero (See Storm Data entry for December 14 and 15).
A significant upper level trough moved onshore into the Pacific Northwest Friday afternoon the 12th, then deepened southeastward into the Intermountain West Friday night. This resulted in southwest flow aloft and large scale ascent spreading east-northeast towards the Northern Plains early on Saturday, as well as triggering lee-side cyclogenisis across the high plains of Wyoming. Surface low pressure then pushed east into the central plains Saturday afternoon and evening, coinciding with several shortwave impulses ejecting from the base of the upper trough and into North Dakota. Moderate to heavy snow spread across west and central North Dakota Saturday morning through Saturday night, then slowly dissipated west to east early Sunday morning through Sunday evening. Total snow amounts by Monday morning the 15th were as much as 13.8 inches at Williston. Bismarck had a foot, and six to eight inches of snow was common from Minot through Jamestown. The least amount of snow, two to five inches, fell across the far southwest and far south central areas, along the South Dakota border, and the far northeast, Rolette County.
Strong north to northeast winds of 25-35 mph, with gusts to 40 mph, combined with the moderate to heavy snow, as well as the deep snow cover already of the ground, to create widespread blizzard conditions across all of western and central North Dakota.

Blizzard in LA MOURE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from eight inches in Verona to ten inches in LaMoure.

Blizzard in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was eight inches in Napoleon.

Blizzard in KIDDER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches in Steele to eight inches in Streeter.

Blizzard in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The estimated storm total snowfall ranged from four to seven inches across Foster County.

Blizzard in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts were five inches at Flasher, six inches at Glen Ullin, nearly seven inches at New Salem, and around ten inches near Mandan.

Blizzard in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was six inches at Center.

Blizzard in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four inches at Zap to nearly six inches at Beulah.

Blizzard in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was six inches at Minot.

Blizzard in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from nearly four  inches at Garrison and six inches at Washburn, to nearly eight inches at Wilton.

Blizzard in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total estimated snowfall amounts ranged from four to seven inches across Sheridan County.

Blizzard in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from around five inches at Hazelton and six inches at Hague, to ten inches near Linton.

Blizzard in SIOUX, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts were around four inches.

Blizzard in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from two inches at Heart Butte and Carson, to four inches at Pretty Rock, and nearly six inches at Elgin.

Blizzard in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from nearly eight inches at Wilton to 12.4 inches at the National Weather Service office in Bismarck.

Blizzard in STUTSMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 40 mph, and gusts to near 50 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions.  Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Medina to nine inches at Jamestown. As a result of heavy snow and significant blowing and drifting snow, Interstate 94 was closed from Jamestown to Fergus Falls, Minnesota, from Saturday night through Sunday.

Blizzard in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Sykeston to eight inches at Fessenden.

Blizzard in SLOPE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount at Marmarth was six inches.

Blizzard in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Richardton to four inches at Taylor.

Blizzard in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The estimated storm total snowfall ranged from four to six inches across Burke County.

Blizzard in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from four inches in Wildrose to five inches in Ambrose.

Blizzard in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was measured at just over six inches in Watford City.

Blizzard in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was measured at eight inches near Stanley.

Blizzard in WILLIAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 12:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Official NWS Observations

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A record storm total snowfall of 13.8 inches was measured at the National Weather Service office in Williston.

Blizzard in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount in Lansford was nearly five inches.

Blizzard in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from five inches at Mohall to around two inches at Sherwood.

Blizzard in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from seven inches at Karlsruhe to four inches at Towner.

Blizzard in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts was one to two inches across Rolette County.

Blizzard in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 22:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall amount was two inches at Rugby. Higher amounts, closer to five inches, were estimated across southern Pierce County.

Blizzard in MCINTOSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Ashley to eight inches at Wishek.

Blizzard in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to near 45 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall was around five inches near Forbes and Fullerton.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall of two inches was measured at both Reeder and Hettinger.

Blizzard in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three to six inches.

Blizzard in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall in Bowman was measured at nearly two and a half inches.

Blizzard in DUNN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. The storm total snowfall was four inches at Dunn Center, five inches at Killdeer, and six inches at Halliday.

Blizzard in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. A storm total snowfall amount of four inches was reported at Trotters.

Blizzard in HETTINGER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 13-DEC-08 17:00:00 to 14-DEC-08 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Winds of 25 to 35 mph, and gusts to 40 mph, combined with falling snow and snow on the ground to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Storm total snowfall amounts ranged from three inches at Mott to nearly five inches at New England.