A significant and damaging early spring storm severely impacted much of south central North Dakota on Good Friday, April 2nd. Widespread damages to electrical utilities and nearly impossible travel conditions were common.
A strong mid level disturbance and area of surface low pressure, embedded within an eastward advecting long wave trough, lifted northeast through the central Rockies April 1st and into the Upper Mississippi Valley April 2nd.  Well above freezing temperatures ahead of the main storm resulted in precipitation beginning as all rain Thursday, April 1st.  Due to the strength of the mid level low and steep mid level lapse rates, convective precipitation bands and scattered thunderstorms developed late Thursday night into early Friday across south central North Dakota, dramatically increasing the dynamic cooling of the atmosphere.  This dynamic cooling, combined with strong cold air advection on the back side of the surface low, resulted in the moderate to heavy rain bands across the south central to eventually change over to a mix of sleet and heavy wet snow by daybreak Friday morning.  Moderate to heavy snow and sleet then continued into early Friday afternoon before gradually changing back over to rain and dissipating by Friday evening.  In addition, wind gusts to near 40 mph developed Friday morning and continued through much of the day as the surface low tightened the pressure gradient across the region.
A band of six to twelve inches of heavy wet snow fell from Grant and Morton counties through parts of Burleigh, McLean, and Sheridan counties. Snowfall amounts quickly dropped off west, north, and east of this area.  Numerous road closures and no travel advisories were issued by county and state officials due to several inches of snow and slush coating roads.
Most significant was the widespread utility damage that occurred, resulting in massive power outages to thousands of customers. The combination of heavy wet snow sticking to power lines and poles and the strong winds, resulted in thousands of power poles and hundreds of high voltage transmission towers collapsing.  Preliminary damage assessments from this storm exceeded thirty-five million dollars.

Winter Storm in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 14.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Six to ten inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Morton County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in widespread damages to electrical utilities, causing massive power outages across the county. In some areas it took anywhere from several days to several weeks to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was over fourteen million dollars in damage from this storm for Morton County.

Winter Storm in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 11.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Six to ten inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Grant County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in widespread damages to electrical utilities, causing massive power outages across the county. In some areas it took anywhere from several days to several weeks to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around eleven million dollars in damage from this storm for Grant County.

Winter Weather in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong spring storm system brought around two inches of wet snow to far southern McHenry County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages to portions of the county. Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around fifty thousand dollars in damage from this storm for McHenry County.

Winter Weather in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong spring storm system brought several inches of wet snow to Emmons County.  The main impacts from this storm was confined to transportation.

Winter Weather in KIDDER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong spring storm system brought several inches of wet snow to Kidder County.  Western portions of the county received the most accumulations.  The main impacts from this storm was confined to transportation.

Winter Weather in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong spring storm system brought up to four inches of wet snow to portions of Wells County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages to portions of the county. Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around thirty-five thousand dollars in damage from this storm for Wells County.

Winter Storm in SIOUX, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 7.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Up to eight inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Sioux County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in widespread damages to electrical utilities, causing massive power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around seven million dollars in damage from this storm for Sioux County.

Winter Storm in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 2.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Five to twelve inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Burleigh County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around two million dollars in damage from this storm for Burleigh County.  Western portions of the county were hit the hardest.

Winter Storm in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 950.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Up to six inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Oliver County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was just under one million dollars in damage from this storm for Oliver County.

Winter Storm in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 350.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Anywhere from two to twelve inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across McLean County.  Southern portions of the county received the most accumulations. The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around 350,000 dollars in damage from this storm for McLean County.

Winter Storm in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 700.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Up to five inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Sheridan County.  Southern portions of the county received the most accumulations. The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power.  Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around 700,000 dollars in damage from this storm for Sheridan County.

Winter Weather in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 02-APR-10 04:00:00 to 02-APR-10 17:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A strong spring storm system brought several inches of wet snow to mainly eastern portions of Mercer County.  The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in damages to electrical utilities, causing scattered power outages across the county. Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around thirty thousand dollars in damage from this storm for Mercer County.