A complex winter weather event materialized across the Northern Plains November 8th through early November 11th. Three waves of winter weather impacted west and central North Dakota, the third wave being the most severe.
The first round of winter weather came in the form of snow, impacting northwestern North Dakota during the evening of the 8th through the morning of the 9th, as a lead short wave impulse tracked east across south central Canada. Snowfall reports with this first wave were well below six inches.
As the main upper level low approached North Dakota early on the 9th, the second wave of winter weather moved into the south. Mid level dry air advection combined with a moist upslope low level flow to result in a large area of freezing drizzle developing across southwest and south central North Dakota, which continued for several hours into the afternoon of the 9th.  This resulted in an extensive area of icy travel conditions prompting the North Dakota Department of Transportation to issue numerous travel advisories.
The third and most severe wave of winter weather arrived later on the 9th and continued through the 10th. Two heavy snow bands developed, the first extending across west central into northwest North Dakota from the evening of the 9th through the morning hours of the 10th. A three day storm total of eighteen inches was reported in Divide County.  The second heavy snow band developed in the afternoon of the 10th and continued into the evening, extending from south central North Dakota to the Turtle Mountains. The storm total snowfall for this second heavy snow band ranged from six to ten inches central, and up to seventeen inches in Rolette County.

Heavy Snow in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 09:00:00 to 11-NOV-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of eight inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of nine inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in DUNN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 19:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 21:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 20:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of twelve inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of eighteen inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 11:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of fourteen inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of seven inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in WILLIAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of twelve inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 11:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of fifteen inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 10:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of ten inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 10:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of eight inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 11-NOV-12 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 10:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of fifteen inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was estimated.

Heavy Snow in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 12:00:00 to 11-NOV-12 01:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of seventeen inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 10-NOV-12 10:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of eight inches was reported.

Heavy Snow in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-NOV-12 20:00:00 to 10-NOV-12 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A storm total snowfall of six inches was reported.