A strong winter storm brought a wide variety of severe winter weather to the Northern Plains region the 11th and 12th.
The first wave of winter weather arrived during the morning hours of the 11th in the form of light freezing rain. This resulted in a light coating of ice on roads making travel hazardous across west and central North Dakota. The precipitation eventually turned over to all snow later in the morning. A band of heavy snow developed early in the afternoon across south central North Dakota, extending north and east into the northern Red River Valley by early in the evening of the 11th. The snow ended from the west during the morning hours of the 12th. Up to six inches of snow fell over parts of south central North Dakota.
Another area of heavy snow over eastern Montana on the 11th eventually developed east into northwest and north central North Dakota, where up to six inches of snow fell.
In addition to the snow, strong north winds gusting to over 35 miles per hour at times created widespread blowing and drifting snow reducing visibilities during the evening of the 11th through the morning hours of the 12th. The worst conditions occurred over northwest and far north central North Dakota where blizzard conditions were observed for several hours.

Blizzard in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 19:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 19:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 19:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 04:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 20:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 07:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Heavy Snow in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Six inches of snow was reported at Gackle.

Heavy Snow in LA MOURE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six inches of snow was estimated in western LaMoure County.

Heavy Snow in DUNN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:00:00 to 11-JAN-13 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six inches of snow was estimated in northern Dunn County.

Heavy Snow in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 20:00:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Six inches of snow was estimated in northwestern McLean County.

Blizzard in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in WILLIAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.

Blizzard in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 11-JAN-13 18:12:00 to 12-JAN-13 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Northwest winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover on the ground, resulted in several hours of near zero visibilities.