A strong Alberta Clipper brought strong winds, mixed precipitation, and colder air to the Northern Plains January 3rd and 4th.
Warm air spreading east ahead of the storm during the morning of the 3rd brought mainly freezing rain across much of western and central North Dakota. The freezing rain acted to harden the existing loose snow cover, and prevented blizzard conditions from occurring over a much larger area than what actually took place.  Once colder air was pulled into the region precipitation changed to all snow.
While snow was limited to no more than two inches, where the snow did fall it combined with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour to result in blizzard conditions. Locations impacted included southwestern North Dakota, north central North Dakota along and north of Highway 2, and the northern James River Valley.

Blizzard in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 19:00:00 to 04-JAN-14 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in SLOPE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in HETTINGER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. Transportation officials advised no travel.

Blizzard in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 17:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 23:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with a period of falling snow to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in STUTSMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 19:00:00 to 04-JAN-14 02:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.

Blizzard in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 03-JAN-14 15:00:00 to 03-JAN-14 21:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Social Media

Winds gusting to forty miles per hour combined with falling snow to produce a blizzard. There were numerous reports of zero visibility received through social media.