A potent upper level wave moved from the eastern shores of Russia, across the Pacific, and into the western United States where it strengthened into a potent storm which lifted into the Northern Plains. Snow developed over western and central North Dakota during the early portion of December 25, while freezing rain developed in the warmer air over the southern James River Valley. Cold air wrapped into the system through the day which lead to strong winds and a widespread blizzard. Most roads were closed or blocked throughout the state of North Dakota by the morning of December 26. Over the southern James River Valley where freezing rain fell, widespread power outages occurred as many power poles broke, including primary and secondary feeds. Some smaller communities went without power until December 29.

Blizzard in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in HETTINGER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in SIOUX, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in KIDDER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in STUTSMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 18:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in LA MOURE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MCINTOSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Ice Storm in LA MOURE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Ice accumulation caused power poles and lines to snap across the county. The power cooperative that serves the county lost 300 poles and multiple lines affecting 1200 meter-services throughout their coverage area which includes the southern James River Valley of North Dakota. Some secondary feed poles and wires were still in need of repair as of late February 2017.

Blizzard in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Ice Storm in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Ice accumulation caused multiple power poles to snap throughout the county. Near one wind farm, 64 double poles supporting the feeder line were snapped in a three mile stretch. Repairs for this continued as of the end of February 2017. Communication towers were taken down, with the county repeater still remaining out of service as of the end of February. The power cooperative that serves the county lost 300 poles and multiple lines affecting 1200 meter-services throughout their coverage area which includes the southern James River Valley of North Dakota. Some secondary feed poles and wires were still in need of repair as of late February 2017.

Ice Storm in MCINTOSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 09:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 750.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Utility Company

Power outages occurred throughout the county. The power cooperative that serves mainly rural portions of McIntosh County reported 15-three phased poles near Lehr were snapped, along with multiple other poles and lines.  1,050 meter-services in rural areas experienced outages which are served by nine substations.  The investor owned utility which serves many of the communities reported multiple primary and secondary feeds down, with some communities going without power until December 29.

Blizzard in WILLIAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in SLOPE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 12:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 09:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in ROLETTE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in SHERIDAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in DUNN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.

Blizzard in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 25-DEC-16 14:00:00 to 26-DEC-16 14:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Heavy snowfall and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard.