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Storm Bringing ‘Historic’ Snowfall to Northern Plains Storm Bringing ‘Historic’ Snowfall to Northern Plains
(about 3 hours later)
An unusually early snowstorm is crippling parts of the Northern Plains, bringing heavy gusts of wet snow and plummeting temperatures across the central United States, according to the National Weather Service.An unusually early snowstorm is crippling parts of the Northern Plains, bringing heavy gusts of wet snow and plummeting temperatures across the central United States, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters were calling the expected October snowfall across parts of North Dakota “historic,” and predicted that the storm could deliver as much as three feet of snow to parts of north central North Dakota, where blizzard warnings were in effect.Forecasters were calling the expected October snowfall across parts of North Dakota “historic,” and predicted that the storm could deliver as much as three feet of snow to parts of north central North Dakota, where blizzard warnings were in effect.
On Friday morning, as areas of the state were blanketed in more than a foot of snow, Amanda Lee, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D., said winds were gusting at about 40 to 45 miles per hour, and were expected to increase throughout the day.On Friday morning, as areas of the state were blanketed in more than a foot of snow, Amanda Lee, a meteorologist with the Weather Service in Grand Forks, N.D., said winds were gusting at about 40 to 45 miles per hour, and were expected to increase throughout the day.
There had not yet been any reports of power outages, she said, but it was “highly possible” because leaves were still clinging to the trees.There had not yet been any reports of power outages, she said, but it was “highly possible” because leaves were still clinging to the trees.
The storm was also packing heavy moisture, Ms. Lee said, which will make snow removal challenging. The storm, which stretched about 300 miles as of Friday evening — between Aberdeen, S.D., to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and about 230 miles east of Minot, N.D., into the northwestern part of Minnesota — was also packing heavy moisture, which will make snow removal challenging.
“We get snow here,” she said. But, “we don’t usually talk in feet of snow.” “We get snow here,” said Ms. Lee. But, “we don’t usually talk in feet of snow.”
Another meteorologist for the service said Thursday that it was “the most difficult snow forecast and highest snowfall forecast of my 30 year career.”Another meteorologist for the service said Thursday that it was “the most difficult snow forecast and highest snowfall forecast of my 30 year career.”
Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota said that the state’s emergency operations plan had been activated and that state agencies, as well as the National Guard, were standing by.
“The extraordinary intensity of this early winter storm threatens to test the limits of local response capabilities across a large portion of our state,” Mr. Burgum said in a statement. “We’re committed to a whole-of-government approach to protect human life and property and ensure our citizens have the resources necessary to respond and recover from this crippling event.”
The large storm is mixing with an “anomalously cold air mass,” which has caused temperatures to drop across the central part of the country, according to the Weather Service, which predicted “widespread” record lows from the Southern and Central Plains to the Great Basin.The large storm is mixing with an “anomalously cold air mass,” which has caused temperatures to drop across the central part of the country, according to the Weather Service, which predicted “widespread” record lows from the Southern and Central Plains to the Great Basin.
Ahead of Denver’s first snowfall of the season, the city had been basking in 83-degree weather. But in the span of about 30 hours, the temperature dropped 70 degrees, a fluctuation that was the city’s second-largest since 1872, according to Jim Kalina, a meteorologist with the service in Denver. Ahead of Denver’s first snowfall of the season, the city had been basking in 83-degree weather. But in the span of about 30 hours the temperature dropped 70 degrees, a fluctuation that was the city’s second-largest since 1872, according to Jim Kalina, a meteorologist with the service in Denver.
The cold front howled through with 50- to 60-mile-per-hour winds.The cold front howled through with 50- to 60-mile-per-hour winds.
“You could feel it,” Mr. Kalina said.“You could feel it,” Mr. Kalina said.
Billings, Mont., also felt the quick freeze, and some parts of the state reported up to 16 inches of snow, according to the Weather Service.Billings, Mont., also felt the quick freeze, and some parts of the state reported up to 16 inches of snow, according to the Weather Service.
On Friday morning, portions of north-central North Dakota braced for the brunt, where blizzard warnings went into effect through early Saturday afternoon. On Friday, portions of north-central North Dakota braced for the brunt, where blizzard warnings went into effect through early Saturday afternoon.
Twenty-seven inches of snow were recorded in Langdon, N.D., according to the Weather Service in Grand Forks.
As heavy snow and high winds reduced visibility to near zero, and icy roads became treacherous for drivers, the North Dakota Department of Transportation issued a “no travel” advisory Friday morning to the central region and northeastern portions of the state.As heavy snow and high winds reduced visibility to near zero, and icy roads became treacherous for drivers, the North Dakota Department of Transportation issued a “no travel” advisory Friday morning to the central region and northeastern portions of the state.
Dozens of schools and businesses in the state were also closed.Dozens of schools and businesses in the state were also closed.
In a Facebook Live video , Carl Jones, a meteorologist with the service in Grand Forks, cautioned residents not to let their guards down. Governor Burgum said the state was also “exploring all possible means to assist the agricultural community,” which was already facing a challenging season because of an “unusually wet late summer and early fall” that caused disease and prevented farmers from harvesting crops.
“The worst is yet to come,” he said. Erika Kenner, a rancher in Leeds, N.D., told The Associated Press she felt helpless because the blowing, drifting snow prevented her from checking on her family’s herd of cows.
“I just hear the wind howling and think of those poor cows out there,” she said. “Cattle are tough but this kind of weather just wears on them.”