A WINTER WONDERLAND? Winter Storm Blanche brings state to halt

Bowman County and the National Weather Service weren’t sure what to expect as winter weather moved towards North Dakota over the weekend.

Navigating around Bowman County becomes difficult throughout the week with piling snow, ice and limited visibility. (Pioneer Photo by Bryce Martin)

It didn’t take long for the National Weather Service’s forecast for a severe winter storm to become a reality for southwest North Dakota. Several inches of snow, made worse by the blustery, fierce wind, covered land across the state, closing major highways, roadways and businesses. Bowman resident Sarah Steiner frustratingly shovels snow on Main Street during the first day of the storm Tuesday. (Pioneer Photo by Bryce Martin)

Employees out shoveling snow Monday through Wednesday was a frequent sight throughout the winter storm. (Pioneer Photo by Bryce Martin)

By BRYCE MARTIN
Bowman County Pioneer | [email protected]

Bowman County and the National Weather Service weren’t sure what to expect as winter weather moved towards North Dakota over the weekend.

Original forecasts by the NWS in Bismarck called for up to 12 inches, but that was far from the near 20 inches of snow that actually fell in some parts of the state. Locally, however, the prediction was close.

Varying reports indicated southwest North Dakota, particularly Bowman County, received near eight inches of snow, topped with several centimeters of ice and dramatically reduced visibilities from near 55 mph wind gusts.

A winter storm warning was issued beginning Nov. 26, extending to 5 p.m. Nov. 28, but it was canceled late Tuesday, downgraded to a winter storm advisory.

The heavy, fast snow was enough to create several-foot-tall drifts and caused a two-hour delay on Nov. 27 for Bowman County Schools.

But the cold weather is far from over as the National Weather Service is calling for some of the coldest temperatures of the season beginning Monday. Overnight temperatures could fall well below zero.