Ice Storm in Dickey, North Dakota

Freezing rain developed over Dickey County, where over a half-inch of liquid precipitation fell in freezing temperatures, with only two inches of snow on the back side of the system. This led to damaged power lines and poles, particularly over the eastern part of the county. Over 150 meters were without power at one point due to the damaged lines and poles.

A Colorado low lifted into the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Although the system was not very slow moving, it was a very dynamic system which produced very high snowfall rates of nearly three inches per hour in some locations. Many locations over southwest into central North Dakota received over one foot of snow, with the heaviest snowfall of around two feet falling over south central North Dakota in the Bismarck and Mandan areas. Strong winds combined with the snow over south central North Dakota into much of the James River Valley to produce blizzard conditions. Over Dickey County, warmer air aloft resulted in an extended period of freezing drizzle and freezing rain resulting in significant ice accumulations, especially over the eastern portion of the county. This led to damage to power infrastructure, and power outages to over 150 meters.