Dakotas Hit by Powerful Snowstorm : Blizzard Closes Down Bismarck, Threatens Livestock Disaster

A powerful blizzard, sweeping snow into six-foot drifts with winds to 83 m.p.h., pushed out of the Rockies into the Dakotas and Minnesota today, shutting down the North Dakota capital and threatening disaster among livestock.

The same storm system created thunderstorms and large hail that raked the Plains from Nebraska to Texas. High winds in Broken Arrow, Okla., did more than $1 million in damage and injured two people, and more high winds knocked a truck off the road in Kansas, injuring a 7-year-old boy.

Blizzard warnings were issued for North and South Dakota, where snow already had drifted three feet along Interstate 94.

More than 20 truckers decided to wait out the storm at Bill’s Truck Stop, on I-94 north of Bismarck, N.D., when interstate traffic was limited to one lane.

‘Drifting Pretty Well’

“It’s drifting pretty well,” employee Dean Albrecht said. “There’s blowing snow and the visibility is way down.”

The storm hit the east-central part of the state the worst, officials said. Visibilities fell to zero from Jameston to the South Dakota line and two feet of snow fell overnight in Edgely, N.D., about 40 miles south of Jameston. Snow totals could reach 20 inches by tonight, officials said.

Bismarck, N.D., the capital, was closed, giving about 2,000 state workers the day off. Four school districts were shut down, giving 20,000 students an extended weekend, said Wayne Sanstead, Department of Public Instruction director.

The blizzard socked the western two-thirds of South Dakota, shutting down the Pierre Airport, schools and businesses. Only essential personnel were asked to report to work at the Pierre federal building, officials said.

Northeastern South Dakota, where temperatures were above freezing, received an additional two to three inches of rain Sunday, pushing floodwaters into homes and shutting down at least two schools.

Many Roads Under Water

“So many roads are under water we can’t begin to flag them,” said Ron Olson, Kingsbury County highway superintendent.

Temperatures were in the teens and 20s this morning over much of the northern Rockies and the northern Plains. Wind-chill values of between 10 below and 25 below zero were common across the Dakotas.

Livestock advisories were ordered in parts of North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska, where newborn calves and lambs were particularly vulnerable to heavy snow and cold temperatures.

The storm moved on a course that would take it through Minnesota and Wisconsin but would miss the bulk of the Great Lakes, meteorologist Pete Reynolds said.

Thunderstorms to the south early today produced hail as big as golf balls and winds gusting to more than 60 m.p.h. across Kansas and Oklahoma.