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From 40-Foot-High Snow Drifts To 70-MPH Winds, Go Inside The Brutal North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966

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From 40-Foot-High Snow Drifts To 70-MPH Winds, Go Inside The Brutal North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966


The brutal blizzard of 1966 hit many U.S. states, but North Dakota was arguably struck the hardest — with wind gusts exceeding 70 miles per hour, snowfall totaling over 30 inches, and severely limited visibility that remained near-zero for about 30 hours.

NOAA Photo LibraryNorth Dakota Department of Transportation employee Bill Koch standing next to power lines that were buried by a snow drift after the North Dakota blizzard of 1966.

People living in North Dakota are used to extreme weather. In the summer, thunderstorms are common and temperatures can spike to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, residents habitually face bitterly cold winds and temperatures that plunge far below freezing. But the North Dakota blizzard of 1966 stands out as one of the worst in U.S. history.

It began in March, a time when much of the country is starting to think about spring. On March 2nd, it began to snow heavily in North Dakota, and wind gusts of up to 70 miles an hour created mountainous snow drifts across the state. Visibility was close to zero in some areas, and certain places even suffered through 30 straight hours of near-zero visibility.

The North Dakota blizzard of 1966 lasted through March 4th, and killed at least 18 people in North Dakota and the surrounding states, as well as thousands of livestock. It stands as a harrowing reminder of the power of nature — even in places used to extreme weather — and the deadliness of winter storms.

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How A “Colorado Low” Brought An Intense Winter Storm To The Great Plains

By 1966, North Dakota had endured several intense blizzards. In January 1888, a violent blizzard killed 112 people and decimated the state’s open range cattle industry. Then, in March 1941, another blizzard whipped up with little warning, killing 39 people, many of whom were trapped in their cars. But the North Dakota blizzard of 1966, while less deadly, brought some of the worst conditions to the state in March 1966.

Great Plains' Weather Conditions In March 1966

National Weather ServiceThe North Dakota blizzard of 1966 was part of a “Colorado Low” weather system.

Then, the National Weather Service reports that a weather system known as a “Colorado Low” started moving north up through South Dakota. This kind of weather system, a low-pressure system that usually occurs in the winter, forms around the southwest portion of the U.S. and then makes its way east. It can bring very intense precipitation, which is exactly what it did in North Dakota.

On March 2nd, heavy snow began to fall. But even though temperatures were relatively mild at first — in the 20s — and though people had plenty of warning about the coming storm, the blizzard would be one of the worst in the state’s history.

Wind, Snow, And Low Visibility: Inside The North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966

As the State Historical Society of North Dakota recounts, the North Dakota blizzard of 1966 came with plenty of warning, but most people had never experienced a snowstorm so powerful before. Though travelers were instructed to stay off the highway, and city residents were advised to stay indoors, some still became trapped in the storm, and others were killed as the blizzard unfurled across the state.

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Train Buried In The Snow

North Dakota Department of Transportation/FacebookA train buried in the snow during the North Dakota blizzard of 1966.

Between March 2nd and March 4th, the state was pummeled by heavy snowfall, with some locations receiving 20 to 30 inches of snow. Meanwhile, icy winds with gusts as high as 70 miles per hour howled through the air, creating massive snow drifts. Some of these snow drifts grew to be 30 or even 40 feet tall, practically burying power lines and road signs. But one of the worst parts of the North Dakota blizzard of 1966 was the near-zero level of visibility.

Places like Fargo had little or no visibility for 30 straight hours. The outside world was practically blind white, and this was extremely dangerous.

The Peril Of The North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966

In the end, at least 18 people died due to the North Dakota blizzard of 1966 (five in North Dakota itself, and others in nearby states like Minnesota and South Dakota). The conditions proved to be deadly in different ways.

Snow Drifts During The North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966

State Historical Society of North DakotaHere, a North Dakota resident escapes from his house. Because of high snow drifts, he escaped via the attic window.

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In Strasburg, a six-year-old girl got separated from her brothers while trying to make it to a barn 60 feet from their house. Tragically, she was found frozen to death two days later. In Woodworth, a 12-year-old girl stepped outside to close up a chicken coop, and apparently got lost trying to make her way back to the house, 100 feet away. She too was found frozen to death.

Lost children were not the only victims — several men had heart attacks during the North Dakota blizzard of 1966, either while trying to shovel snow or make their way through the storm. And tens of thousands of livestock perished, including at least 18,500 cattle, 7,500 sheep, 7,000 turkeys, and 600 hogs. Some died in the storm itself, some were killed by collapsing barns, and others suffocated after becoming trapped in barns because of the high snow drifts.

Dead Cow During The North Dakota Blizzard Of 1966

State Historical Society of North DakotaA cow that froze to death during the North Dakota blizzard of 1966. Thousands of livestock died during the storm, costing the state millions of dollars.

But some people managed to escape extremely dangerous situations.

Near New Salem, three trains, including one carrying 500 passengers, became stuck in the snow. The trains had to be dug up with shovels, because the snow drifts were too deep for local snowplows. Meanwhile, at least two couples became trapped while trying to make their way to a hospital for their children’s births. One woman ended up giving birth in a farmhouse; the other in a car. And scores of people became stuck in their vehicles when the conditions grew too dangerous, and couldn’t be rescued until the storm started to let up.

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Indeed, the storm all but shut the state down for several days. Schools closed, newspapers weren’t able to publish the news, phone service was knocked out, and traffic was largely halted. Even once conditions began to clear, the effects of the blizzard were still acutely felt.

The Damage Caused By The Winter Storm

When the storm cleared, North Dakotans and other residents of the Great Plains took account of the aftermath, and found that they’d lived through one of the worst winter storms in U.S. history. Snowfall records were set at Devils Lake (which got 30.5 inches of snow), as well as Grand Forks (which got 27.8 inches of snow). This, the wind, and the duration of the storm made it an “all-time record blizzard” for the state of North Dakota.

Man Near A Snow Drift

North Dakota Department of Transportation/FacebookA man next to a towering snow drift in the aftermath of the North Dakota blizzard of 1966.

It was also an expensive storm. The loss of livestock alone cost the state millions of dollars. But the storm had also shut down businesses and schools, stopped the movement of goods, and damaged infrastructure.

Thus, while people living in the Great Plains are used to intense weather, the North Dakota blizzard of 1966 certainly stands out in the region’s history. Immensely powerful and destructive, it hung over the northern states for days. Its mammoth snow drifts, high winds, and low visibility made it an especially treacherous storm, and led to the tragic loss of many lives.

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But the people of the Great Plains are hardy. As the State Historical Society of North Dakota stated:

“Snow is part of winter routine on the northern Great Plains. Rather than drive people away or prevent the development of towns and cities, people learn to adapt to the usual cold and snow of winter and to accept unusual storms such as that of March 1966 as part of life in the semi-arid north.”


After reading about the North Dakota blizzard of 1966, discover the wild story of the Blizzard of 1888, the “Great White Hurricane” that tore through the Eastern Seaboard. Or, learn the stories of some of the worst blizzards in history.



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North Dakota

Video: A look at North Dakota’s 2026-2028 Fishing Guide

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Video: A look at North Dakota’s 2026-2028 Fishing Guide


Greg Power, fisheries division chief with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, shares information about the new 2026-2028 Fishing Guide and a few new regulations starting April 1, 2026.

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Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota

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Summit League tournament: Omaha women bounce North Dakota


SIOUX FALLS — Ali Stephens had 17 points and 13 rebounds and 8th-seeded Omaha defeated 9th-seeded North Dakota 49-39 in the first round of the Summit League women’s tournament.

The Fighting Hawks had a tough time putting the ball in the hoop all night long, scoring just three points in the first quarter and having only marginally better luck from there.

UND (7-24) shot just 23.5 percent from the floor (12-for-51) and made 1-of-20 shots from outside the arc. Walker Demers and Mackenzie Hughes had 10 points each to lead the Hawks, with Demers adding eight rebounds.

Members of the Omaha women’s basketball team cheer for their teammates during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

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Regan Juenemann had 10 points and five rebounds for the Mavericks while Avril Smith had seven points and 16 rebounds and Sarai Estupinan eight points, five assists and three rebounds. Omaha (6-26) shot the ball slightly better than the Hawks, going 16-of-53 from the field (30 percent) and 8-of-23 (35 percent) on 3-pointers.

With the win, the Mavs earn a date with top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.
The Bison won both regular season matchups by more than 50 points.

030426-IMG_7760.JPG
North Dakota’s Mataeya Mathern goes up for a shot during the opening game of the Summit League tournament on March 4, 2026 at the Premier Center in Sioux Falls.

Matt Zimmer/Sioux Falls Live

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Oral Roberts 84, Kansas City 62 — Don’t look now but the team that started the conference season 0-10 and at one point lost 15 of 16 games might be the hottest in the Summit League.

Oral Roberts picked up their fourth straight victory on Wednesday night in the conference tournament opener, routing Kansas City at the Premier Center in the 8/9 “play-in” game.

Ty Harper had 22 points to lead the Golden Eagles (10-22), who took a 44-21 lead by halftime and never looked back. ORU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 13-of-27 3-pointers while the Kangaroos shot just 34 percent and made 6-of-24 from deep. Martins Kilups had 17 points for the Eagles and Connor Dow added 14.

Jayson Petty had 14 points to lead the Kagaroos, who finish the season 4-27. It was their final game under coach Marvin Menzies, whom the school announced earlier this season would not return next year.

With the win ORU advances to face top-seed North Dakota State on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Golden Eagles lost to NDSU 86-58 in Tulsa on Jan. 24 but they took the Bison to overtime in Fargo on Jan. 3 in a 79-77 loss.

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Matt Zimmer

Matt Zimmer is a Sioux Falls native and longtime sports writer. He graduated from Washington High School where he played football, legion baseball and developed his lifelong love of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After graduating from St. Cloud State University, he returned to Sioux Falls, and began a long career in amateur baseball and sports reporting. Email Matt at mzimmer@siouxfallslive.com.





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North Dakota

The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor – North Dakota Attorney General

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The North Dakota Attorney General issued an opinion to the ND State Auditor

March 4, 2026

Media Contact: Suzie Weigel, 701.328.2210

BISMARCK, ND – It is the opinion that federal law does not prevent the state from auditing P&A and even though P&A possesses confidential records, N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22.1 and 42 C.F.R. § 51.45(c) authorize the state auditor and the employees of the auditor’s office, to review the records without detriment to P &A.

Also, whether Rule 1.6 of the North Dakota Rules of Professional Conduct for licensed attorneys prohibits P&A from disclosing to the State Auditor the contents of a client file for the purpose of conducting a non-financial performance audit under N.D.C.C. ch. 54-10 when the requested file includes information about individuals and businesses in the private sector who chose to contact P &A.

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This issue was already addressed in a 1995 opinion of this office regarding P&A. The 1995 opinion highlighted that P&A has authority to contract with private attorneys to represent private individuals. 17 During that performance audit, auditors asked to see billings from the contracted attorneys. 18 P&A redacted the names of the individuals represented by the contract attorneys under the rules for attorney-client privilege or attorney-client confidentiality. 19 The names of individuals seeking services of P&A are protected under N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3. The opinion stated:

Thus, P&A’s records which indicate to whom its services were provided are available to the State Auditor for performance audit purposes. The State Auditor has
been given access by P&A to its records other than the attorney’s billings. Therefore, the State Auditor already has access to the names of the persons to whom P&A
provides services. State law requires that the State Auditor and his employees must keep such information confidential.

Here, P&A has not identified a specific record. Given that, I rely on the past opinions declaring that records made confidential by N.D.C.C. § 25-01.3-10 are available under N.D.C.C. § 54-10-22 to the State Auditor and the Auditor’s employees for audit purposes.

Link to opinion 2026-L-01

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