1941: One of America’s Greatest Blizzards

Many people were enjoying a Saturday night out on the town on this date in 1941. It was a chance to get away from the ominous news out of Europe. Nazi planes were again bombing England. The Brits had landed 100,000 troops in Greece. President Franklin Roosevelt was speaking to the nation that evening at 6:30 p.m. in one of his Fireside Chats about providing $7 billion to aid the Allies.

The weather forecast for Bismarck, North Dakota was for snow and colder overnight with a predicted low of 10F. But a forecast of snow is unremarkable in that part of the country. Snow doesn’t faze them. But there was much more than snow in the offing. It would be one of the greatest blizzards in American history.

Across North Dakota and Minnesota, temperatures dropped 20 degrees in fifteen minutes in many places as arctic air moved in. The fast moving storm brought 50 mph sustained winds to a wide area and 85 mph wind gusts were recorded in Grand Forks. White out conditions were recorded as what would be known as the “Ides of March Blizzard” raged.

The high winds blew the snow into seven foot high snow drifts. Some twelve foot drifts were recorded in North Central Minnesota.

The powerful low pressure system early on the morning of 16 March 1941.

Thirty nine people died in North Dakota alone with another thirty two perishing in Minnesota, making it one of the deadliest storms on record in the region. A total of 151 people died in the storm.

Changes in how the U.S. Weather Bureau handled forecasts came about as a result of the storm. Critics rightfully claimed that forecasters in Chicago were more concerned about their local conditions than they there were about those in areas that were impacted by the storm. As a result, local offices were given more autonomy in issuing warnings.

Category: Met 101/Weather History