Record-breaking blizzard of 1966

BISMARCK, N. D. (KFYR) - Almost 60 years ago brought one of the worst blizzards of all time to North Dakota. This storm had blizzard conditions for 43 hours.

March 1, 1966, started like any other March day. Temperatures were just a few degrees above normal. But a trough, or a big dip in the jet stream, was forming over the West Coast, causing an area of low pressure to form in Colorado and another in the Pacific Northwest.

These two lows combined in southeastern South Dakota by midnight on the third. As warm, moist air was pulled in and around the storm, a band of heavy snow developed on the north side of the low.

The low started weakening by 12 p.m. on March 3, meaning it stalled and stayed stationary. Peak wind gusts hit 64 miles per hour.

By 6 p.m., the trough had a negative tilt, suggesting that cold air was clashing with the warm air farther south and intensifying the band of snow to the north of the low.

Through the day of the fourth, the low finally moved towards Minnesota, pushing the band of heavy snow out of North Dakota.

Since this storm lasted several days and stayed relatively stationary, it produced very heavy amounts of snow. But there was a drastic cut-off for snow totals in north-central and northwestern parts of the state.

With snow totals around 30 inches and over 40 to 60 mile per hour winds with this storm, there were snow drifts of up to 40 feet tall.

Temperatures remained above zero during the storm, with below zero temperatures for a few days after the storm passed. This storm resulted in the death of five people in North Dakota and a large livestock loss.