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Winter in Nelson County, North Dakota

155 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.

155 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month December · county share of state 2.4%

Winter event locations in and around Nelson County. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

Nelson County, North Dakota, has 155 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 31 different years.

December is the busiest month, with 44 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 97 events against 58 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 2.4% of the 6,541 winter events recorded in North Dakota; its 15.8 per 100 square miles compares with 9.5 statewide.

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with North Dakota

Measure	Nelson County	North Dakota	US
Winter events since 1950	155	6,541	287,339
Per 100 square miles	15.8	9.5	8.1
Per 10,000 residents	507.5	84.4	8.7
Deaths recorded	0	27	2,509
Busiest month	December	December	January

By year

195019882026

Winter events recorded in Nelson County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
33Feb
23Mar
20Apr
16May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
7Nov
12Dec
44

Winter events in Nelson County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

All 155 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

Date	Event type	Magnitude	Property damage	Crop damage	Deaths	Injuries	Geography
19 Feb 2026	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 2025	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 2024	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2023	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Oct 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Apr 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Apr 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Apr 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Mar 2023	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Dec 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Dec 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Apr 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Apr 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Feb 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Feb 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Feb 2022	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Feb 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Jan 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jan 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Jan 2022	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Dec 2021	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Dec 2021	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2021	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Dec 2020	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 2020	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Feb 2020	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 2020	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Dec 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Dec 2019	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Dec 2019	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Nov 2019	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Nov 2019	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Oct 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Oct 2019	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Mar 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Feb 2019	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Jan 2019	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Jan 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Jan 2019	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Dec 2018	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Dec 2018	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Oct 2018	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Mar 2018	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Jan 2018	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2017	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Jan 2017	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2017	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Dec 2016	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
7 Dec 2016	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Dec 2016	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 2016	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Dec 2015	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Dec 2015	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Jan 2015	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2015	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Mar 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Jan 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Jan 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Jan 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Jan 2014	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Dec 2013	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Dec 2013	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
14 Apr 2013	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Mar 2013	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Mar 2013	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Mar 2013	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Feb 2013	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Jan 2013	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Jan 2013	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 2012	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Feb 2012	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Apr 2011	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Mar 2011	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Mar 2011	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Dec 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Dec 2010	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Oct 2010	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
25 Jan 2010	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Jan 2010	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Dec 2009	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Dec 2009	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Mar 2009	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Feb 2009	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
19 Dec 2008	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Dec 2008	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Nov 2008	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Feb 2008	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Feb 2008	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Dec 2007	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Mar 2007	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2007	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Feb 2007	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Dec 2006	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2006	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Feb 2006	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
28 Jan 2006	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Oct 2005	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Jan 2005	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
12 Jan 2005	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Jan 2005	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
31 Dec 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
29 Dec 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Dec 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Mar 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Jan 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Jan 2004	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
2 Apr 2003	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 2003	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
11 Feb 2003	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 2002	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
8 Mar 2002	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Dec 2001	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Dec 2001	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
24 Oct 2001	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Dec 2000	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Dec 2000	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Dec 2000	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
6 Nov 2000	Winter Storm	—	$2K	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Apr 2000	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
3 Apr 1999	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
1 Apr 1999	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Mar 1999	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Jan 1999	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Dec 1998	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
18 Nov 1998	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Nov 1998	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
13 Mar 1998	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Feb 1998	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Apr 1997	Blizzard	—	$6.0M	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Apr 1997	Ice Storm	—	$6.0M	—	—	—	Forecast zone
4 Mar 1997	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
30 Jan 1997	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
21 Jan 1997	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
15 Jan 1997	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
9 Jan 1997	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Dec 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	1	Forecast zone
17 Dec 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
20 Nov 1996	Winter Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
16 Nov 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
5 Nov 1996	Heavy Snow	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Mar 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
23 Mar 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
27 Feb 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
26 Feb 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Feb 1996	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
22 Feb 1996	Ice Storm	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
10 Feb 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone
17 Jan 1996	Blizzard	—	—	—	—	—	Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Nelson County had?

155 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded winter event in Nelson County?

19 Feb 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Nelson County?

The blizzard of 5 Apr 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $6.0M.

How does Nelson County compare with North Dakota for winter?

15.8 events per 100 square miles against 9.5 statewide; the county holds 155 of the state's 6,541 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.