North Dakota Hit by Season's First Major Snowstorm, Travel and Farming Impacted

Snow accumulations of up to a foot disrupted travel and overwhelmed farmers still trying to harvest crops, with below-normal freezing temperatures predicted to follow.

• The first major snowstorm of the season hit North Dakota, with snowfall as high as 11 inches in some parts of the state, significantly slowing travel and impacting the local farming and livestock industry.
• The snow storm originated from an upper-level low from western Canada and is expected to move eastwards, leaving cold Arctic air in its wake, which will likely result in below-normal freezing temperatures in the following week.
• Farmers and ranchers, such as Stephanie Hatzenbuhler and Kenny Graner, reported disruptions in their harvesting and livestock management, with some farmers still having corn crops left to harvest. The snowstorm is expected to delay fall work for about a week or more.
• The snowstorm resulted in dangerous driving conditions with poor visibility, leading to some motorists rolling their vehicles or sliding into ditches. The state issued a travel alert for half of North Dakota, cautioning drivers of the dangerous conditions.
• A stretch of U.S. Highway 85, a major route through North Dakota’s oil field in the west, was closed for over 12 hours due to the harsh weather, further complicating travel and possibly affecting oil production.

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