Power Outage in Cannon Ball, ND

Multiple power poles broke down in the area.

Up to eight inches of heavy wet snow and sleet fell across Sioux County. The combination of strong winds and the wet snow resulted in widespread damages to electrical utilities, causing massive power outages across the county. In some areas it took several days to restore power. Preliminary damage assessments estimated there was around seven million dollars in damage from this storm for Sioux County.

Wind gusts up to near 50 mph combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover to create widespread blizzard conditions across Sioux County. The strong winds and blizzard conditions resulted in additional downed power lines and delayed the repair of existing downed power lines. The total estimated damage from this storm (January 18th through January 25th) was well over one million dollars.

A wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet, and snow spread north across the local area. Precipitation eventually changed over to all snow, with up to four inches of accumulations reported by early Saturday morning. Hazardous travel conditions and continued power outages resulted.

A prolonged period of freezing fog along with periods of freezing drizzle resulted in moderate to heavy ice accumulations on power lines. This caused numerous overhead power lines and power poles to snap, resulting in widespread power outages across the county which lasted for several days in some areas.

Strong outflow from thunderstorms more than 50 miles away in South Dakota moved into parts of south central North Dakota. No thunder was heard in Sioux County, and lightning was visible far to the south and southeast. The National Weather Service did a storm damage assessment. Based on the damage it was determined that the highest winds were along the Missouri River and Lake Oahe. The river and lake likely resulted in a channeling effect with the south-southeast surface wind. Wind speeds were estimated sustained at 45 mph with gusts to 65 mph. Wind gusts were measure at 53 mph about seven miles north of Selfridge. A roof was torn off of a farm outbuilding and many trees and several power lines were reported down in the Fort Yates area. Power poles were tipped just south of Cannon Ball, and tree limbs were broken around Selfridge.

Snowfall amounts by Friday morning ranged from four to seven inches across Sioux County. Fort Yates reported 6.5 inches of snow. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph, and gusts up to around 50 mph, combined with the snow Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to create widespread and prolonged blizzard conditions. Snow drifts were reported to be three feet high. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions.||In addition, patchy power outages from downed power lines were reported due to a combination of freezing rain and heavy wet snow. At the peak of the storm, 600 homes and businesses were without power across Grant and Sioux Counties. Power was eventually restored to all residents by Sunday.