Power Outage in Hettinger, ND

A large wildfire developed over western Adams County in southwest North Dakota during the afternoon of the 17th. The fire originated four miles east of Reeder, burning east-southeast through the city of Bucyrus before being contained 3 miles southeast of Bucyrus in the early morning hours of the 18th. The fire burned for a length of seven miles, and covered an estimated 4,000 acres. The cause of the fire was reported unknown. The explosiveness of the fire can be attributed to very dry conditions, relative humidity in the teens, and winds gusting to over sixty miles per hour.||While much of the fire was in open country, the city of Bucyrus sustained significant damage. Ten residences and 24 outbuildings were destroyed in or near Bucyrus. In addition, 70 electrical power poles where consumed by the fire. No fatalities and no injuries were reported.

Wind gusts over 50 mph combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover to create widespread blizzard conditions across Adams 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 over two 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 three inches of accumulation 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.

Six to ten inches of total snowfall was reported by Thursday afternoon across Adams County. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 45 mph, and gusts to near 60 mph, combined with the snow, created a widespread and prolonged blizzard across Adams County with snow drifts five to six feet deep. City streets in Hettinger were impassable during the day Thursday. Roads were closed or no travel was advised due to these conditions. Schools and most local businesses closed Thursday and Friday. In addition, the combination of heavy wet snow and high winds resulted in power outages in the town of Haynes Wednesday night through Thursday morning. The Automated Surface Observing System in Hettinger measured a 58 mph wind gust during the blizzard.

A large wildfire developed over western Adams County in southwest North Dakota during the afternoon of the 17th. The fire originated four miles east of Reeder, burning east-southeast through the city of Bucyrus before being contained 3 miles southeast of Bucyrus in the early morning hours of the 18th. The fire burned for a length of seven miles, and covered an estimated 4,000 acres. The cause of the fire was reported unknown. The explosiveness of the fire can be attributed to very dry conditions, relative humidity in the teens, and winds gusting to over sixty miles per hour.||While much of the fire was in open country, the city of Bucyrus sustained significant damage. Ten residences and 24 outbuildings were destroyed in or near Bucyrus. In addition, 70 electrical power poles where consumed by the fire. No fatalities and no injuries were reported.