Power Outage in New Town, ND

Multiple locations lost power as a result of frost accumulating on power lines due to the multi-day dense fog event. Multiple lines were downed as conductors broke, or snapped.

Strong winds and heavy snow combined to produce a blizzard. In addition, periods of freezing rain occurred which accreted on power lines. This, combined with strong winds, led to extensive damage to power lines, cross arms, and poles, and thus widespread power outages.

Multiple mature trees were blown over, with some being 30 to 40 feet in height. Some power lines were damaged.

Twenty five power poles were either damaged, broken, or leaning. At one point 1,300 electrical meters were without power.

A trained spotter reported that two power poles were down.

Up to five inches of heavy wet snow combined with winds gusting to near 70 mph to result in widespread blizzard conditions. Travel was impossible due to many roads blocked by snow, along with icy road conditions which resulted from a period of freezing rain which preceeded the snow. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down, leading to a prolonged period of power outages across the county. Adverse effects caused by the storm and disruption in power included significant losses to agriculture and livestock.

Large hail accompanied the strong thunderstorm winds. Powerlines were reported down along with a carport blown over.

Wind gusts up to around 45 mph combined with falling snow and existing loose snow cover to create widespread blizzard conditions across Mountrail County. The strong winds and blizzard conditions resulted in additional downed power lines and delayed the repair of existing downed power lines.

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 scattered 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 scattered power outages across the county which lasted for several days in some areas.