Grand Forks in Grand Forks County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

A Brutal Winter

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020

1. A Brutal Winter Marker

Inscription.
The Red River Valley is well known for long, harsh winters, But the winter of 1996-97 was unlike any before. Eight blizzards battered the area during a seemingly endless winter. The blizzards, which the Grand Forks Herald named, started with Andy on November 16-17 and ended with Hannah on April 4-6. Record snowfall blanketed the entire Red River Valley. The Grand Forks and East Grand Forks areas received nearly 100 inches.

All that snow held record amounts of moisture. In February the National Weather Service began warning of the possibility of heavy spring flooding. To a community weary of struggling through a brutal winter, thoughts of spring brought new worry rather than relief.

Erected by City of Grand Forks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1996.

Location. 47° 55.557′ N, 97° 1.916′ W. Marker is in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in Grand Forks County. It is at the intersection of North 3rd Street and 1st Avenue North on North 3rd Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 North 3rd Street, Grand Forks ND 58203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Red River Valley.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The River Wins (here, next to this marker); The Flood Fight Begins

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(here, next to this marker); Blizzard "Hannah" (here, next to this marker); Evacuating Two Cities (here, next to this marker); Security Trust Company (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); New Hampshire Apartments (within shouting distance of this marker); Dinnie Block (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Forks.

Also see . . .
1. 1997 Red River Flood. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on April 20, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Flood of 1997. The Greenway website entry (Submitted on April 20, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 26, 2020

2. A Brutal Winter Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 514 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2021, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.