Blizzard – January 1975

In early January, 1975 a severe blizzard pounded Minot and the surrounding area. Temperatures were in the 30 below range and winds were howling at 50 mph. The Minot Radar based had sustained winds of 40 mph and an estimated wind chill of 85 below zero. Eight people in the state and hundreds head of cattle perished in the storm. Many people were stranded in their vehicles for as long as 24 to 36 hours before being rescued. One man survived by burning scraps of paper and cardboard in a thermos to survive. In the pictures of Highway 83 between Minot and the Air Force Base, the road was littered with stranded vehicles… reminiscent of many storms and poor road conditions in future years.