Campus Alert Archive
NDSU

April Blizzard Forces NDSU to Close Campus as I-94 Shuts Between Bismarck and Fargo

NDweatheradvisorymedium confidence

On April 3, 2023, a blizzard warning went into effect for the Fargo area and North Dakota State University issued a campus closure through its Campus Emergency Notification System (CENS), joining Fargo Public Schools and most area institutions in closing for blizzard conditions. Interstate 94 between Bismarck and Fargo was closed on April 4 due to blizzard conditions, and Fargo Public Schools extended their closure through April 6. No injuries related to campus operations were reported.

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Institution
North Dakota State University
Public R1 · ND
NDSU Campus Emergency Notification System (CENS)
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

1 message in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction359 chars
NDSU Campus Alert: Due to blizzard conditions in the Fargo area, NDSU is closing campus today, April 3, 2023. All in-person classes and campus activities are canceled. Campus buildings will remain open for residential students only. Remote operations are in effect for faculty and staff. Stay off the roads unless necessary. Updates will be provided via CENS.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

NDSU's CENS closure on April 3, 2023 was part of a regional shutdown that included Fargo Public Schools, West Fargo schools, Concordia College, and most other educational institutions in the metro area as a blizzard warning took effect that morning.
An April blizzard closure is notable because it occurs well past the typical heavy-winter season; the April 2023 storm was severe enough to close I-94 between Bismarck and Fargo on April 4, making regional travel impossible.
Context

Background

The spring blizzard of April 3-4, 2023 struck the Red River Valley with blizzard warning conditions, prompting broad institutional closures across the Fargo-Moorhead metro area. According to KVRR, North Dakota State University closed campus buildings and NDSU issued notifications through CENS as part of a wave of closures that also included Fargo Public Schools, West Fargo Schools, and several other institutions. WDAY Radio confirmed NDSU and West Fargo school buildings were closed due to blizzard conditions. The storm worsened into April 4, when I-94 was closed between Bismarck and Fargo due to ongoing blizzard conditions. Fargo Public Schools extended their closure through April 6. Under NDSU's CENS weather procedures, blizzard conditions combined with severe wind chills warrant campus closure, with notification sent automatically to all enrolled students and employees. An April blizzard closing is unusual in its timing but not unprecedented in North Dakota's climate.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    UPDATE: Fargo, West Fargo, NDSU, UND And Many Other Schools Close For Blizzard - KVRR Local News
    kvrr.com
  2. News
    NDSU, West Fargo Schools close buildings due to blizzard conditions - WDAY Radio
    wdayradionow.com
  3. News
    UPDATE: I-94 reopens between Bismarck and Fargo - KFYR-TV
    kfyrtv.com
  4. Official
    Procedures for Winter Storms - North Dakota State University
    ndsu.edu
Tags
weatherblizzardnorth-dakotafargondsucampus-closureapril-stormadvisory
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion