Despite the worst weather in the 14-year history of the event, Uffda Day 1998 was declared another unqualified success. The day’s weather started out gray, gloomy and windy. By 10 it was sprinkling, by 11 is was a drizzle but by the time the parade started at noon , a steady rain driven by a fierce east wind, pelted the area. Nevertheless, the parade was on schedule with more than 75 units including a Missouri River canoe manned by members of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Society of Brookings, SD. Some of the outside events, such as the tractor slow races and the horse-drawn wagon rides were canceled due to the weather but other events and activities went off as scheduled. Despite the 1.25 inches of rain that fell, it failed to dampen the spirits of anyone in Rutland. Uffda Day co-chairs were Doris Hoistad, Earl Cramton and Lori McLaen.

The weather not only failed to cooperate on Uffda Day but the weatherman failed to show up as well. Weatherman Bruce Asbury of KXJB-TV Channel 4 in Fargo had planned to be in the Uffda Day parade but was stopped by the weather. While on his way from Fargo, Asbury reported that he ran into such a violent storm just south of Wahpeton he feared that his TV camera truck would be blown off the road. Concluding that there would be no parade in Rutland with such weather, Asbury turned around and headed back to Fargo. He did accept an invitation to participate in the 1999 event and stated that he would attend rain or shine.