Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1987

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 21, 1987Griggs County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 21, 1987, 11:53 PM CDT for Griggs County, North Dakota. It was in force for 52 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jul 21, 1987, 11:53 PM CDT (04:53 UTC)
Expired: Jul 22, 1987, 12:45 AM CDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Whole counties

County Griggs County, ND

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 4.9 hours before the alert went out and 201 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 448 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -370 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 701 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 40 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 221 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 454 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 25.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KFAR 220453
SVRFAR
NDC039-091-097-220545-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1153 PM CDT TUE JUL 21 1987

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1245 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES OF

EAST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...EASTERN GRIGGS...STEELE AND TRAILL

INCLUDING COOPERSTOWN...FINLEY AND MAYVILLE/PORTLAND.
AT 1145 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 35
MILES NORTHWEST OF FARGO TO 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAND FORKS
MOVING TOWARD THE EAST AT 45 MILES AN HOUR.
AT 1120 PM CDT 70 MILE AN HOUR WINDS WAS REPORTED AT HILLSBORO.

REMEMBER...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS
OF 58 MPH AND/OR HAIL 3/4 INCH OR LARGER...DEADLY LIGHTNING...
AND HEAVY RAINS THAT CAN QUICKLY FLOOD A LOW LYING AREA.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES...YOU SHOULD GO TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY IMMEDIATELY.  REPORT ALL SEVERE WEATHER TO YOUR LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AFTER THE STORM PASSES.

 LOCAL FLOODING IS VERY LIKELY ALONG WITH THESE STORMS DUE TO REPEAT
 MOVEMENT.

VOELKER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:18 PM CDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
800PM CDT WED JUL 21 1987

TIME      EVENT
502 PM CDT   SPOTTER IN HOPE NORTH DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY REPORTED HEAVY
             RAIN AND HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES.

505 PM CDT   SPOTTER REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10 MILES WEST OF HOPE NORTH
             DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY.

505 PM CDT   SPOTTER REPORTED MARBLE-GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL 4 AND 9 MILES
             WEST OF COOPERSTOWN NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS COUNTY.

530 PM CDT   GOLFBALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AT CLIFFORD NORTH DAKOTA
             IN TRAILL COUNTY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

555 PM CDT   STATE RADIO RELAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT OF TORNADO
             TOUCHDOWN AT BLANCHARD NORTH DAKOTA IN TRAIL COUNTY.
.
620 PM CDT   1 MILES WEST, 11/2 MILES NORTH OF PILLSBURY NORTH DAKOTA
             SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH OF RAIN IN 15 MINUTES AND GOLFBALL
             SIZE HAIL...BARNES COUNTY
VOELKER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:31 PM CDT, 3 hours 22 minutes before

STORM REPORTS...CORRECTED FOR DAY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
800PM CDT TUE JUL 21 1987

TIME      EVENT
502 PM CDT   SPOTTER IN HOPE NORTH DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY REPORTED HEAVY
             RAIN AND HAIL UP TO 2 INCHES.

505 PM CDT   SPOTTER REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD 10 MILES WEST OF HOPE NORTH
             DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY.

505 PM CDT   SPOTTER REPORTED MARBLE-GOLFBALL SIZED HAIL 4 AND 9 MILES
             WEST OF COOPERSTOWN NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS COUNTY.

530 PM CDT   GOLFBALL TO BASEBALL SIZE HAIL AT CLIFFORD NORTH DAKOTA
             IN TRAILL COUNTY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

555 PM CDT   STATE RADIO RELAYS LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT OF TORNADO
             TOUCHDOWN AT BLANCHARD NORTH DAKOTA IN TRAIL COUNTY.
.
620 PM CDT   1 MILES WEST, 11/2 MILES NORTH OF PILLSBURY NORTH DAKOTA
             SPOTTER REPORTED 1 INCH OF RAIN IN 15 MINUTES AND GOLFBALL
             SIZE HAIL...BARNES COUNTY
VOELKER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 9:26 PM CDT, 2 hours 27 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
930 PM CDT TUE JUL 21 1987

TIME      EVENT
615 PM CDT   WEATHER MODIFICATION UNIT REPORTS GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND
             LARGER 10 SOUTHEAST OF COOPERSTOWN NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS
             COUNTY
650 PM CDT   TORNADO 2 WEST AND 7 NORTH OF ARGUSVILLE NORTH DAKOTA IN
             CASS COUNTY BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
705 PM CDT   GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL AND LARGER 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COLGATE
             NORTH DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY.
730 PM CDT   LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT TORNADO AT ANETA NORTH DAKOTA IN
             NELSON COUNTY.
736 PM CDT   LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT OF POSSIBLE TORNADO 10 MILES NORTH
             AND 5 MILES WEST OF COOPERSTOWN NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS
             COUNTY.
740 PM CDT   1.55 INCHES OF RAIN AND PEA SIZED HAIL IN WEST FARGO BY
             OFF DUTY MET TECH
745 PM CDT   MINNKOTA POWER REPORT TORNADO SOUTH OF ANETA NORTH DAKOTA.
             4 MILES SOUTH OF ANETA A HOUSE MOVED OFF OF THE FOUNDATION.
745 PM CDT   WEATHER MODIFICATION REPORT UPROOTED TREES 8 MILES NORTH OF
             COOPERSTOWN.
745 PM CDT   AMBULANCE PERSONEL REPORT TREE AND BUILDING DAMAGE AT
             FINLEY NORTH DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY. POSSIBLE TORNADO.
755 PM CDT   TORNADO REPORT RELAYED BY STATE RADIO 3 MILES WEST 1/2 MILE
             SOUTH OF SHARON NORTH DAKOTA IN STEELE COUNTY. 3 GRAINERY
             BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
800 PM CDT   WEATHER MODIFICATION REPORTED A TORNADO 4 MILES EAST AND 5
             MILES NORTH OF COOPERSTOWN NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS COUNTY
             DESTROYED A GRAINERY.
726 PM CDT   FUNNEL CLOUDS REPORTED BY CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF OFFICE OVER
             GLYNDON MINNESOTA.
813 PM CDT   CLAY COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS SOUTHEAST OF
             BARNESVILLE MINNESOTA.
VOELKER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 10:24 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1020 PM CDT TUE JUL 21 1987

TIME      EVENT
830 PM CDT   10 WEST OF BAGELY MINNESOTA 1/2 INCH HAIL VERY STRONG
             WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
840 PM CDT   3/4 INCH HAIL...VERY HIGH WINDS AT LENGBY MINNESOTA IN
             POLK COUNTY MINNESOTA.
907 PM CDT   FINLEY IN STEELE COUNTY NORTH DAKOTA...70-80 FT TOWERS AT
             730 PM WERE BLOWN DOWN BY STRONG WINDS. REPORTED BY
             MINKOTA POWER.
1000 PM CDT  RED WILLOW RESORT IN BINFORD/JESSIE NORTH DAKOTA AREA IN
             GRIGGS COUNTY REPORTED CABINS DAMAGED AND BOATS TURNED
             OVER. OCCURRED AT ABOUT 730 PM CDT.
VOELKER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 11:32 PM CDT, 21 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1130 PM CDT TUE JUL 21 1987

TIME      EVENT
1025 PM   HATTON ND CO-OP OBSVR REPORTS 50 TO 60 MPH WIND..HEAVY RAIN

745 PM    DELAYED REPORT FM MINNKOTA POWER..21/2 MI N OF COOPERSTOWN
          TWELVE 55 FOOT TRANSMISSION LINE POLES BROKE OFF..ALSO
          BETWEEN COOPERSTOWN AND FINLEY..LARGE TRANSMISSION LINE
          STRUCTURE BROKE OFF AND FELL ON QUONSET AT MR ARNESON FARM
          AND DESwTROYED THE BUILDING.  ALSO..7 MILES EAST AND 1 MILE
          NORTH OF FINLEY..8 OR 9 TRANSMISSION LINE STRUCTURES BROKEN.
          AND..3 POWER POLES DOWN 11/2 MILES NORTH OF FARGO.

1120 PM   70 MPH WIND AT HILLSBORO ND

The office that day

Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 21, 7:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Traill	58 min
Jul 21, 7:14 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Nelson	61 min
Jul 21, 7:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Steele	49 min
Jul 21, 7:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Griggs	49 min
Jul 21, 8:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Traill	62 min
Jul 21, 8:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Nelson	56 min
Jul 21, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Griggs, Nelson, Steele	55 min
Jul 21, 9:50 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Traill	55 min
Jul 21, 10:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Griggs, Steele, Traill	61 min
Jul 21, 11:53 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Steele, Traill	52 min
Jul 22, 12:47 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Steele, Traill	58 min
Jul 22, 1:53 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Traill	52 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 1987 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1987

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.