Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1990

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 49, NWS Bismarck, ND

July 2, 1990Dunn County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 2, 1990, 11:34 PM MDT for Dunn County, North Dakota. It was in force for 56 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 2, 1990, 11:34 PM MDT (05:34 UTC)
Expired
Jul 3, 1990, 12:30 AM MDT
In force
56 min
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
Area
Whole counties

County Dunn 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, 5.6 hours before the alert went out and 159 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 1990-07-03Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 4329 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 1990-07-03The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 65 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
4329 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-106 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1521 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
45 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
173 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
8.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KISN 030534
SVRISN
NDC025-030630-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
1134 PM MDT MON JUL 2 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1230 AM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTY

   IN THE WEST CENTRAL PART OF NORTH DAKOTA
      SOUTH CENTRAL DUNN

AT 1235 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES NORTH OF DICKINSON IN SOUTH CENTRAL DUNN
COUNTY. THE STORM IS MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.  HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADWAYS QUICKLY...
AVOID DRIVING INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE FOR
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING.  ONCE
INSIDE...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

A TORNADO WATCH IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA.  REMEMBER...
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO PRODUCE TORNADOES
WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.  REMAIN CALM BUT BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS.

 RICHMOND

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

Special weather statement, Jul 2, 10:26 PM MDT, 1 hour 8 minutes before
NDZ001>003-030530

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
1125 PM CDT MON JUL 02 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA
UNTIL 3 AM CDT...

AT 1120 PM CDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WILLISTON
INDICATED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN AND POSSIBLE
HAIL IN EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN WILLIAMS COUNTY OR 25 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF WILLISTON.  THIS STORM WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH AND SHOULD BE
MOVING OVER THE WILLISTON AREA BY 1140 PM CDT.

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE CONTINUING OVER DIVIDE
COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DECREASED IN INTENSITY SINCE 11 PM CDT
VERY HEAVY RAIN HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCALIZED FLOODING
MAY OCCUR IN THE VICINITY IF THESE STORMS. THE DIVIDE COUNTY SHERIFF
REPORTED NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY IN HEAVY RAIN OVER FORTUNA DURING THE
PAST HOUR.

.
IF THREATING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA ....GO TO A SAFE SHELTER.

KENNEDY
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 10:52 PM MDT, 42 minutes before
NDZ001>003-030545

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
1150 PM CDT MON JUL 02 1990

...TORNADO WATCH IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA
UNTIL 3 AM CDT...

AT 1145 PM CDT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WILLISTON
INDICATED A LARGE AREA OF THUNDERSTORMS SOME VERY STRONG WITH HEAVY
RAIN...POSSIBLE HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THE AREA EXTENDS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE MONTANA NORTH DAKOTA BORDER FROM
DIVIDE COUNTY TO SOUTH OF GLENDIVE MT.

THE STRONGEST STORMS WERE JUST SOUTHWEST OF WILLISTON AND OVER EASTERN
GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY OF NORTH DAKOTA. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR.

THE DIVIDE COUNTY SHERIFF REPORTS THAT ND HIGHWAY 5 IS CLOSED DUE TO
FLOODING.
.
IF THREATING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA ....GO TO A SAFE SHELTER.
ROADWAYS AND LOW LYING AREAS MAY BECOME FLOODED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE COVERED WITH WATER.

KENNEDY
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:00 PM MDT, 34 minutes before
NDZ001>018-030900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1200 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 1990

...A FAST MOVING LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE
ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 4 AM CDT...
...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 3 AM CDT...2 AM MDT...

AT 12 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA FROM BOWMAN TO WILLISTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
WINDS. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO OVER 50 MPH AS THESE STORMS APPROACH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA.
KAS
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:03 PM MDT, 31 minutes before
NDZ001>018-030900-
                             ...CORRECTION TO LAST SENTENSE...
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1200 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 1990

...A FAST MOVING LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE
ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 4 AM CDT...
...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 3 AM CDT...2 AM MDT...

AT 12 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA FROM BOWMAN TO WILLISTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
WINDS. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO OVER 50 MPH AS THESE STORMS APPROACH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN
NORTH
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:04 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
NDZ001>018-030900-
                             ...CORRECTION TO LAST SENTENSE...
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1200 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 1990

...A FAST MOVING LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO MOVE
ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 4 AM CDT...
...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 3 AM CDT...2 AM MDT...

AT 12 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA FROM BOWMAN TO WILLISTON. THIS LINE WAS MOVING TO
THE EAST AT 45 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY
WINDS. EXPECT WIND GUSTS TO OVER 50 MPH AS THESE STORMS APPROACH.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA.
KAS
Special weather statement, Jul 2, 11:18 PM MDT, 16 minutes before
NDZ003-004-007-008-030900-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1215 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 1990

...INTENSE THUNDERSTORM SOUTH OF DICKINSON...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 4 AM CDT...
...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 3 AM CDT...2 AM MDT...

AT 1215 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED AN INTENSE THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES SOUTH
OF DICKINSON MOVING TO THE EAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM WAS PRODUCING
BRIEF HEAVY RAIN. AS THIS STORM WAS FAST MOVING...IT HAS THE POTENTIAL
TO PRODUCE WIND GUSTS TO OVER 50 MPH ACROSS STARK AND HETTINGER
COUNTIES INCLUDING THE CITIES OF DICKINSON...NEW ENGLAND...AND REGENT.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA.
KAS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 6:00 PM MDTTornado WarningBISRenville, Ward30 min
Jul 2, 6:30 PM MDTTornado WarningBISWard30 min
Jul 2, 6:58 PM MDTTornado WarningBISWard47 min
Jul 2, 7:44 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISWard61 min
Jul 2, 7:59 PM MDTTornado WarningBISWard31 min
Jul 2, 8:13 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean32 min
Jul 2, 8:23 PM MDTTornado WarningBISDivide37 min
Jul 2, 8:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISWard25 min
Jul 2, 8:42 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean33 min
Jul 2, 9:04 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDivide56 min
Jul 2, 9:30 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean30 min
Jul 2, 11:15 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDunn, McKenzie60 min
Jul 3, 12:32 AM MDTTornado WarningBISMountrail28 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 1990Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1990

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.