Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 1990

Tornado Warning 11, NWS Bismarck, ND

July 3, 1990Mountrail County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 3, 1990, 1:32 AM CDT for Mountrail County, North Dakota. It was in force for 28 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 3, 1990, 1:32 AM CDT (06:32 UTC)
Expired
Jul 3, 1990, 2:00 AM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
Area
Whole counties

County Mountrail 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, 6.5 hours before the alert went out and 202 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°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 030632
TORISN
NDC061-030700-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
132 AM CDT TUE JUL 3 1990

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 200 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF NORTH DAKOTA
      SOUTHEAST MOUNTRAIL...THE TOWN OF PARSHAL

AT 130 AM CDT THE POLICE IN PARSHAL REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUDS
OVER THE CITY.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO...GO TO A BASEMENT SHELTER
IF AVAILABLE...OTHERWISE TO A CENTRAL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED BUILDING.

IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA THREATENED BY THE) STORM..GO TO A REINFORCED
SHELTER AND PREPARE FOR DAMAGING WIND...LARGE HAIL...VERY HEAVY
RAIN AND LIGHTNING.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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, 11:52 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 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 3, 12:00 AM CDT, 1 hour 32 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 3, 12:03 AM CDT, 1 hour 29 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 3, 12:04 AM CDT, 1 hour 28 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 3, 12:18 AM CDT, 1 hour 14 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
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 1:07 AM CDT, 25 minutes before
NDZ001>018-030900-

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

...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 1 AM CDT THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED TO RUMBLE ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA. THE
STRONGEST STORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM EAST OF DICKINSON TO EAST OF
WILLISTON. THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. SURFACE
REPORTS INDICATED BRIEF HEAVY RAIN...PEA SIZE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS WITH
THESE STORMS. THEY HAVE THE PONTENTIAL TO PRODUCE LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS.

OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA. THESE STORMS WERE PRODUCING LIGHT RAIN.

REMEMBER...A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 3 AM CDT AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS
IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 4 AM CDT.

KAS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 2, 7:00 PM CDTTornado WarningBISRenville, Ward30 min
Jul 2, 7:30 PM CDTTornado WarningBISWard30 min
Jul 2, 7:58 PM CDTTornado WarningBISWard47 min
Jul 2, 8:44 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISWard61 min
Jul 2, 8:59 PM CDTTornado WarningBISWard31 min
Jul 2, 9:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean32 min
Jul 2, 9:23 PM CDTTornado WarningBISDivide37 min
Jul 2, 9:35 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISWard25 min
Jul 2, 9:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean33 min
Jul 2, 10:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDivide56 min
Jul 2, 10:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean30 min
Jul 3, 12:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDunn, McKenzie60 min
Jul 3, 12:34 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDunn56 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 1990Every tornado warning in 1990Tornadoes 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.