Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 2, NWS Bismarck, ND

May 14, 1991Stutsman County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this tornado warning at May 14, 1991, 10:22 PM CDT for Stutsman County, North Dakota. It was in force for 28 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 14, 1991, 10:22 PM CDT (03:22 UTC)
Expired
May 14, 1991, 10:50 PM CDT
In force
28 min
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
Area
Whole counties

County Stutsman County, ND

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 134 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 1991-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 1991-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 177 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2593 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
177 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
481 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBIS 150322
TORBIS
NDC093-150400-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1022 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1100 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE EAST CENTRAL PART OF NORTH DAKOTA
      SOUTHEAST STUTSMAN

A TORNADO WAS REPORTED 3 MILES EAST OF HIGHWAY 281...8 MILES
SOUTH OF JAMESTOWN MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

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...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES.

 RSL

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, May 14, 8:07 PM CDT, 2 hours 15 minutes before
NDZ001>018-150200-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
805 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHEAST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

AT 8 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS FROM 25
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK TO THE SOUTH DAKOTA LINE...70 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK WEST OF SELFRIDGE. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK
BETWEEN STRASBURG AND LINTON. PEA SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED AT STRASBURG
AT 750 PM CDT. THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE IN LINTON BY 810 PM CDT.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK
IN NORTHERN EMMONS COUNTY. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL PRODUCE EXTREMELY
HEAVY RAIN...HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. THE THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN MOVING
SLOWLY NORTHWARD AND MAY ALSO PRODUCE SMALL STREAM RISES AND PONDING
OF WATER AS WELL AS STREET FLOODING.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY UNSTABLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
TO RAPIDLY BECOME SEVERE. FOR THIS REASON PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST# NORTH DAKOTA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

VAN ESS
Special weather statement, May 14, 8:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 40 minutes before
NDZ003>018-150230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
840 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHEAST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

AT 8 PM CDT A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
50 MILES EAST OF BISMARCK TO 100 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BISMARCK IN NAPOLEON TO 70 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK WEST OF ASHLEY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN WESTERN LOBAN AND MCINTOSH COUNTIES. AT
835 PM CDT PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN NAPOLEON. THE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK
NEAR MOFFIT AND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK IN SOUTHERN MORTON
COUNTY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY UNSTABLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHREAST
NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
TO RAPIDLY BECOME SEVERE. FOR THIS REASON PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.
VAN ESS
Special weather statement, May 14, 8:46 PM CDT, 1 hour 36 minutes before
NDZ003>018-150230-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
840 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHEAST
AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

AT 835 PM CDT A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM
50 MILES EAST OF BISMARCK TO 100 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN A LINE FROM 40 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BISMARCK IN NAPOLEON TO 70 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK WEST OF ASHLEY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN WESTERN LOGAN AND MCINTOSH COUNTIES. AT
835 PM CDT PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL WAS REPORTED IN NAPOLEON. THE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED 25 MILES SOUTHEAST OF BISMARCK
NEAR MOFFIT AND 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK IN SOUTHERN MORTON
COUNTY.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY UNSTABLE OVER SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ANY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS
TO RAPIDLY BECOME SEVERE. FOR THIS REASON PERSONS IN SOUTH CENTRAL
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEEK SHELTER IF
THREATENING WEATHER APPYROACHES.
VAN ESS
Special weather statement, May 14, 8:47 PM CDT, 1 hour 35 minutes before
NDZ002-005-150245-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
847 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...THUNDERSTORMS DECREASING OVER NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...

AT 845 PM CDT THUNDERSTORMS WERE SCATTERED FROM NEAR STANLEY NORTH
DAKOTA IN MOUNTRAIL COUNTY...TO NEAR ALEXANDER IN MCKENZIE COUNTY.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE DECREASING IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY BUT WERE
STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DANGEROUS LIGHTNING...STRONG WIND...AND HEAVY
RAIN.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR.

MANY AREAS...ESPECIALLY IN NORTHEAST MCKENZIE COUNTY...HAVE HAD A
PROLONGED PERIOD OF RAIN.  AS A RESULT...SOME FIELDS AND ROADS MAY
BECOME FLOODED.

IF YOU COME TO[ A FLOODED ROAD...DO NOT TRY TO CROSS IT.  WAIT UNTIL THE
WATER RECEDES.

IF THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA...GO TO A SAFE PLACE.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, May 14, 9:25 PM CDT, 57 minutes before
NDZ001>018-150300-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
925 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...MOST OF THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA HAS BEEN CANCELED...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA ARE NO LONGER
IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH AREA...GRANT..SIOUX..EMMONS..BURLEIGH
AND MORTON. THE BISMARCK/MANDAN AREA IS NO LONGER IN THE WATCH AREA.

LEBLANG
Special weather statement, May 14, 9:32 PM CDT, 50 minutes before
NDZ003>018-150315-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
930 PM CDT TUE MAY 14 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A PORTION OF SOUTHEAST
AND PARTS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 1 AM CDT...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WESTERN LOGAN COUNTY HAS EXPIRED.
THE THUNDERSTORMS IN WESTERN LOGAN COUNTY HAVE DECREASED IN STRENGTH.

AT 930 PM CDT A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS MOVING
ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE AREA EXTENDED FROM 35 MILES
NORTHWEST OF JAMESTOWN NEAR CARRINGTON TO 50 MILES SOUTH OF BISMARCK
NEAR SELFRIDGE TO 85 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BISMARCK. THE STRONGEST
THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED FROM NORTHEAST OF NAPOLEON TO 10 MILES
EAST OF STRASBURG...IN WESTERN LOGAN AND MCINTOSH COUNTIES. THE
STRONGER THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN VERY HEAVY RAIN...POSSIBLE HAIL
AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
<
THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING AND MOVING THROUGH SLOPE AND BOWMAN
COUNTIES...35 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON...BETWEEN AMIDON AND
BOWMAN. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTAIN BRIEF HEAVY RAIN AND
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING RAPIDLY IN THE MINOT AREA. THE
THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 8 MILES WEST OF MINOT TO 40 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MINOT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. THE
THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE IN THE MINOT AREA UNTIL 1030 PM CDT. BRIEF
HEAVY RAIN AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING CAN BE EXPECTED.

VAN ESS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 14, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISLogan45 min
May 14, 9:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISStutsman42 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 1991Every tornado warning in 1991Tornadoes in 1991

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.