Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 1991

Tornado Warning 5, NWS Bismarck, ND

June 8, 1991Bowman County, Slope County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this tornado warning at Jun 8, 1991, 5:38 PM MDT for Bowman County, Slope County, North Dakota. It was in force for 37 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 8, 1991, 5:38 PM MDT (23:38 UTC)
Expired
Jun 8, 1991, 6:15 PM MDT
In force
37 min
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Bowman County, ND, Slope County, ND

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 8, 5:45 PM MDTHail 1Slope, ND
Jun 8, 6:00 PM MDTTornado F0Slope, ND

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in. Storm Data before 1996 records only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail.

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 12:00Z, 11.6 hours before the alert went out and 220 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 12:00Z on 1991-06-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 22 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 12:00Z on 1991-06-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 10 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
22 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-69 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
865 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
10 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
36 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KBIS 082338
TORBIS
NDC011-087-090015-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
538 PM MDT SAT JUN 8 1991

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 615 PM MDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE SOUTHWEST PART OF NORTH DAKOTA
      EASTERN BOWMAN...SOUTHEAST SLOPE

AT 530 PM MDT A SHERIFF SPOTTED A FUNNEL CLOUD 6 MILES NORTHWEST
OF BOWMAN...OR 55 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON 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, Jun 8, 3:55 PM MDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
NDZ002>003-005-092250-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
450 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTILL 11 PM CDT...
...THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...

AT 445 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WILLISTON INDICATED
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF DICKINSON
IN EAST CENTRAL BILLINGS COUNTY. THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO OCCURRING
50 MILES NORTH OF DICKINSON IN CENTRAL DUNN COUNTY OVER THE TOWNS
OF MANNING AND KILLDEER. NO SEVERE WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH
THESE STORMS BUT THEY HAVE PRODUCED VERY HEAVY RAIN.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

THESE STORMS ARE CAPABLE OF HEAVY RAINS...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND DEADLY
LIGHTNING STRIKES.  IF THREATENING WEATHER APRAOCHES YOUR AREA
MOVE TO A SAVE SHELTER.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING OVER AREAS WHERE PREVIOUS STORMS HAVE
BEEN AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE WATER COVERED.

RICHMOND
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 4:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
NDZ003>014-082330-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
515 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT FOR A LARGE
PORTION OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

A 510 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON TO 50 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MINOT.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH AND WILL PASS NEAR
THE TOWNS OF DICKINSON...MANNING...AND GOLDEN VALLEY. THESE STORMS
WHICH LIKELY CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN HAVE
THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME SEVERE AT ANY TIME. ALSO...THE HEAVY RAIN
MAY CAUSE LOCALIZED FLOODING.

ANOTHER COUPLE OF CLUSTERS OF THUNDERSTORMS WERE IN THE NORTHEAST PART
OF THE STATE...25 MILES NORTHWEST...AND 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DEVILS
LAKE. TOWNS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS INCLUDE LEEDS...
CHURCHES FERRY...OBERON AND DEVILS LAKE. THESE THUNDERSTORMS M8AY
ALSO CONTAIN SMALL HAIL...HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS.

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT
CROSS FLOOD ROADWAYS.

LEBLANG
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 4:47 PM MDT, 51 minutes before
NDZ002-003-005-092350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
445 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...10 PM MDT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL DUNN COUNTY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

AT 445 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WILLISTON INDICATED
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS SOUTHWEST OF KILLDEER IN CENTRAL DUNN
COUNTY HAS DECREASED IN INTENSITY DURING THE PAST 15 MINUTES.  NO SEVERE
WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING 65 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WILLISTON...IN SOUTHEAST MOUNTRAIL COUNTY...20 MILES WEST OF PARSHALL.
MOVEMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WIND...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.

IF THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE TO A PLACE OF SAFETY.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING OVER YAREAS WHERE PREVIOUS STORMS HAVE
BEEN AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE WATER COVERED.

MARTIN
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 5:03 PM MDT, 35 minutes before
NDZ003>014-090000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
600 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT FOR A LARGE
PORTION OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

AT 555 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON...NEAR BOWMAN TO 40 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MINOT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON AND MAY PASS
NEAR BELFIELD AND SOUTH HEART. THESE THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH CONTAIN
SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BECOME SEVERE AT ANY TIME. FOR THAT REASON PERSONS IN WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM THE 65 MILES SOUTH OF
JAMESTOWN TO THE DEVILAS LAKE AREA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
IN BENSON COUNTY...15 TO 30 pMILES WEST OF DEVILS LAKE. THESE PERSISTENT
THUNDERSTORMS MAY CAUSE SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING. RESIDENTS SHOULD
NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AND BE PREPARED TO LEAVE FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

LEBLANG
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 5:08 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
NDZ003>014-090000-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
600 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM CDT FOR A LARGE
PORTION OF WEST CENTRAL AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

AT 555 PM CDT WEATHER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDING
FROM 70 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON...NEAR BOWMAN TO 40 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF MINOT. THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH. THE
STRONGEST THUNDERSTORM WAS 25 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DICKINSON AND MAY PASS
NEAR BELFIELD AND SOUTH HEART. THESE THUNDERSTORMS...WHICH CONTAIN
SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO
BECOME SEVERE AT ANY TIME. FOR THAT REASON PERSONS IN WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA SHOULD SEEK SHELTER IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES.

ANOTHER LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM THE 65 MILES SOUTH OF
JAMESTOWN TO THE DEVILS LAKE AREA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE
IN BENSON COUNTY...15 TO s30 MILES WEST OF DEVILS LAKE. THESE PERSISTENT
THUNDERSTORMS MAY CAUSE SOME LOCALIZED FLOODING. RESIDENTS SHOULD
NOT CROSS FLOODED ROADS AND BE PREPARED TO LEAVE FLOOD PRONE AREAS.

LEBLANG
Special weather statement, Jun 8, 5:08 PM MDT, 30 minutes before
NDZ002-003-005-092350-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECT FOR ISSUANCE TIME...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILLISTON ND
545 PM CDT SAT JUN 8 1991

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...10 PM MDT...
...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL DUNN COUNTY HAS BEEN
CANCELLED...

AT 445 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RADAR IN WILLISTON INDICATED
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT WAS SOUTHWEST OF KILLDEER IN CENTRAL DUNN
COUNTY HAS DECREASED IN INTENSITY DURING THE PAST 15 MINUTES.  NO SEVERE
WEATHER HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.

OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE OCCURRING 65 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
WILLISTON...IN SOUTHEAST MOUNTRAIL COUNTY...20 MILES WEST OF PARSHALL.
MOVEMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS WAS TO THE NORTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

THESE STORMS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WIND...AND
DEADLY LIGHTNING.

IF THUNDERSTORMS MOVE INTO YOUR AREA...GO INSIDE TO A PLACE OF SAFETtY.

THESE STORMS ARE MOVING OVER AREAS WHERE PREVIOUS STORMS HAVE
BEEN AND FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT
TO CROSS ROADWAYS THAT ARE WATER COVERED.

MARTIN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 8, 4:08 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISDunn67 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.