Alert archive / North Dakota / Flash Flood Warnings in 1993

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 24, 1993Griggs County, Steele County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this flash flood warning at Jul 24, 1993, 9:30 PM CDT for Griggs County, Steele County, North Dakota. It was in force for 5 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 24, 1993, 9:30 PM CDT (02:30 UTC)
Expired
Jul 25, 1993, 2:00 AM CDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Griggs County, ND, Steele County, ND

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.5 hours before the alert went out and 219 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 1993-07-25Temperature 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 1993-07-25The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 5 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
0 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
33 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
88 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 KFAR 250235
FFWFAR
NDC039-091-250700-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
930 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FARGO HAS ISSUED A
FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  200 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA
 
   ...GRIGGS COUNTY...STEELE COUNTY
 
AT 930 PM CDT...RADAR INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA IN GRIGGS AND STEELE COUNTIES.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING OVER AREAS WHICH HAVE ALLREADY RECEIVED
EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AMOUNTS. MANY ROADS AND BRIDGES IN STEELE AND GRIGGS
COUNTIES ARE EITHER FLOODED OR WASHED OUT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING NORTHEAST AT ONLY 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR. HEAVY RAINS CAN BE
EXPECTED IN THE COOPERSTOWN...SHARON...FINLEY AND HOPE AREAS THROUGH 11
PM CDT.
 
 
BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE
THE DANGERS OF FLOODS AND FLASH FLOODS.  IF FLASH FLOODING IS
OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY.  MOVE UP TO ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS.  DO
NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.
 
A FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT.  IT'S
IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE RELATIVE TO STREAMS...RIVERS...OR
CREEKS WHICH CAN BECOME KILLERS IN HEAVY RAINS.  CAMPERS SHOULD
AVOID CAMPING ALONG STREAMS OR CREEKS DURING THREATENING RAINS.
VOELKER

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 24, 4:45 PM CDT, 4 hours 45 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-242240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
440 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

AT 425 PM CDT...HEAVY RAINS WERE OCCURRING OVER PARTS OF EASTERN CLAY
AND WESTERN BECKER COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THIS RAIN WAS MOVING
SLOWLY NORTHEAST AND MAY CAUSE FLOODING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG
STREAMS AND RIVERS.

ALSO...HEAVY RAINS WERE MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...ESPECIALLY
OVER DICKEY AND SARGENT COUNTIES WHERE THE GROUND IS ALREADY HEAVILY
SATURATED.

PERSONS OVER DICKEY AND SARGENT COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
CLAY AND WESTERN BECKER COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA SHOULD PREPARE
FOR FLOODING CONDITIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS AND BE READY TO MOVE
TO A PLACE OF SAFETY IF FLOODING OCCURS.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE INCREASING IN AREAL COVERAGE OVER
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND MOVING NORTH INTO SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS ALSO CONTAINED HEAVY RAIN AND COULD CAUSE FLOODING
OVER LOW LYING AREAS AND ALONG STREAMS AND RIVERS.

MANY ROADWAYS IN OUR AREA ARE UNDER WATER.  DO NOT VENTURE OUT UNLESS
THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.

STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A
LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A STREAM OR RIVER.  YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND
YOUR HOME TO BE SURE IT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

SPIES
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 5:46 PM CDT, 3 hours 44 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-242340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
540 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 527 PM CDT...SHOWERS AND NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WHICH CONTAIN VERY
HEAVY RAIN WERE OCCURRING OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHEAST SOUTH
DAKOTA AND A PORTION OF NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN APPEAR TO BE MOVING INTO SOUTH-
EAST NORTH DAKOTA...MAINLY OVER DICKEY...LA MOURE...SARGENT...MCINTOSH
AND SOUTHERN BARNES COUNTIES. IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA BOTH CLAY AND BECKER
COUNTIES WERE EXPERIENCING VERY HEAVY RAINS.
.
SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE ALSO OCCURRING OVER NORTH-
EAST NORTH DAKOTA BETWEEN GRAND FORKS AND DEVILS LAKE...NORTHWARD TO
THE CANADIAN LINE.

MANY ROADWAYS ARE ALREADY UNDER WATER IN MANY AREAS. REMEMEMBER...
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH ROADS THAT ARE SUBMERGED IN WATER.

STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBVLITY OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A
LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A STREAM OR RIVER.  YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND
YOUR HOME TO BE SURE IT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

SPIES
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:43 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-250040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
640 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 527 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO
EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ALONG WITH NORTHEAST SOUTH
DAKOTA. AREAL COVERAGE HAD INCREASED CONSIDERABLY SINCE 530 PM.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN APPEARED TO BE OVER STEELE...CASS..NORTHERN RICHLAND
AND EASTERN LA MOURE AND DICKEY COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
CLAY AND BECKER COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

MANY UNDER PASSES HAVE FLOODED IN THE FARGO/MOORHEAD AREA AND MANY
STREETS AND INTER-SECTIONS WERE UNDER WATER.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE MOVING VERY SLOW TO
THE NORTHEAST AND WILL PRODUCE RAINFALLS IN THE 1 TO 3 INCH RANGE
OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO.

STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A
LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A STREAM OR RIVER.  YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND
YOUR HOME TO BE SURE IT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

SPIES
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 6:49 PM CDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-250040-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY...CORRECTION TO TIME
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
640 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 626 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO
EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ALONG WITH NORTHEAST SOUTH
DAKOTA. AREAL COVERAGE HAD INCREASED CONSIDERABLY SINCE 530 PM.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN APPEARED TO BE OVER STEELE...CASS..NORTHERN RICHLAND
AND EASTERN LA MOURE AND DICKEY COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
CLAY AND BECKER COUNTIES OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

MANY UNDER PASSES HAVE FLOODED IN THE FARGO/MOORHEAD AREA AND MANY
STREETS AND INTER-SECTIONS WERE UNDER WATER.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE MOVING VERY SLOW TO
THE NORTHEAST AND WILL PRODUCE RAINFALLS IN THE 1 TO 3 INCH RANGE
OVER THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO.

STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF RAPIDLY RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A
LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A STREAM OR RIVER.  YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
MOVE TO SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND
YOUR HOME TO BE SURE IT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER.

SPIES
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 7:43 PM CDT, 1 hour 47 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-250140-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
740 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 725 PM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE
SCATTERED OVER EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA ALONG WITH
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA. AREAL COVERAGE HAD INCREASED SINCE 630 PM.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN OVER SOUTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WAS
OCCURRING OVER THE COUNTIES OF GRIGGS...STEELE...TRAILL...CASS...
RICHLAND AND EASTERN RANSOM. IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THE HEAVIEST RAIN
WAS OVER MAHNOMEN...BECKER AND NORTHERN OTTER TAIL COUNTIES.
.
THESE THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN WERE MOVING VERY SLOW TO
THE NORTHEAST AND ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE
1 TO 3 INCH RANGE WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF MORE THAN 4 INCHES.

DONT BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF RAPIDLY
RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A~ STREAM OR RIVER.
YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT
SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND YOUR HOME.

SPIES
Special weather statement, Jul 24, 8:43 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-250240-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
840 PM CDT SAT JUL 24 1993

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
   AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOR TONIGHT...

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 11 PM CDT...

AT 826 PM CDT...A LARGE AREA OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...
SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN CONTINUED OVER EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA..NORTH-
WEST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE HEAVIEST RAIN IN EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA WAS OCCURRING OVER SOUTHEAST
RICHLAND...NORTHWEST CASS...GRIGGS..STEELE...NELSON AND WESTERN WALSH
COUNTIES. IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING OVER
BECKER AND WESTERN POLK COUNTIES.
.
INTENSITY OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS HAD DECREASED SLIGHTLY SINCE 730 PM
BUT ARE STILL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE 1 TO 3
INCH RANGE.

MOVEMENT OF THIS HEAVY RAIN WAS NORTHEAST AT AROUND 10 MILES AN HOUR.

MANY ROADS AND INTERSECTIONS ARE UNDER WATER. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE
THROUGH WATER THAT IS OVER THE ROADWAYS.

DONT BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD ANFD STAY ALERT FOR THE POSSIBLITY OF RAPIDLY
RISING WATER IF YOU ARE IN A LOW LYING AREA OR NEAR A STREAM OR RIVER.
YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO MOVE TO A SAFE PLACE. CHECK YOUR BASEMENT
SUMP PUMPS AND DRAINAGE AROUND YOUR HOME.

SPIES

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Dakota, 1993Every flash flood warning in 1993

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.