Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 1993

Tornado Warning 3, NWS Grand Forks, ND

June 23, 1993Polk County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jun 23, 1993, 12:02 AM CDT for Polk County, Minnesota. It was in force for 58 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Jun 23, 1993, 12:02 AM CDT (05:02 UTC)
Expired: Jun 23, 1993, 1:00 AM CDT
In force: 58 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Whole counties

County Polk County, MN

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 246 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2050 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 76 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 113 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 230502
TORFAR
MNC119-230600-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED/EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED 
TORNADO WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1202 AM CDT WED JUN 23 1993

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A TORNADO WARNING 
EFFECTIVE UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF MINNESOTA
      SOUTHWEST POLK

AT 1155 PM CDT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIER REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE
GROUND 4 MILES EAST OF NIELSVILLE MINNESOTA...POLK COUNTY MOVING
NORTH AT 30 MILES AN HOUR. RADAR ALSO INDICATED A LARGE THUNDER-
STORM CELL IN THAT AREA.

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN
A BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...FIND SHELTER IN A CENTRAL INTERIOR
ROOM SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...
PILLOWS...OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY AND PROTECT YOUR HEAD.
AVOID WINDOWS.  ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES FOR A REINFORCED
BUILDING.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM SITUATION.  ACT QUICKLY.  IF YOU ARE
IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO MOVE TO A SHELTER BELOW GROUND IF
AVAILABLE.  OTHERWISE...GO TO A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST
FLOOR POSSIBLE.  AVOID WINDOWS.  JPROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS WITH CUSHIONS...BLANKETS...OR PILLOWS.

ANDERSEN

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 22, 9:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 17 minutes before

NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-230340-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
930 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 3AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 930 PM CDT...AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THAT WAS 80 MILES
WIDE EXTENDED FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER NEAR PEMBINA NORTH
DAKOTA SOUTHWEST NEAR THE JAMESTOWN AREA SOUTH ON INTO CENTRAL SOUTH
DAKOTA WEST OF ABERDEEN SOUTH DAKOTA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS
WERE JUST NORTHWEST OF JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA AND 25 MILES EAST OF
DEVILS LAKE NORTH DAKOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT
25 MILES AN HOUR.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...VERY HEAVY RAIN...FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES AND POSSIBLE
TORNADOES.
^
ANOTHER AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE
MOVING NORTH AT 25 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR.

PERSONS IN AN NEAR THE WATCH AREA AND NEAR ANY OF THESE STRONG AND
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS AS WELL AS NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR LATEST INFORMATION ON THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
ANDERSEN

Local storm report, Jun 22, 10:33 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1035 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

TIME      EVENT
855 PM    VERY HEAVY RAIN AND PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT LAKOTA ND
          REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

920 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND STONG WINDS BUT NO HAIL 4 WEST OF HOOPLE
          ND REPORTED BY STATE RADIO.

935 PM    MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS 3 NW LAWTON ND REPORTED
          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

938 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY OBSERVER 3 SW HANNAFORD ND

944 PM    LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TORNADO WEST OF HANNAFORD ND MOVING
          TO THE WEST NORTHWEST.

946 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD 2 WEST NIAGARA ND RELAYED BY GRAND FORKS EOC.

957 PM     DEPUTY SHERIFF REPORTS HEAVY RAINS...PEA TO MARBLE
           SIZED HAIL AT FORDVILLE ND

958 PM     HAM RADIO REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD AT DAZEY ND

10  PM     FUNNEL CLOUD  REPORTED BY HAM RADIO 10 - 20 WEST
           OF GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE ND

1012 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY HAM RADIO 5 SW HANNAFORD ND

1017 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY AIR FORCE PERSONNEL 5 NORTH
           NORTHWEST OF GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE

1025 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT 2 WEST EMARDO
           NORTH DAKOTA.

1026 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND ESTIMATED 50 MPH WINDS WITH TREES DOWN
           IN ELLENDALE REPORTED BY STATE RADIO

1029 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
           AT URBANA ND
1028 PM      PEA SIZE HAIL AND A FUNNEpL REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
             4 WEST NORTHWOOD ND.
NORDLAND

Local storm report, Jun 22, 10:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1035 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

TIME      EVENT
855 PM    VERY HEAVY RAIN AND PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT LAKOTA ND
          REPORTED BY COOPERATIVE OBSERVER.

920 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND STONG WINDS BUT NO HAIL 4 WEST OF HOOPLE
          ND REPORTED BY STATE RADIO.

935 PM    MARBLE SIZED HAIL AND HEAVY RAINS 3 NW LAWTON ND REPORTED
          BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

938 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY OBSERVER 3 SW HANNAFORD ND

944 PM    LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTS TORNADO WEST OF HANNAFORD ND MOVING
          TO THE WEST NORTHWEST.

946 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD 2 WEST NIAGARA ND RELAYED BY GRAND FORKS EOC.

957 PM     DEPUTY SHERIFF REPORTS HEAVY RAINS...PEA TO MARBLE
           SIZED HAIL AT FORDVILLE ND

958 PM     HAM RADIO REPORTED FUNNEL CLOUD AT DAZEY ND

10  PM     FUNNEL CLOUD  REPORTED BY HAM RADIO 10 - 20 WEST
           OF GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE ND

1012 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY HAM RADIO 5 SW HANNAFORD ND

1017 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY AIR FORCE PERSONNEL 5 NORTH
           NORTHWEST OF GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE

1025 PM    FUNNEL CLOUD REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT 2 WEST EMARDO
           NORTH DAKOTA.

1026 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND ESTIMATED 50 MPH WINDS WITH TREES DOWN
           IN ELLENDALE REPORTED BY STATE RADIO

1029 PM    HEAVY RAINS AND PEA SIZE HAIL REPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
           AT URBANA ND
1028 PM      PEA SIZE HAIL AND A FUNNEL REPORTED BY HAM RADIO
             4 WEST NORTHWOOD ND.
NORDLAND

Local storm report, Jun 22, 11:29 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1130 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

TIME      EVENT
1035 PM   60 MPH WIND REPORTED IN THE FULLERTON AND ELLENDALE AREAS
          OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA (DICKEY COUNTY) RELAYED BY STATE
          RADIO.

1047 PM   FUNNEL CLOUDY REPORTED AT NIAGARA NORTH DAKOTA (GRAND FORKS
          COUNTY) RELAYED BY GRAND FORKS EOC.

1100 PM   WEATHER OBSERVER AT MONTPELIER ND (STUTSMAN COUNTY) REPORTED
          1.03 INCHES OF RAIN IN 35 MINUTES...NO WIND OR HAIL.

1106 PM   PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT VALLEY CITY ND (BARNES
          COUNTY).

1108 PM   WALL CLOUD WITH ROTATION REPORTED BY THE SHERIFF 3 MILES
          WEST OF NORTHWOOD ND (GRAND FORKS COUNTY).
.
1107 PM   OBSERVER AT LITCHVILLE ND (BARNES COUNTY) REPORTED VERY
          RAIN WITH PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...NO WIND.
SPIES

Local storm report, Jun 22, 11:30 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1130 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

TIME      EVENT
1035 PM   60 MPH WIND REPORTED IN THE FULLERTON AND ELLENDALE AREAS
          OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA (DICKEY COUNTY) RELAYED BY STATE
          RADIO.

1047 PM   FUNNEL CLOUDY REPORTED AT NIAGARA NORTH DAKOTA (GRAND FORKS
          COUNTY) RELAYED BY GRAND FORKS EOC.

1100 PM   WEATHER OBSERVER AT MONTPELIER ND (STUTSMAN COUNTY) REPORTED
          1.03 INCHES OF RAIN IN 35 MINUTES...NO WIND OR HAIL.

1106 PM   PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL REPORTED AT VALLEY CITY ND (BARNES
          COUNTY).

1108 PM   WALL CLOUD WITH ROTATION REPORTED BY THE SHERIFF 3 MILES
          WEST OF NORTHWOOD ND (GRAND FORKS COUNTY).
.
1107 PM   OBSERVER AT LITCHVILLE ND (BARNES COUNTY) REPORTED VERY
          RAIN WITH PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL...NO WIND.
SPIES

Special weather statement, Jun 22, 11:39 PM CDT, 23 minutes before

NDZ012-013-014-015-016-017-018-MNZ001-006-007-010-011-013-230545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1135 PM CDT TUE JUN 22 1993

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 3AM CDT WEDNESDAY MORNING...

AT 1135 PM CDT...A LARGE AREA OF INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED
OVER EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MILES AN HOUR
AND WILL BE NEARING THE FARGO/MOORHEAD AREA BY 1230 AM CDT. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE BRIEF VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY
WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING STRIKES. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF OVER ONE
INCH IS POSSIBLE.

THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS ARE LOCATED JUST SOUTH OF VALLEY CITY
NORTH DAKOTA AND ALONG THE NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER
NORTHEAST OF ABERDEEN SOUTH DAKOTA.
^
PERSONS IN AN NEAR THE WATCH AREA AND NEAR ANY OF THESE STRONG AND
INTENSE THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR RAPIDLY CHANGING
WEATHER CONDITIONS.

PLEASE STAY TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS AS WELL AS NOAA
WEATHER RADIO FOR LATEST INFORMATION ON THESE STRONG THUNDERSTORMS.
ANDERSEN

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 23, 1:03 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker	57 min
Jun 23, 2:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami	58 min
Jun 23, 2:02 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clearwater	34 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 1993 Every tornado warning in 1993 Tornadoes 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.