Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 53, NWS Grand Forks, ND

August 13, 1994Polk County, Minnesota; Grand Forks County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 13, 1994, 12:02 AM CDT for Polk County, Minnesota; Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It was in force for 58 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 13, 1994, 12:02 AM CDT (05:02 UTC)
Expired
Aug 13, 1994, 1:00 AM CDT
In force
58 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Polk County, MN, Grand Forks County, ND

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 5.0 hours before the alert went out and 281 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, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 1994-08-13Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 907 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, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 1994-08-13The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 90 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
907 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-6 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1020 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
37 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
90 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
137 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.3
Supercell composite
1.6

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFAR 130502
SVRFAR
NDC035-MNC119-130600-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1202 AM CDT SAT AUG 13 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 100 AM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHEAST PART OF NORTH DAKOTA
      SOUTHWEST GRAND FORKS...THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS...

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF MINNESOTA
      POLK...THE CITY OF CROOKSTON...

AT 1201 AM CDT A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM NEAR GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA
WAS MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 45 TO 50 MPH. A GUST TO 67 MPH WAS REPORTED
AT GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA WITH THIS THUNDERSTORM.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 55
MPH...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
FOR YOUR PROTECTION...MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR
OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM.  IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE FONR
DAMAGING WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND DEADLY LIGHTNING.  PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO SHELTER...PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING.  ONCE
INSIDE...STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

ANDERSEN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 12, 9:31 PM CDT, 2 hours 31 minutes before
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
930 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

TIME          EVENT
730 PM CDT    OBSERVER AT MONTPELIER ND...STUTSMAN COUNTY REPORTED
              GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.
745 PM CDT    OBSERVER AT LITCHVILLE ND...BARNES COUNTY REPORTED
              PEA SIZED HAIL...CONTINOUS LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY
              RAIN.
810 PM CDT    BARNES COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE REPORTED PEA SIZED HAIL
              AND VERY HEAVY RAIN...6 MILES SOUTH OF VALLEY CITY ND.
820 PM CDT    STATE RADIO REPORTED GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL 12 MILES SOUTH
              OF VALLEY CITY ND...BARNES COUNTY.
ANDERSEN
Local storm report, Aug 12, 10:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1005 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

TIME          EVENT
730 PM CDT    LATE REPORT...REPORT FROM 3 MILES WEST OF GWINNER NORTH
              DAKOTA...SARGENT COUNTY...1/2 INCH HAIL...30-40 MPH WIND
              AND 0 VISIBILITY IN TORRENTIAL RAIN.
ANDERSEN
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 10:35 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-130435-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1035 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1025 PM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE PUSHING INTO PARTS OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA. MOST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR THE CANADIAN
BORDER IN EXTREME NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA NORTH OF DEVILS LAKE.

ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WHICH CONTAINED VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS BETWEEN DETROIT
LAKES AND MAHNOMEN IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE
BETWEEN BEMIDJI AND FOSSTON OVER NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST AT 40 TO 45 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE
SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH DEADLY LIGHTNING.

PERSONS OVER NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
SPIES
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 10:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 24 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-130435-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1035 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING INTO NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1025 PM CDT...SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
WERE PUSHING INTO PARTS OF NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST
MINNESOTA. MOST OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM NEAR THE CANADIAN
BORDER IN EXTREME NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...SOUTHWEST INTO NORTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA NORTH OF DEVILS LAKE.

ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM WHICH CONTAINED VERY HEAVY RAIN WAS BETWEEN DETROIT
LAKES AND MAHNOMEN IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. OTHER THUNDERSTORMS WERE
BETWEEN BEMIDJI AND FOSSTON OVER NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING RAPIDLY SOUTHEAST AT 40 TO 45 MILES AN
HOUR AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO PUSH SOUTHEAST ACROSS NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THROUGH MIDNIGHT.

ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE
SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH DEADLY LIGHTNING.

PERSONS OVER NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
SPIES
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 11:40 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-130545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SEVICE FARGO ND
1140 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1130 PM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF THEM STRONG...WAS
MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.  THIS 20
MILE WIDE LINE EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF THIEF RIVER FALLS
MINNESOTA NEAR ARGYLE...TO 70 MILES NORTH OF JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA
NEAR NEW ROCKFORD.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE 40 MILES WEST OF
GRAND FORKS. OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE BEMIDJI AND
CASS LAKE AREAS AND JUST WEST OF PARK RAPIDS.  THE THUNDERSTORM IN THE
BEMIDJI AREA HAD PRODUCED TORRENTIAL RAINS ALONG WITH 46 MILE PER HOUR
WIND GUSTS IN BEMIDJI.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.  THE
THUNDERSTORMS WEST OF GRAND FORKS WILL MOVE JUST SOUTH OF GRAND FORKS
TO NEAR CROOKSTON MINNESOTA BY 1230 AM CDT SATURDAY.  THE STORMS IN THE
BEMIDJI/CASS LAKE AREAS WILL AFFECT THE LEECH LAKE AREA WHILE THE STORM
IN THE PARK RAPIDS WILL AFFECT THE MEHNAGA AND SEBAKA AREAS.

ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE
SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH DEADLY LIGHTNING.

BOATERS...CAMPERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER OR PORT AS
NEEDED.

PERSONS OVER NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
EWENS
Special weather statement, Aug 12, 11:41 PM CDT, 21 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-130545-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SEVICE FARGO ND
1140 PM CDT FRI AUG 12 1994

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING ACROSS NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND
   NORTWEST MINNESOTA...

AT 1130 PM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME OF THEM STRONG...WAS
MOVING ACROSS NORTHWEST MINNESOTA AND NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.  THIS 20
MILE WIDE LINE EXTENDED FROM 30 MILES NORTHWEST OF THIEF RIVER FALLS
MINNESOTA NEAR ARGYLE...TO 70 MILES NORTH OF JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA
NEAR NEW ROCKFORD.  THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE 40 MILES WEST OF
GRAND FORKS. OTHER STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED IN THE BEMIDJI AND
CASS LAKE AREAS AND JUST WEST OF PARK RAPIDS.  THE THUNDERSTORM IN THE
BEMIDJI AREA HAD PRODUCED TORRENTIAL RAINS ALONG WITH 46 MILE PER HOUR
WIND GUSTS IN BEMIDJI.

THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.  THE
THUNDERSTORMS WEST OF GRAND FORKS WILL MOVE JUST SOUTH OF GRAND FORKS
TO NEAR CROOKSTON MINNESOTA BY 1230 AM CDT SATURDAY.  THE STORMS IN THE
BEMIDJI/CASS LAKE AREAS WILL AFFECT THE LEECH LAKE AREA WHILE THE STORM
IN THE PARK RAPIDS WILL AFFECT THE MEHNAGA AND SEBAKA AREAS.

ALONG WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN...THESE THUNDERSTORMS MAY ALSO PRODUCE
SMALL HAIL...STRONG GUSTY WINDS...ALONG WITH DEADLY LIGHTNING.

BOATERS...CAMPERS AND OTHER OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS SHOULD* BE ALERT TO
RAPIDLY CHANGING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND SEEK SAFE SHELTER OR PORT AS
NEEDED.

PERSONS OVER NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA SHOULD
REMAIN ALERT AND STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER STATEMENTS AND POSSIBLE
WARNINGS.
EWENS

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 12, 11:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods, Roseau37 min
Aug 13, 12:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Norman66 min
Aug 13, 1:59 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Otter Tail61 min
Aug 13, 3:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail41 min
Aug 13, 3:54 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFDouglas66 min
Aug 12, 8:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBarnes, Cass63 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 1994Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 1994Every severe thunderstorm warning in 1994

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.