Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1994

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 80, NWS Grand Forks, ND

September 11, 1994Becker County, Mahnomen County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 11, 1994, 3:22 PM CDT for Becker County, Mahnomen County, Minnesota. It was in force for 68 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 11, 1994, 3:22 PM CDT (20:22 UTC)
Expired
Sep 11, 1994, 4:30 PM CDT
In force
68 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Becker County, MN, Mahnomen County, MN

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KSTC), launched 12:00Z, 8.4 hours before the alert went out and 303 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-09-11Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 345 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 1994-09-11The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -17 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
345 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-212 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1172 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
17 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-17 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-40 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 112022 RRA
SVRFAR
MNC005-087-119-112130-

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
322 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 
WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 430 PM CDT FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING 
COUNTIES

   IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF MINNESOTA
      WESTERN BECKER...MAHNOMEN...EASTERN POLK

AT 315 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. THE THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES WEST
OF FOSSTON IN EASTERN POLK COUNTY...OR 30 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THIEF
RIVER FALLS TO WESTERN CLAY COUNTY OR 25 MILES EAST OF MOORHEAD.
THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. SOME COMMUNITIES IN
THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE FOSSTON...GONVIG...MCINTOSH...
MAHNOMEN AND TWIN VALLEY.

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.

INTENSE LIGHTNING IS REPORTED WITH THIS STORM.  IF OUTDOORS...STAY
AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS.  MOVE INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.  WHEN INDOORS...
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS AND AVOID USING TELEPHONES AND
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

HW

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

Special weather statement, Sep 11, 12:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 57 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-111830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1225 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND PART OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 4PM CDT...

AT 1225 PM CDT A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES
SOUTH OF GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA SOUTHWEST TO NEAR TOWER CITY NORTH
DAKOTA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR GALESBURG IN
TRAILL COUNTY AND JUST EAST OF TOWER CITY IN CASS COUNTY. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL BE OVER EASTERN
TRAILL COUNTY AND MOVING INTO THE FARGO NORTH DAKOTA AREA BY 1PM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL...NORTHEAST
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. ALL OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.

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

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE STORMS.
ANDERSEN
Special weather statement, Sep 11, 12:33 PM CDT, 2 hours 49 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-111830-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
1225 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND PART OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 4PM CDT...

AT 1225 PM CDT A LINE OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM 10 MILES
SOUTH OF GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA SOUTHWEST TO NEAR TOWER CITY NORTH
DAKOTA. THE STRONGEST THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED NEAR GALESBURG IN
TRAILL COUNTY AND JUST EAST OF TOWER CITY IN CASS COUNTY. THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH AND WILL BE OVER EASTERN
TRAILL COUNTY AND MOVING INTO THE FARGO NORTH DAKOTA AREA BY 1PM CDT.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL...NORTHEAST
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. ALL OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.

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

STAY TUNED TO NO&AA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE STORMS.
ANDERSEN
Special weather statement, Sep 11, 1:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 57 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-111930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
125 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND PART OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 4PM CDT...

AT 125 PM CDT AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH
OF THE THIEF RIVER FALLS MINNESOTA AREA SOUTHWEST TO JUST SOUTH OF
JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA WITH THE STRONGEST THUNDERESTORM LOCATED NORTH
OF TOWER CITY NORTH DAKOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE THROUGH THE ADA AND MAHNOMEN
MINNESOTA AREAS AND OVER NORTHERN CASS COUNTY OF NORTH DAKOTA BY 2PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL...NORTHEAST
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. ALL OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.

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

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE STORMS.
ANDERSEN
Special weather statement, Sep 11, 1:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 44 minutes before
NDZ007-008-016-026>030-038-039-048-049-051>053-MNZ001>004-
007>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-039>041-047-111930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT AND RADAR SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
125 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT FOR MUCH OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND PART OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA UNTIL 4PM CDT...

AT 125 PM CDT AN AREA OF STRONG THUNDERSTORMS EXTENDED FROM JUST SOUTH
OF THE THIEF RIVER FALLS MINNESOTA AREA SOUTHWEST TO JUST SOUTH OF
JAMESTOWN NORTH DAKOTA WITH THE STRONGEST THUNDERESTORM LOCATED NORTH
OF TOWER CITY NORTH DAKOTA. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING EAST
NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH AND WILL MOVE THROUGH THE ADA AND MAHNOMEN
MINNESOTA AREAS AND OVER NORTHERN CASS COUNTY OF NORTH DAKOTA BY 2PM.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS COULD PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN...HAIL...GUSTY WINDS
AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING STRIKES.

OTHER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUED OVER EAST CENTRAL...NORTHEAST
AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. ALL OF THESE
THUNDERSTORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 TO 30 MPH.

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

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA OUTLET FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION ABOUT THESE STORMS.
ANDERSEN
Local storm report, Sep 11, 2:35 PM CDT, 47 minutes before
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
235 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

TIME          EVENT

1250 PM CDT   BARNES COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL
              IN VALLEY CITY.

150 PM CDT    THE ARTHUR NORTH DAKOTA COOPERATIVE OBSERVER REPORTED
              GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IN NORTHERN CASS COUNTY.

220 PM CDT    THE GRANDIN ND SKYWARN OBSERVER DROVE 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
              GARDNER NORTH DAKOTA AND SAW QUARTER SIZE HAIL IN THE
              DITCHES.

JEURISSEN
Local storm report, Sep 11, 2:39 PM CDT, 43 minutes before
STORM REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FARGO ND
235 PM CDT SUN SEP 11 1994

TIME          EVENT

1250 PM CDT   BARNES COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT REPORTED PEA SIZE HAIL
              IN VALLEY CITY.

150 PM CDT    THE ARTHUR NORTH DAKOTA COOPERATIVE OBSERVER REPORTED
              GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL IN NORTHERN CASS COUNTY.

220 PM CDT    THE GRANDIN ND SKYWARN OBSERVER DROVE 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
              GARDNER NORTH DAKOTA AND SAW QUARTEFR SIZE HAIL IN THE
              DITCHES.

JEURISSEN

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 11, 2:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Norman68 min
Sep 11, 3:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk68 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 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.