Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Warnings in 1997

Flash Flood Warning 14, NWS Grand Forks, ND

June 24, 1997Clearwater County, Polk County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this flash flood warning at Jun 24, 1997, 4:34 AM CDT for Clearwater County, Polk County, Minnesota. It was in force for 3 hr. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jun 24, 1997, 4:34 AM CDT (09:34 UTC)
Expired
Jun 24, 1997, 7:30 AM CDT
In force
3 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

Counties Clearwater County, MN, Polk County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 109 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:34 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 9.6 hours before the alert went out and 216 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 1997-06-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 141 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 1997-06-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 34 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
141 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-442 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
601 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
34 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
180 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 240935
FFWFAR
MNC029-119-241230-
 
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
434 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A
FLASH FLOOD WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  730 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...
 
IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
 
   ...NORTHERN CLEARWATER COUNTY...EASTERN POLK COUNTY
 
AT 430 AM...RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF HEAVY THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE TO
MOVE OVER EASTERN POLK AND NORTHERN CLEAR WATER COUNTY. DOPPLER RADAR
ESTIMATES 3 TO 6 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MIDNIGHT IN THIS AREA. THE AIRPORT
IN FOSSTON HAS REPORT 2 INCHES RAIN IN THREE HOURS. WITH MORE HEAVY RAIN
EXPECTED THROUGH 630 AM...WATER WILL BEGIN TO WASH OVER LOW SPOTS
IN ROADWAYS AND OVERFLOW DITCHES.
 
MOST DEATHS IN FLASH FLOODING OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.  DO NOT
CROSS BRIDGES...DIPS OR LOW SPOTS IF WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY.  NEVER TRY TO CROSS A FLOWING STREAM ON FOOT...EVEN
A SMALL ONE.
 
SCHUMACHER

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.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at Jun 24, 3:02 AM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 24, 3:02 AM CDT, 1 hour 32 minutes before
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
250 PM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

ANOTHER NIGHT WITH PULSE SVR WEATHER AND HEAVY RAIN SO NOT A LOT OF
TIME TO LOOK AT MODELS.  IN NEAR TERM...CONCERN IS HEAVY RAIN AND
TRAINING ECHOES OVER NW MN AND SVR CONVECTION OVR NC SD.  WITH VERY
UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE AND BNDERY NEARBY...CONVECTION WL BE SLOW TO DIE
OFF OVR NW MN TODAY AND WL LIKELY CARRY PAST 12Z AS CELLS EXTEND BACK
INTO SE ND.  SO WUD KEEP TSRA WITH HVY RAIN INTO NW MN COUNTIES FOR
EARLY MORNING.  FOR SE ND...WL BE BREAK IN CONVECTIONS UNTIL SVR
CONVECTION (OR WHAT/S LEFT OF IT) REACH AREA AROUND DAWN.  WITH LARGE
INSTABILITY AND STRONG MSTR CONV...TSRA AND SHRA LIKELY TO CONTINUE
INTO MORNING OVR SOUTHEAST.

MODELS BRING STR H5 WAVE ACRS CWA TODAY WITH CWA IN RRQ OF JET.  AT
SFC...LW PUSHES INTO NE MN BY 00Z.  WITH STRONG UPPER DYNAMICS...AMPLE
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND STRONG FRONTAL BOUNDARY...SHRA AND TSRA LIKLEY
ACRS WC MN LATE MORNING INTO AFTERNOON WITH HEAVY RAIN AGAIN PSBL.
SHRA AND MORE ISOLATED CONVECTION FOR NE ND.  FOR DVL...MAINLY SHRA
DIMINISHING DURING THE AFTERNOON.

SUGGESTIONS...
BIS...WRKZFP LOOK GOOD...ONLY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE TO GO CATEGORICAL IN
SE ND.
MSP...HCO/CKN/TVF/ROX/BDE...MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS. HIGH IN THE MID 70S.  WIND NORTH AT 10 TO 15.  CHANCE OF
RAIN IS 90 PERCENT.
FSE/BJI...CLOUDY WITH THUNDERSTORMS.  RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES.  WIND EAST
AT 15 TO 15 BECOMING NORTH THIS AFTENNOON.  CHANCE OF RAIN IS NEAR 100
PERCENT.
DTL/PKD/FFM...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING
LATE THISh MORNING.  RAIN MAY BE HEAVY AT TIMES.  HIGH AROUND 80.  WIND
SOUTHEAST AT 5 TO 15 BECOMING NORTH THIS AFTERNOON.  CHANCE OF RAIN IS
80 PERCENT.

ANY COMMENTS...QUESTIONS...PLEASE CALL.

SCHUMACER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 24, 3:51 AM CDT, 43 minutes before
MNZ001-002-007>009-013>017-022>024-032-NDZ027-240930-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED....
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
337 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA AND PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM CDT FOR
SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR GRAND
FORKS...POLK...MARSHALL...PENNINGTON...RED LAKE...BELTRAMI...
NORMAN...MAHNOMEN...CLEARWATER...HUBBARD...AND WADENA COUNTIES.  STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS REMAIN OVER PORTIONS OF THIS AREA WITH HEAVY RAIN LIKELY
FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS.  HOWEVER...THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER
HAS ENDED.

THE COUNTIES WHICH REMAIN IN THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH UNTIL 5 AM
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
IN NORTH DAKOTA:
GRIGGS...STEELE...TRAILL...BARNES...CASS...RANSOM...SARGENT...RICHLAND

IN MINNESOTA:.
CLAY...OTTER TAIL...BECKER...WILKIN

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 24, 4:00 AM CDT, 34 minutes before
MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052-053-251200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
400 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
RED RIVER VALLEY TODAY...

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
VALLEY CITY TO PARK RAPIDS FOR TODAY. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE
STRONG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

A FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
THIS MORNING.   DEW POINTS AROUND 70 DEGREES WERE ALONG AND SOUTH OF
THE FRONT.  THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTWARD AND BE EAST OF
WADENA AND BEMIDJI BY THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG
AND NORTH OF THIS FRONT THROUGHOUT TODAY.  STORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN
VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS AS CONVECTION EARLY
THIS MORNING HAS STABILIZED THE ATMOSPHERE.

HOWEVER...MUCH OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA HAS
REMAINED RAIN FREE SO THAT THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH DAKOTA ARE FORECAST TO MOVE TOWARD THIS AREA
THIS MORNING.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA.  STORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS
MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS AGAIN POSSIBLE.

ONCE THE FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THE
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL END AS MORE STABLE AIR BEGINS TO PUSH
INTO THE REGION.  HOWEVER...HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH
EARLY TONIGHT.  THE HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE LOCAL FLOODING ONCE AGAIN
ACROSS THE ENTIRE RED RIVER VALLEY.

THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE UPDATED LATER TODAY IF CONDITIONS
CHANGE.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 24, 4:10 AM CDT, 24 minutes before
MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052-053-251200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
400 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN
RED RIVER VALLEY TODAY...

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SOUTH OF A LINE FROM
VALLEY CITY TO PARK RAPIDS FOR TODAY. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE
STRONG WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

A FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
THIS MORNING.   DEW POINTS AROUND 70 DEGREES WERE ALONG AND SOUTH OF
THE FRONT.  THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTWARD AND BE EAST OF
WADENA AND BEMIDJI BY THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG
AND NORTH OF THIS FRONT THROUGHOUT TODAY.  STORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN
VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS AS CONVECTION EARLY
THIS MORNING HAS STABILIZED THE ATMOSPHERE.

HOWEVER...MUCH OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA HAS
REMAINED RAIN FREE SO THAT THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH DAKOTA ARE FORECAST TO MOVE TOWARD THIS AREA
THIS MORNING.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA.  STORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS
MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS AGAIN POSSIBLE.

ONCE THE FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THE
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL END AS MORE STABLE AIR BEGINS TO PUSH
INTO THE REGION.  HOWEVER...HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH
EARLY TONIGHT.  THE HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE LOCAL FLOODING ONCE AGAIN
ACROSS THE ENTIRE RED RIVER VALLEY.

THE HAZARDO>US WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE UPDATED LATER TODAY IF CONDITIONS
CHANGE.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 24, 4:20 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
MNZ003-027>031-040-NDZ039-053-241015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
420 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR BECKER...OTTER
TAIL...CLAY AND WILKIN COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA AND CASS...GRIGGS...
STEELE...RICHLAND...AND TRAILL COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA.  STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN REMAIN POSSIBLE OVER THIS AREA THIS
MORNING.  HOWEVER...THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BARNES...RANSOM AND
SARGENT COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 7 AM.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 24, 4:20 AM CDT, 14 minutes before
MNZ003-027>031-040-NDZ039-053-241015-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
420 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...

THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR BECKER...OTTER
TAIL...CLAY AND WILKIN COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA AND CASS...GRIGGS...
STEELE...RICHLAND...AND TRAILL COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA.  STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN REMAIN POSSIBLE OVER THIS AREA THIS
MORNING.  HOWEVER...THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER HAS ENDED.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR BARNES...RANSOM AND
SARGENT COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 7 AM.

SCHUMACHER
Special weather statement, Jun 24, 4:22 AM CDT, 12 minutes before
MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052-053-251200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED TO CHANGE TITLE...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
420 AM CDT TUE JUN 24 1997

...AN ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN RED
RIVER VALLEY TODAY...

ISOLATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SOUTH OF A LINE FROM VALLEY
CITY TO PARK RAPIDS FOR TODAY. THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE STRONG
WINDS AND LARGE HAIL.

A FRONT EXTENDED ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
THIS MORNING.   DEW POINTS AROUND 70 DEGREES WERE ALONG AND SOUTH OF
THE FRONT.  THIS FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE EASTWARD AND BE EAST OF
WADENA AND BEMIDJI BY THIS EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG
AND NORTH OF THIS FRONT THROUGHOUT TODAY.  STORMS ACROSS THE NORTHERN
VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW SEVERE LIMITS AS CONVECTION EARLY
THIS MORNING HAS STABILIZED THE ATMOSPHERE.

HOWEVER...MUCH OF SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA HAS
REMAINED RAIN FREE SO THAT THE ATMOSPHERE REMAINS VERY UNSTABLE. STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH DAKOTA ARE FORECAST TO MOVE TOWARD THIS AREA
THIS MORNING.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS POSSIBLE OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA.  STORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS
MORNING AND THIS AFTERNOON.  AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM IS AGAIN POSSIBLE.

ONCE THE FRONT MOVES EAST OF THE REGION LATE THIS AFTERNOON...THE
THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL END AS MORE STABLE AIR BEGINS TO PUSH
INTO THE REGION.  HOWEVER...HEAVY RAIN WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH
EARLY TONIGHT.  THE HEAVY RAIN COULD CAUSE LOCAL FLOODING ONCE AGAIN
ACROSS THE ENTIRE RED RIVER nVALLEY.

THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK WILL BE UPDATED LATER TODAY IF CONDITIONS
CHANGE.

SCHUMACHER

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 23, 10:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk30 min
Jun 23, 11:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk26 min
Jun 24, 12:04 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk26 min
Jun 24, 12:30 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk30 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 1997Every flash flood warning in 1997

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.