Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 150, NWS Grand Forks, ND

August 2, 1997Barnes County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 2, 1997, 7:22 PM CDT for Barnes County, North Dakota. It was in force for 38 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Aug 2, 1997, 7:22 PM CDT (00:22 UTC)
Expired: Aug 2, 1997, 8:00 PM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Whole counties

County Barnes County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 87 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:24 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.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Aug 2, 7:25 PM CDT	Hail 0.75	Kathryn, ND
Aug 2, 8:10 PM CDT	Hail 0.75	Dazey, ND

NCEI Storm Data entries that began inside the alert's area while it was in force. Before 2003 the local storm report archive is thin, so this is the record of what happened rather than what was phoned in.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Aug 2, 4:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 0.4 hours before the alert went out and 201 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: 296 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -113 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 2349 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 72 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 124 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFAR 030022 RRA
SVRFAR
NDC003-030100-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
722 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  800 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA
 
   ...BARNES COUNTY
 
AT 721 PM...RADAR INDICATED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS 15 MILES SOUTH AND 15
MILES SOUTHWEST OF VALLEY CITY. THESE THUNDERSOTRMS ARE MOVING EAST AT
20 MPH. TOWNS IN THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE FINGAL AND LITCHVILLE.
THESE STORMS HAVE A HISTORY OF PRODUCING GOLFBALL TO TENNIS BALL SIZE
HAIL.
 
REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
 
 
GSF
&

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.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 2, 2:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 2, 2:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 32 minutes before

FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
250 PM CDT SAT AUG 02 1997

BROAD WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WITH ASSORTED WEAK BOUNDARIES MAKE FOR
DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON BEST CHANCES FOR TSRA FROM LATE AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. ATTM FAVORED AREA APPEARS TO BE SE ND...E SD INTO WEST CENTRAL
MN. GREATEST INSTABILITY ACROSS EASTERN SD WITH ADAP LIS TO -12 WITH
WK CAP. MODIFIED ABR 12Z SOUNDING INDICATING CAPES NEAR 4000 J/KG WITH
PWATS APPROACHING 1.5 INCHES. APPROACHING SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND
ADDITIONAL LIFT FROM JET ALONG WITH BOUNDARIES LEFT OVER FROM AM
CONVECTION OVR NE SD...SE ND INTO WEST CENTRAL MN SHOULD MAKE UP FOR
ANY WK SURFACE FRONTAL FORCING. ALSO H8 AND BOUNDARY LAYER MOIST
CONVERGENCE...FRONTOGENETIC AND QG FORCING FAVOR THIS AREA. FROM AREA
TIME SECTIONS MAIN UPWARD MOTION CONTINUES TIL AROUND 06Z AS MAIN TSRA
ACTION SHIFTS SOUTH AND EAST.

OTHERWISE WEAK E-W BOUNDARY PROGGED TO CONTINUE TO SAG SOUTHWARD.
DEWPOINTS ACROSS SOUTHERN MB CONTINUE IN THE LOW TO MID 60S SO
OVERNIGHT LOWS IN MOS RANGES SEEM OK. WITH WK SURFACE FEATURES WINDS
SHOULD REMAIN LIGHT. IF CLEARING DOES TAKE PLACE LATE TONIGHT FOG MAY
BE A CONCERN BUT HARD TO PIN DOWN ATTM AND WILL BRIEF NEXT SHIFT.

DVL...PC. CHC OF TSRA. FEW PSBL SEVERE THIS EVENING. (CONFIDENCE LOW
HERE). LOW LOW 60S. LT WIND.
GFK...PC. CHC OF TSRA...FEW PSBL SEVERE THIS EVENING. (LOW CONFIDENCE
HERE TOO IF SOUTHERN STORMS TAKE OFF). LOW 60 TO 65. LT WIND.
FAR...PC CHC OF TSRA...FEW PSBL SEVERE THIS EVENING. LOW 60 TO 65. LT
WND.
ROX/BDE/TVF/BJI PC. CHC OF TSRA. SEVERE MARGINAL. LOW AROUND 60. LT
WIND.
DTL/PKD/FFM...PC. GOOD CHC OF TSRA. PSBL SVR THIS EVENING. LOW 60 TO 65.
LT WIND.
IF USING POPS...SHOULD BE HIGHEST ACROSS THE SOUTH.
VOELKER

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 1:45 PM CDT, 5 hours 37 minutes before

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052-053-031200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
145 PM CDT SAT AUG 02 1997

...SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE OVER EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING.

WEAK OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM MORNING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH MOIST
...UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE AND AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
WILL LIKELY CAUSE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.

AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE MOST FAVORABLE AREA FOR SEVERE STORM
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
VOELKER

Special weather statement, Aug 2, 1:58 PM CDT, 5 hours 24 minutes before

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052-053-031200-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
145 PM CDT SAT AUG 02 1997

...SEVERE WEATHER POSSIBLE OVER EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING.

WEAK OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES FROM MORNING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG WITH MOIST
...UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE AND AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE
WILL LIKELY CAUSE THUNDERSTORMS TO DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
INTO THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE
HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE PRIMARY THREAT. VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO
POSSIBLE WITH THE STRONGER STORMS.

AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THAT THE MOST FAVORABLE AREA FOR SEVERE STORM
DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OVER SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
VOELKER

Local storm report, Aug 2, 7:15 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...DELAYED REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
715 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

500 PM    BRAMPTON                  ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   SARGENT

540 PM    6N ELBOW LAKE             MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT

550 PM    GWINNER                   ND    PEA SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   SARGENT                        50 MPH WIND

540-550 PM 7E ELBOW LAKE            ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT

605 PM    BARRETT                   ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97    GRANT

605 PM    5N COGSWELL               ND    PEA TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
08/02/97    SARGENT

606 PM    2E ELBOW LAKE             MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97     GRANT

634 PM    BARNEY                    ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97     RICHLAND

657 PM    MOORETON TRUCK SCALE      ND    DIME SIZE HAIL 52 MPH WIND
08/02/97    RICHLAND

630 PM    HOFFMAN                   MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT                          STREET FLOODING

RA

Local storm report, Aug 2, 7:16 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...DELAYED REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
715 PM CDT SAT AUG 2 1997

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION.....STATE   ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

500 PM    BRAMPTON                  ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   SARGENT

540 PM    6N ELBOW LAKE             MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT

550 PM    GWINNER                   ND    PEA SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   SARGENT                        50 MPH WIND

540-550 PM 7E ELBOW LAKE            ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT

605 PM    BARRETT                   ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97    GRANT

605 PM    5N COGSWELL               ND    PEA TO GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL
08/02/97    SARGENT

606 PM    2E ELBOW LAKE             MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97     GRANT

634 PM    BARNEY                    ND    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97     RICHLAND

657 PM    MOORETON TRUCK SCALE      ND    DIME SIZE HAIL 52 MPH WIND
08/02/97    RICHLAND

630 PM    HOFFMAN                   MN    DIME SIZE HAIL
08/02/97   GRANT                          STREET FLOODING

RA

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 2, 7:57 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cavalier	33 min
Aug 2, 7:59 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes	31 min
Aug 2, 8:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass	36 min
Aug 2, 8:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Walsh	29 min
Aug 2, 8:49 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Walsh	26 min
Aug 2, 9:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Nelson	52 min
Aug 2, 9:42 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Griggs	33 min
Aug 2, 9:52 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	38 min
Aug 2, 10:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Steele	34 min
Aug 2, 10:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Traill	25 min
Aug 2, 10:27 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	33 min
Aug 3, 5:28 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	47 min
Aug 3, 5:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	31 min
Aug 3, 5:49 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Towner	41 min
Aug 3, 6:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	25 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 1997 Every severe thunderstorm 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; verification from NCEI's Storm Data; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.