Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 193, NWS Grand Forks, ND

September 1, 1997Barnes County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 1, 1997, 1:27 AM CDT for Barnes County, North Dakota. It was in force for 48 min. 3 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
Sep 1, 1997, 1:27 AM CDT (06:27 UTC)
Expired
Sep 1, 1997, 2:15 AM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Whole counties

County Barnes County, ND

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Sep 1, 1:35 AM CDTHail 0.75Valley City, ND
Sep 1, 2:15 AM CDTThunderstorm WindFingal, NDThe strong wind destroyed three grain bins, ripped the doors off a machine shed, and caused roof damage to the farm buildings. A new grain auger was also destroyed.
Sep 1, 2:15 AM CDTHail 1.25Fingal, 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 nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 6.5 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 1997-09-01Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1215 joules per kilogram.LCLEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 1997-09-01The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 71 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 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
1215 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1935 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
71 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
115 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
3.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

137 
WUUS1 KFAR 010628 RRA
SVRFAR
NDC003-010715-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
127 AM CDT MON SEP 1 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  215 AM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA
 
   ...BARNES COUNTY
 
AT 125 AM CDT RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTH OF
WIMBLEDON...OR 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF VALLEY CITY. THE STORMS WAS MOVING
EAST AT 30 MPH. THE TOWNS OF LEAL AND DAZEY ARE IN THE PATH OF THE STORM 
REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
 
KENNEDY

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 31, 8:57 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 8:57 PM CDT, 4 hours 30 minutes before
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
855 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 1997

FORECAST PROBLEM FOR TONIGHT IS PCPN AND SVR POTENTIAL. SUPERCELLS
CONTINUE TO DEVELOP JUST TO THE W OF THE CWFA AND TRY TO MOVE INTO FAR
W COUNTIES.  ALREADY CANCELLED TOR WATCH FOR NE ND AS TSRA TRAIN ECHOING
ALONG WARM FRONT WHICH EXTENDS FROM BIS TO JMS TO FAR. POTENTIAL
CONTINUES TO EXIST OVERNIGHT FOR LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WIND...TORNADOS
AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL ALONG THIS FRONT.  MODELS ALSO BRING SHORTWAVE
WITH SFC COLD FRONT INTO CWFA BY 12Z.  WITH 300 MB JET AND LLJ SETTING
UP THIS EVENING...WILL NEED TO KEEP EYE OUT FOR SVR OVERNIGHT AS WEJLL.
MOST OF TEMPS LOOK OK WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES NEEDED.  ND ZFP ALREADY
UPDATED FOR WATCH CANCELLATION...WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER 10 PM TO UPDATE
AGAIN AFTER REST OF WATCH EXPIRES.  WILL UPDATE MN ZFP SHORTLY.

NG

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 31, 10:20 PM CDT, 3 hours 7 minutes before
NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052-053-010415-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1016 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 1997

...TORNADO WATCH ALLOWED TO EXPIRE FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...

THE TORNADO WATCH THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA HAS BEEN
ALLOWED TO EXPIRE.

A WARM FRONT EXTENDING FROM BISMARCK TO JAMESTOWN TO FARGO WILL
CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT OVERNIGHT.
AS THE STORMS MOVE EAST ALONG THE WARM FRONT...ISOLATED OCCURRANCES
OF LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS AND TORNADOS REMAIN POSSIBLE.  VERY
HEAVY RAINFALL CAN ALSO BE EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS.

NG
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 10:45 PM CDT, 2 hours 42 minutes before
MNZ001-002-013>015-022-NDZ027-029-030-010645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1045 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 1997

...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST FROM 35 TO 50 MPH OVER GRAND
FORKS...POLK...RED LAKE...PENNINGTON...STEELE...TRAILL...NORMAN AND
MAHNOMEN COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT.  ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS HAVE
PRODUCED A LOCALIZED STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.  THIS PRESSURE
GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AFTER 1 AM CDT AND THE WINDS SHOULD
BEGIN TO WEAKEN.

NG
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 10:46 PM CDT, 2 hours 41 minutes before
MNZ001-002-013>015-022-NDZ027-029-030-010645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1045 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 1997

...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST FROM 35 TO 50 MPH OVER GRAND
FORKS...POLK...RED LAKE...PENNINGTON...STEELE...TRAILL...NORMAN AND
MAHNOMEN COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT.  ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONSd HAVE
PRODUCED A LOCALIZED STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.  THIS PRESSURE
GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AFTER 1 AM CDT AND THE WINDS SHOULD
BEGIN TO WEAKEN.

NG
Special weather statement, Aug 31, 10:47 PM CDT, 2 hours 40 minutes before
MNZ001-002-013>015-022-NDZ027-029-030-010645-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1045 PM CDT SUN AUG 31 1997

...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA...

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST FROM 35 TO 50 MPH OVER GRAND
FORKS...POLK...RED LAKE...PENNINGTON...STEELE...TRAILL...NORMAN AND
MAHNOMEN COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT.  ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIOfNS HAVE
PRODUCED A LOCALIZED STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.  THIS PRESSURE
GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN AFTER 1 AM CDT AND THE WINDS SHOULD
BEGIN TO WEAKEN.

NG
Special weather statement, Sep 1, 12:06 AM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before
MNZ001-002-013>017-022>024-NDZ027-029-030-010700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1206 AM CDT MON SEP 1 1997

...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST FROM 35 TO 50 MPH OVER GRAND
FORKS...POLK...RED LAKE...PENNINGTON...STEELE...TRAILL...NORMAN...
MAHNOMEN...CLEARWATER...HUBBARD AND SOUTHERN BELTRAMI COUNTIES UNTIL
130 AM CDT.  ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS HAVE PRODUCED A LOCALIZED STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.  THIS PRESSURE GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN
AFTER 1 AM CDT IN EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND THEN WINDS SHOULD
SLOWLY BEGIN TO WEAKEN.

NG
Special weather statement, Sep 1, 12:07 AM CDT, 1 hour 20 minutes before
MNZ001-002-013>017-022>024-NDZ027-029-030-010700-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1206 AM CDT MON SEP 1 1997

...GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVER PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA AND NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA.

SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO GUST FROM 35 TO 50 MPH OVER GRAND
FORKS...POLK...RED LAKE...PENNINGTON...STEELE...TRAILL...NORMAN...
MAHNOMEN...CLEARWATER...HUBBARD AND SOUTHERN BELTRAMI COUNTIES UNTIL
130 AM CDT.  ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS HAVE PRODUCED A LOCALIZED STRONG
PRESSURE GRADIENT THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE
STRONG SOUTHERLY WINDS.  THIS PRESSURE GRADIENT IS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN
AFTER 1 AM CDT IN EASTERN NORT|H DAKOTA AND THEN WINDS SHOULD
SLOWLY BEGIN TO WEAKEN.

NG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 31, 8:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBarnes38 min
Aug 31, 9:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFEddy28 min
Aug 31, 10:00 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBarnes30 min
Aug 31, 10:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBarnes31 min
Aug 31, 11:18 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCass42 min
Sep 1, 1:22 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFBarnes, Griggs3 hr
Sep 1, 2:13 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCass47 min
Sep 1, 2:15 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBarnes30 min
Sep 1, 2:30 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFCass4 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 1997Every 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.