Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 1997

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 231, NWS Grand Forks, ND

October 8, 1997Polk County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Oct 8, 1997, 7:37 PM CDT for Polk County, Minnesota. It was in force for 38 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Oct 8, 1997, 7:37 PM CDT (00:37 UTC)
Expired: Oct 8, 1997, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 38 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Whole counties

County Polk County, MN

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Oct 8, 7:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 246 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: 37 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -30 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 942 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 191 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 220 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

000 
TTAA00 KFAR 090036 RRA
SVRFAR
MNC119-090115-
 
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
737 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL  815 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING LOCATION...
 
IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
 
   ...NORTHERN POLK COUNTY
 
AT 734 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM 1>0 MILES
EAST OF GRAND FORKS...NEAR FISHER...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. THE CITY
OF CROOKSTON IS IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM.
 
REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
 
NG

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 Oct 8, 2:59 PM CDT, 4 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 8, 2:59 PM CDT, 4 hours 38 minutes before

FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
255 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

FCST PROBLEM THIS PERIOD WILL BE STRENGTH OF EVENING TSRA AND LATE
PERIOD WINDS. SFC FRONT CREEPING EASTWARD ACROSS CENTRAL DAKOTAS. WV
LOOP SHOWING WAVE MOVING NE THROUGH CENTRAL PLAINS ATTM. AS WAVE CONT
TO MOVE NE TONIGHT SHOULD INTERACT WITH SFC BOUNDARY FOR WIDESPREAD
TSRA AND RA TONIGHT FIRST WITH CONVECTION ALONG AND AHEAD OF FRONT THEN
WITH WARP AROUND COMMA HEAD PCPN. GOOD MOIST CONV...FRONTOGENETIC
FORCING AND QG FORCING SHIFTS E OVR REGION TONIGHT. FEEL CAT GOOD FOR
PCPN TONIGHT. AREA RADARS SHOWING SCTATTERED TSRA ALONG FRONT FROM INL
BORDER INTO CENTRAL PLAINS. WITH FAIRLY UNSTABLE AIRMASS AND AFTERNOON
BREAKS SOME CONVECTION ALSO STARTING OVR SE ND INTO WEST CENTRAL MN. AS
FRONT AND WAVE CONT TO MOVE NE FEEL ABOVE MENTIONED PCPN WILL
OVERSPREAD AND CONTINUE WITH STRONG LOW LEVEL INFLOW WITH TDS IN LOW TO
MID 60S. PWATS GENERALLY BETWEEN 1.2 AND 1.5 INCHES SO SOME LCL HEAVY
RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE EVEN WITH SPEED OF CELLS. MARG INSTABILITY (ADAP
-4) AND ETA CAPE VALUES NOT THAT IMPRESSIVE. STILL WITH POCKETS OF
AFTERNOON SUNSHINE SOME PTNS OF SE ND AND INTO WEST CENTRAL MN MAY SEE
STRONGEST STORMS APPROACHING SVR LIMITS. WITH EXTENSIVE CLD COVER CELLS
SHOULD BE WEAKER ELSEWHERE.
ALSO FROM SPC DISC IS STRONGER CELLS TO TAKE OFF TO OUR SOUTH THIS MAY
ROB SOME INFLOW HOLDING INTENSITY DOWN.
SFC FRONT ENTERS RRV AROUND 06Z. CONCERN THEN IS STRONG NW FLOW. VERY
TIGHT SFC GRADIENT WITH >50KT FLOW AT H8. DVL AREA MAY SEE STRONGEST
WINDS AND RRV MAY NOT SEE STRONGEST WINDS TILL CLOSE TO MORNING. WINDS
ACROSS W ND APPEARED MARG FOR WIND ADVISORY CRIT SO MAYBE CAN HOLD OFF
ON ADVANCING ADVISORY EAST. STRONG CAA OVERNIGHT...MOS SEEMED A LITTLE
WARM CONSIDERING H8 TEMPS DROP BLO ZERO OVR E ND BY 12Z. EVEN WITH
STRONG WINDS TEMPS SHOULD FALL BLO MOS READINGS. WARMEST MINS WILL BE
EASTERN PTNS OF CWFA WITH DELAYED CAA.

FOR DVL...CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH OCNL SHOWERS AND EVENING TSRA. LOW
AROUND 40. NW WIND INC TO 20 TO 35 MPH.
GFK...CLDY WITH OCNL SHRA AND EVENING TSRA. LOW MID 40S. SOUTH WIND 15
TO 25 MPH BECOMING NW 20 TO 30 MPH AFT MID.
FAR...CLDY WITH OCNLY SHRA AND EVENING TSRA. LOW MID 40S. SOUTH WIND 15
TO 25 MPH BECOMING NW 20 TO 30 MPH AFT MID.
ROX...TVF...DTL...FFM...CLDY AND WINDY WITH OCLY SHOWERS AND EVENING
TSRA. LOW MID 40S. WIND SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH BECOMING NW AND INC TO 20 TO
30 MPH AFT MID.
BDE/BJE...CLDY AND BREEZY WITH SHRA AND TSRA DEVELOPING THIS EVENING.
LOW AROUND 50. SOUTH WIND 15 TO 25 MPH BECOMING NW LATE.
FFM...CLDY AND WINDY WITH ONCL SHRA AND EVENING TSRA. LOW UPPER 40S.b
WIND SOUTH 15 TO 25 MPH BECOMING NW AND INCH TO 15 TO 25 MPH AFT MID.
VOELKER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Oct 8, 5:12 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
512 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0350 PM    GALESBURG                 ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   TRAILL                         10 INCH DIAMETER TREES
                                          AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN

0405 PM    LANGDON 10E 2N            ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   CAVALIER                       BARN ROOF HALF BLOWN OFF
                                          AND PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGED

0423 PM     GRAND FORKS              ND   THUNDERSTORM WIND
10/08/97    GRAND FORKS                   63 MPH WIND PEAK GUST

Local storm report, Oct 8, 5:12 PM CDT, 2 hours 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED ALIGNMENT 3RD REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
512 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0350 PM    GALESBURG                 ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   TRAILL                         10 INCH DIAMETER TREES
                                          AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN

0405 PM    LANGDON 10E 2N            ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   CAVALIER                       BARN ROOF HALF BLOWN OFF
                                          AND PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGED

0423 PM    GRAND FORKS               ND   THUNDERSTORM WIND
10/08/97   GRAND FORKS                    63 MPH WIND PEAK GUST

Local storm report, Oct 8, 5:24 PM CDT, 2 hours 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
512 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0350 PM    GALESBURG                 ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   TRAILL                         10 INCH DIAMETER TREES
                                          AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN

0405 PM    LANGDON 10E 2N            ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   CAVALIER                       BARN ROOF HALF BLOWN OFF
                                          AND PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGED

0423 PM     GRAND FORKS              ND   THUNDERSTORM WIND
10/08/97    GRAND FORKS                   63 MPH WIpND PEAK GUST

Local storm report, Oct 8, 5:25 PM CDT, 2 hours 12 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED ALIGNMENT 3RD REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
512 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0350 PM    GALESBURG                 ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   TRAILL                         10 INCH DIAMETER TREES
                                          AND LARGE LIMBS DOWN

0405 PM    LANGDON 10E 2N            ND   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   CAVALIER                       BARN ROOF HALF BLOWN OFF
                                          AND PICKUP TRUCK DAMAGED

0423 PM    GRAND FORKS               ND   THUNDERSTORM WIND
10/08/97   GRAND FORKS                    63 MPH WIND PEAK GUST

Local storm report, Oct 8, 6:37 PM CDT, 1 hour before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
637 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0345 PM    1/2E NIELSVILLE           MN   1 INCH HAIL
10/08/97   POLK

0355 PM    3E 1S CLIMAX              MN   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   POLK                           POLE BARN DESTROYED

0400 PM    3E CLIMAX                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   POLK                           WINDOW BLEW OUT OF TRACKER
                                          **1 INJURY***

0400 PM    3E CLIMAX                 MN   1.00 INCH HAIL
10/08/97   POLK                           HAIL COVERED GROUND

Local storm report, Oct 8, 6:39 PM CDT, 58 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
637 PM CDT WED OCT 8 1997

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

0345 PM    1/2E NIELSVILLE           MN   1 INCH HAIL
10/08/97   POLK

0355 PM    3E 1S CLIMAX              MN   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   POLK                           POLE BARN DESTROYED

0400 PM    3E CLIMAX                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
10/08/97   POLK                           WINDOW BLEW OUT OF TRACKER
                                          **1 INJURY***

0400 PM    3E CLIMAX                 MN   1.00 INCH HAIL
10/08/97   POLK                           HAIL COVERED GROUND

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Oct 8, 7:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Norman, Polk	49 min
Oct 8, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard	21 min
Oct 8, 10:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard	36 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.