Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2008

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 391, NWS Bismarck, ND

August 11, 2008Emmons County, Morton County, Sioux County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 11, 2008, 2:34 PM CDT for Emmons County, Morton County, Sioux County, North Dakota. It was in force for 41 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: Aug 11, 2008, 2:34 PM CDT (19:34 UTC)
Expired: Aug 11, 2008, 3:15 PM CDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon

Counties Emmons County, ND, Morton County, ND, Sioux County, ND

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 45 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 19:37 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

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 12:00Z, 7.6 hours before the alert went out and 46 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: 830 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -41 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 880 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -9 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 39 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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 Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 11, 1:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 11, 1:16 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
116 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

.SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...
EXPECT COLD FRONT/TROUGH TO BE MOVING INTO EASTERN
PORTIONS OF THE STATE AROUND 00Z. MAIN AREA OF SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BE THROUGH THE AREA BY THIS TIME WITH SCATTERED
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS STILL A POSSIBILITY ACROSS CENTRAL
PORTIONS OF THE STATE THROUGH 06Z. UPPER LEVEL CUT OFF LOW
ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM SLOWLY LIMPS EASTWARD THROUGH SOUTHERN
CANADA DURING THE SHORT TERM KEEPING THE RIDGE FROM REBOUNDING
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THIS PLACES NORTH DAKOTA UNDER NORTHWEST
FLOW ALOFT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES SHOULD REMAIN NEAR OR
SLIGHT BELOW NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE SHORT TERM.

BY WEDNESDAY EVENING THE CLOSED UPPER LOW LOOKS TO BE PICKED UP BY
THE WESTERLIES AND DIVES SOUTHEASTWARD INTO THE LARGE TROUGH CARVED
OUT OVER THE EASTERN UNITED STATES.  THIS HELPS DRIVE A COLD THROUGH
NORTH DAKOTA. ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDINGS SUGGEST THAT CAPPING WILL BE
STRONG ENOUGH TO KEEP CONVECTION THAT DOES FORM FROM BECOMING TO
STRONG OR LONG LIVED. EXPECT ONLY WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS AS THE LOW TRACK SOUTHWARD OVER THE REGION THROUGH
THURSDAY EVENING.

.LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...
LONG TERM BEGINS WITH A CLOSED LOW ALOFT INDICATED BY BOTH THE GFS
AND ECMWF OVER CENTRAL/WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. WRAP AROUND MOISTURE
OVER CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS STILL LOOKS GOOD AND TWEAKED POPS
SLIGHTLY HIGHER IN THE CENTRAL/SOUTH...AND DECREASED POPS FURTHER
NORTH. HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE FLOPS OVER THE UPPER LOW AND SETS UP OVER
NORTH DAKOTA FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG TERM. THIS KEEPS THE FORECAST
AREA DRY FROM SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM FROM
THE UPPER 70S FRIDAY INTO THE UPPER 80S BY MONDAY.

&&

.AVIATION...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING KEEPING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS GOING THROUGH 00Z. BRIEF PERIODS OF MVFR/IFR
CONDITIONS POSSIBLE IN HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. OTHERWISE
EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS. GENERAL CLEARING TONIGHT WILL LEAD TO SOME
FOG OVER CENTRAL/EASTERN AERODROMES...KBIS/KMOT/KJMS. COULD SEE
TEMPORARY MVFR OR IFR CONDITIONS TUESDAY MORNING BETWEEN 10Z AND 15Z.
AFTER 15Z TUESDAY WILL SEE VFR CONDITIONS OVER THE ENTIRE FORECAST
AREA.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ004-005-012-
013-022-023-025-035>037-046>048-050-051.

&&

DC/RL/KS

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 11, 5:40 AM CDT, 8 hours 54 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
540 AM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

NDZ001-002-009-010-017>020-031>034-040>045-121045-
DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-
ADAMS-SIOUX-
540 AM CDT MON AUG 11 2008 /440 AM MDT MON AUG 11 2008/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH
DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY. SOME MAY CONTAIN BRIEF
HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NDZ003-011-021-121045-
RENVILLE-WARD-MCLEAN-
540 AM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON.
OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...SOME CONTAINING HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

NDZ004-005-012-013-022-023-025-035>037-046>048-050-051-121045-
BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-MCHENRY-PIERCE-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-BURLEIGH-
KIDDER-STUTSMAN-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
540 AM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM THIS EVENING.
OCCASIONAL THUNDERSTORMS TODAY...SOME CONTAINING HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AGAIN WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH
FRIDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

JV

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 11, 1:23 PM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
123 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0108 PM     TORNADO          3 NW MENOKEN            46.85N 100.58W
08/11/2008                   BURLEIGH           ND   PUBLIC

            KICKING UP DUST NORTHEAST OF MENOKEN REST AREA

&&

VROLLER

Local storm report, Aug 11, 1:25 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
125 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0117 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 NW MENOKEN            46.84N 100.56W
08/11/2008                   BURLEIGH           ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED BY BURLEIGH COUNTY DEPUTY

&&

VROLLER

Local storm report, Aug 11, 2:01 PM CDT, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
201 PM CDT MON AUG 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0140 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     15 S MENOKEN            46.60N 100.53W
08/11/2008                   EMMONS             ND   PUBLIC

&&

VROLLER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 10, 8:30 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Billings, Stark	3 hr
Aug 10, 8:40 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Divide	65 min
Aug 10, 9:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Divide, Williams	55 min
Aug 10, 10:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Burke, Divide	59 min
Aug 10, 11:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Bottineau, Mountrail, Renville, Ward	61 min
Aug 11, 3:53 AM CDT	Flash Flood Watch	BIS	Bottineau, Burleigh, Dickey, Emmons, Foster, Kidder and 10 more	15 hr
Aug 11, 10:07 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Dickey, Foster, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Stutsman	4 hr
Aug 11, 1:08 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Burleigh	37 min
Aug 11, 1:35 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Emmons, Morton	25 min
Aug 11, 3:16 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Stutsman	3 hr
Aug 11, 3:30 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Dickey, McIntosh	3 hr
Aug 11, 3:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	McLean, Sheridan	35 min
Aug 11, 4:13 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Sheridan	32 min
Aug 11, 4:23 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	McHenry	37 min
Aug 11, 4:45 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	McHenry	30 min
Aug 11, 5:40 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Pierce	35 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2008 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2008

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.