Alert archive / North Dakota / Flash Flood Warnings in 2011

Flash Flood Warning 47, NWS Bismarck, ND

August 15, 2011Burleigh County, Morton County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this flash flood warning at Aug 15, 2011, 9:18 PM CDT for Burleigh County, Morton County, North Dakota. It was in force for 6 hr. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Aug 15, 2011, 9:18 PM CDT (02:18 UTC)
Expired
Aug 16, 2011, 3:30 AM CDT
In force
6 hr
Issued by
NWS Bismarck, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Burleigh County, ND, Morton County, ND

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:19 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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 15, 9:20 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBismarck, NDTRAINED SPOTTER REPORTED FLOODING AT THE BISMARCK EXPRESSWAY BRIDGE...CARS CANNOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER... OTHER REPORTS OF FLOODING ALONG BISMARCK EXPRESSWAY.
Aug 15, 9:39 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBismarck, NDSTREET FLOODING ON SOUTH 3RD ST CLOSE TO RENO. WATER UP TO SIDEWALKS.
Aug 15, 9:40 PM CDTFLASH FLOODBismarck, NDONE TO 2 FEET OF WATER FLOODING THE INTERSECTION OF AIRPORT ROAD AND UNIVERSITY DRIVE. ALSO 1 TO 2 FEET OF WATER FLOODING ALONG SOUTH 12TH STREET BETWEEN BASIN AVE AND EXPRESSWAY. FLOODING ALONG EXPRESSWAY BETWEEN SOUTH 7TH TO AROUND WALMART.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.3 hours before the alert went out and 18 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 2011-08-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 2516 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2011-08-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 74 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
2516 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-51 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1581 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
74 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
127 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
4.5

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

153 
WGUS53 KBIS 160218
FFWBIS
NDC015-059-160830-
/O.NEW.KBIS.FF.W.0047.110816T0218Z-110816T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
918 PM CDT MON AUG 15 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN MORTON COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...
  WESTERN BURLEIGH COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 330 AM CDT TUESDAY

* AT 917 PM CDT...LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THE 9TH   
  STREET OVERPASS IN BISMARCK WAS FLOODED. ALMOST 2 INCHES OF RAIN   
  HAS FALLEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BISMARCK SINCE 840 PM CDT. AN      
  ADDITIONAL 1 INCH OF RAINFALL IS EXPECTED.

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...     
  BISMARCK AND MANDAN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. DO 
NOT ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO 
ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN 
WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN
BISMARCK AT 701-223-4582.

&&

LAT...LON 4698 10104 4698 10094 4701 10088 4701 10048
      4664 10048 4664 10107

$$

MERRIMAN
2 follow-up statements
060 
WGUS73 KBIS 160329
FFSBIS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1029 PM CDT MON AUG 15 2011

NDC015-059-160830-
/O.CON.KBIS.FF.W.0047.000000T0000Z-110816T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BURLEIGH ND-MORTON ND-
1029 PM CDT MON AUG 15 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MORTON AND
WESTERN BURLEIGH COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CDT...

AT 1017 PM CDT...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE MOVED 
THROUGH THE BISMARCK AND MANDAN AREAS. ANOTHER LINE OF STORMS WAS 
MOVING ACROSS SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...AND WILL LIKELY REACH THE 
BISMARCK AND MANDAN AREAS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 3 AM CDT. ADDITIONAL 
RAINFALL IS EXPECTED WITH ONE HALF TO ONE INCH MORE RAIN POSSIBLE 
TONIGHT. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
BISMARCK AND MANDAN.

AS OF 1015 PM CDT...THE NATIONAL WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE IN BISMARCK 
HAD RECEIVED 1.81 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE 830 PM THIS EVENING. NUMEROUS 
REPORTS OF STREET FLOODING...FLOODING UP TO SIDEWALKS...AND ROADS 
BLOCKED BY WATER ACROSS THE SOUTH SIDE OF BISMARCK HAVE BEEN 
RECEIVED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE 
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT 
ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. DO NOT 
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK.

&&

LAT...LON 4698 10104 4698 10094 4701 10088 4701 10048
      4664 10048 4664 10107

$$

ABELING
473 
WGUS73 KBIS 160551
FFSBIS

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1251 AM CDT TUE AUG 16 2011

NDC015-059-160830-
/O.CON.KBIS.FF.W.0047.000000T0000Z-110816T0830Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
BURLEIGH ND-MORTON ND-
1251 AM CDT TUE AUG 16 2011

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN MORTON AND
WESTERN BURLEIGH COUNTIES UNTIL 330 AM CDT...

AT 1243 AM CDT...A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL IS 
APPROACHING THE WARNED AREA. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL OF ONE HALF TO 
THREE QUARTERS OF ONE INCH IS EXPECTED BETWEEN NOW AND 2 AM CDT.

EARLIER ON MONDAY EVENING...THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL 
RESULTED IN FLASH FLOOD CONDITIONS OVER THE WARNED AREA...INCLUDING 
THE BISMARCK AND MANDAN AREA. DITCHES REMAIN FULL OR NEARLY 
FULL...ALONG WITH SATURATED GROUND CONDITIONS. 

RUNOFF FROM THIS ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOOD 
CONDITIONS TO OCCUR AGAIN IN THE WARNED AREA. SOME LOCATIONS THAT 
WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...BISMARCK AND MANDAN.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLOODING IS OBSERVED...ACT QUICKLY. DO NOT
ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND. DO NOT
STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN WATER BEGINS RISING.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE
ROADWAY. THE WATER DEPTH MAY BE TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR CAR TO CROSS
SAFELY.

REPORT FLOODING TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO THAT THEY
MAY TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CLOSE FLOODED ROADWAYS. THEY WILL
RELAY YOUR REPORT TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK.

&&

LAT...LON 4698 10104 4698 10094 4701 10088 4701 10048
      4664 10048 4664 10107

$$

HEINERT

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 15, 7:07 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMorton68 min
Aug 15, 7:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISMcLean65 min
Aug 15, 7:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISAdams, Hettinger62 min
Aug 15, 7:20 PM CDTTornado WarningBISGrant, Morton25 min
Aug 15, 7:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISAdams, Bowman, Hettinger, Slope66 min
Aug 15, 8:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISBurleigh, Morton57 min
Aug 15, 8:14 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISGrant, Hettinger61 min
Aug 15, 8:47 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISGrant28 min
Aug 15, 8:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISBurleigh, Morton53 min
Aug 15, 9:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISBurleigh, Emmons, Morton, Sioux66 min
Aug 15, 9:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISGrant40 min
Aug 15, 9:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISBurleigh, Kidder, Sheridan44 min
Aug 15, 9:36 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISBurleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Logan54 min
Aug 15, 10:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISAdams, Bowman, Hettinger, Slope35 min
Aug 15, 11:21 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISAdams, Grant, Hettinger, Sioux54 min
Aug 16, 12:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISGrant, Morton, Sioux64 min
Aug 16, 3:08 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBISEmmons, Logan, McIntosh4 hr
Aug 16, 9:55 AM CDTWind AdvisoryBISAdams, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh and 18 more6 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Dakota, 2011Every flash flood warning in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.