Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2011

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 93, NWS Bismarck, ND

July 8, 2011Stutsman County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 8, 2011, 7:15 PM CDT for Stutsman County, North Dakota. It was in force for 60 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Jul 8, 2011, 7:15 PM CDT (00:15 UTC)
Expired: Jul 8, 2011, 8:15 PM CDT
In force: 60 min
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.5 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Stutsman County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 112 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:17 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.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

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

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 8, 2:32 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	9 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), launched 00:00Z, 0.3 hours before the alert went out and 252 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: 975 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -10 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 117 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.1
Supercell composite: 4.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

259 
WUUS53 KBIS 090015
SVRBIS
NDC093-090115-
/O.NEW.KBIS.SV.W.0093.110709T0015Z-110709T0115Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
715 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  NORTHEASTERN STUTSMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 815 PM CDT

* AT 713 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PING PONG BALL SIZE
  HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM WAS
  LOCATED NEAR PINGREE...OR 18 MILES NORTH OF JAMESTOWN...AND MOVING
  EAST AT 15 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  KENSAL...COURTENAY AND SPIRITWOOD LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED...ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM...AND MAY LEAD TO
FLASH FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 4706 9894 4730 9895 4733 9845 4715 9845
      4702 9846
TIME...MOT...LOC 0016Z 273DEG 13KT 4716 9879
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 1.50IN

$$

HEINERT

2 follow-up statements

384 
WWUS53 KBIS 090044
SVSBIS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
744 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

NDC093-090115-
/O.CON.KBIS.SV.W.0093.000000T0000Z-110709T0115Z/
STUTSMAN ND-
744 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHEASTERN
STUTSMAN COUNTY UNTIL 815 PM CDT...

AT 735 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL.  THIS
STORM WAS LOCATED 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF COURTENAY...OR 17 MILES NORTH
OF JAMESTOWN...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  COURTENAY AND SPIRITWOOD LAKE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE WARNED AREA. TORNADOES CAN
DEVELOP QUICKLY FROM SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. ALTHOUGH NOT IMMEDIATELY
LIKELY...IF A TORNADO IS SPOTTED ACT QUICKLY AND MOVE TO A PLACE OF
SAFETY INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE...SUCH AS A BASEMENT OR SMALL
INTERIOR ROOM.

VERY HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM. A FLASH FLOOD 
WARNING IS IN EFFECT. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE THROUGH FLOODED 
ROADWAYS.

&&

LAT...LON 4706 9894 4730 9895 4733 9845 4715 9845
      4702 9846
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 273DEG 13KT 4715 9864
WIND...HAIL <50MPH 1.00IN

$$

HEINERT

622 
WWUS53 KBIS 090112
SVSBIS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
812 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

NDC093-090121-
/O.EXP.KBIS.SV.W.0093.000000T0000Z-110709T0115Z/
STUTSMAN ND-
812 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN STUTSMAN COUNTY
WILL EXPIRE AT 815 PM CDT/715 PM MDT/...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS WEAKENED. HOWEVER SMALL 
HAIL...GUSTY WINDS AND HEAVY RAIN ARE STILL LIKELY WITH THIS 
THUNDERSTORM.

IN ADDITION...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MAY REDEVELOP...AND A TORNADO 
WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT.

LAT...LON 4706 9894 4730 9895 4733 9845 4715 9845
      4702 9846
TIME...MOT...LOC 0111Z 273DEG 13KT 4714 9850

$$

HEINERT

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 Jul 8, 2:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 8, 2:50 PM CDT, 4 hours 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
250 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

.SHORT TERM...THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT...

THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN FOR THE PERIOD WILL BE THE ONGOING THREAT
FOR SEVERE WEATHER THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. TORNADO WATCH 611 IS
IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 03Z TONIGHT.

A CLOSED LOW OVER CENTRAL ALBERTA IS PROGGED TO MOVE EAST INTO
SASKATCHEWAN LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A JET STREAK
ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE LOW SHOULD PUNCH INTO THE NORTHWESTERN
CWA LATER THIS AFTERNOON...PROVIDING BETTER UPPER LEVEL
SUPPORT/DYNAMICS FOR CONVECTION TO BECOME MORE ORGANIZED.

THE CLOSED LOW/S SURFACE REFLECTION WILL ALSO SLOWLY MOVE EAST
ACROSS THE STATE THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. CONVECTION IS ALREADY
FIRING ALONG THE ATTENDANT WARM FRONT...WITH SOME STRONG STORMS
DEVELOPING ALONG THE BOUNDARY AT THE MOMENT. EVEN THOUGH A MID-
LEVEL CLOUD DECK IS HINDERING AFTERNOON HEATING ACROSS WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA...SOME BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS ARE NOTED ON VISIBLE
SATELLITE IMAGERY. THIS SUBTLE CLEARING SHOULD ALLOW FOR
INCREASING INSTABILITY AND SUBSEQUENT CONVECTION TO DEVELOP IN THE
WARM SECTOR...WITH SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS CELLS EXPECTED BY LATE
AFTERNOON. THESE STORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO CONGEAL INTO A LINE LATER
THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING AS A COLD FRONT SWEEPS INTO NORTH DAKOTA.
THE MAIN THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE
HAIL...WITH A FEW TORNADOES POSSIBLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING.

THE BOUNDARY LAYER WILL STABILIZE WELL AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE COLD
FRONT PUSHES EAST OF THE CWA AND NEGATIVE THETA-E ADVECTION
OVERSPREADS MOST OF THE REGION. HOWEVER...VERY STRONG UPPER
DYNAMICS WILL DEVELOP OVER NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA AS THE CLOSED LOW
MOVES INTO CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN SATURDAY. LINGERING MOISTURE AND
INCREASING UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS WARRANT A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR
THUNDERSTORMS AREAWIDE IN THE MORNING...WITH A CHANCE FOR
AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS ALONG AND EAST OF JAMESTOWN WHERE RICH
THETA-E AIR IS PROGGED TO REMAIN. PRECIP CHANCES WILL REMAIN NEAR
JAMESTOWN THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE THETA-E BOUNDARY STALLS
ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

&&

.LONG TERM...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY...

FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD WILL BE CONTINUED CHANCES
FOR THUNDERSTORMS AS THE NORTHERN PLAINS REMAINS NEAR OR BELOW THE
UPPER JET ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE.

DRY AIR ADVECTION FROM WEST TO EAST WILL END PRECIPITATION CHANCES
FOR ALL PLACES THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING. SUNDAY LOOKS TO BE A PLEASANT
DAY WITH SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING SOUTH OVER THE STATE RESULTING
IN LIGHT WINDS...SEASONAL TEMPERATURES...AND LOWER DEWPOINT TEMPS.
THERE IS A LINGERING SFC BOUNDARY DRAPED ACROSS ND/SD BORDER
AREA...SO WILL MAINTAIN CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THERE
SUNDAY/SUNDAY EVENING.

A PERSISTENT SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW REGIME THROUGH NEXT WEEK...ALONG
WITH THE UPPER JET LINGERING NEAR/OVER THE REGION...WILL RESULT IN
CONTINUED CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS EACH PERIOD AND HIGH/LOW
TEMPERATURES AVERAGING NORMAL.

&&

.AVIATION...EASTWARD MOVING TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE WILL PUSH
ACROSS WESTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA NOW THROUGH THIS
EVENING. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST NEAR ALL
AERODROMES...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND
VERY STRONG WINDS. VFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST EXCEPT DURING
THUNDERSTORMS. SOUTH/SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL INCREASE TO NEAR 20
KTS THIS AFTERNOON AHEAD OF THE SFC TROUGH...GUSTING TO 25 KTS AT
TIMES.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

TM...SHORT TERM
NH...LONG TERM/AVIATION

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 8, 3:19 PM CDT, 3 hours 56 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
319 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-031>036-040>047-050-092030-
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-SLOPE-
HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-MCINTOSH-
319 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011 /219 PM MDT FRI JUL 8 2011/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

TORNADO WATCH 611 IS IN EFFECT FOR THE AREA. PLEASE VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR MORE DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
JAMES RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA
MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE AT 701-250-4452 WITH REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER.

NDZ025-037-048-051-092030-
FOSTER-STUTSMAN-LA MOURE-DICKEY-
319 PM CDT FRI JUL 8 2011

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP DURING THE EVENING HOURS.
SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE...WITH DAMAGING
WINDS...LARGE HAIL...AND HEAVY RAINFALL BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE
JAMES RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA
MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED. PLEASE CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE AT 701-250-4452 WITH REPORTS OF SEVERE WEATHER.

TM

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:06 PM CDT, 1 hour 9 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
606 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0543 PM     TORNADO          10 E HALLIDAY           47.35N 102.12W
07/08/2011                   MERCER             ND   CO-OP OBSERVER

            THE HALLIDAY COOP OBSERVER REPORTED A TORNADO ON THE
            GROUND 10 MILES EAST OF HALLIDAY.

&&

TM

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
608 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0602 PM     TORNADO          1 W BEULAH              47.26N 101.80W
07/08/2011                   MERCER             ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            REPORTED BY MERCER COUNTY DEPUTY.

&&

SWICHE

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:33 PM CDT, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
633 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0630 PM     HEAVY RAIN       4 SE LIGNITE            48.84N 102.50W
07/08/2011  M4.80 INCH       BURKE              ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            APPROXIMATELY A 2 HOUR TOTAL.

&&

SWICHE

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:46 PM CDT, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
646 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0638 PM     TORNADO          3 NW CANNON BALL        46.42N 100.64W
07/08/2011                   MORTON             ND   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORTED TORNADO ON THE GROUND NEAR THE CANNON
            BALL RIVER.

&&

TM

Local storm report, Jul 8, 6:49 PM CDT, 26 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
649 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0636 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     20 NW JAMESTOWN         47.11N 99.01W
07/08/2011                   STUTSMAN           ND   PUBLIC

            REPORTED SEVERAL FUNNELS NORTHWEST OF SPIRITWOOD LAKE.
            KEEP APPEARING THEN DISAPPEARING.

&&

SWICHE

Local storm report, Jul 8, 7:08 PM CDT, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
708 PM CDT FRI JUL 08 2011

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

0659 PM     TORNADO          1 N UNDERWOOD           47.47N 101.14W
07/08/2011                   MCLEAN             ND   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT OF TORNADO RELAYED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

&&

RK

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 8, 7:25 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder	50 min
Jul 8, 7:31 PM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BIS	Burke, Divide, Mountrail, Ward	6 hr
Jul 8, 7:42 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BIS	Stutsman	6 hr
Jul 8, 8:06 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Morton, Sioux	11 hr
Jul 8, 8:16 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Burleigh, Emmons, Kidder, Logan	29 min
Jul 8, 8:42 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Kidder, Logan, Stutsman	48 min
Jul 8, 8:51 PM CDT	River Flood Warning	BIS	Stutsman	4 days
Jul 8, 8:57 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Emmons, Logan, McIntosh	36 min
Jul 8, 9:20 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Emmons, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, Sioux, Stutsman	6 hr
Jul 8, 9:30 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Kidder, Logan, Stutsman	45 min
Jul 8, 9:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh	53 min
Jul 8, 10:30 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure	60 min
Jul 8, 11:09 PM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure	11 hr
Jul 9, 1:41 AM CDT	Areal Flood Warning	BIS	Stutsman	12 hr
Jul 9, 2:01 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	McKenzie, Williams	5 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2011 Every severe thunderstorm 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.