Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2011

Tornado Warning 49, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 20, 2011Grand Forks County, Nelson County, Walsh County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 20, 2011, 6:07 AM CDT for Grand Forks County, Nelson County, Walsh County, North Dakota. It was in force for 38 min. 4 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
Jul 20, 2011, 6:07 AM CDT (11:07 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 2011, 6:45 AM CDT
In force
38 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon

Counties Grand Forks County, ND, Nelson County, ND, Walsh County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 85 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 11:07 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
Jul 20, 6:20 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 S Fordville, NDTREE FELL ON PICKUP TRUCK WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES. TIME ESTIMATED USING RADAR IMAGERY.
Jul 20, 6:20 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGFordville, NDLARGE TREES DOWN IN FORDVILLE. APPROXIMATE TIME LINKED TO RADAR.
Jul 20, 6:35 AM CDTTSTM WND DMGForest River, NDLARGE TREES DOWN IN CITY OF FOREST RIVER. TIME LINKED TO RADAR IMAGES.
Jul 20, 6:40 AM CDTTSTM WND DMG4 E Pisek, NDPOWER POLES DOWN AT INTERSECTION OF ND 18 AND WALSH 15. TIME APPROXIMATED USING RADAR IMAGERY.

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

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 20, 5:25 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 283 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 2011-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 5088 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 2011-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -4 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
5088 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-73 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1472 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-4 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
95 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.4
Supercell composite
5.9

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

249 
WFUS53 KFGF 201107
TORFGF
NDC035-063-099-201145-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0049.110720T1107Z-110720T1145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
607 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR...
  NORTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...
  NORTHEASTERN NELSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...
  CENTRAL WALSH COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...

* UNTIL 645 AM CDT

* AT 603 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO. THE STORM WAS
  LOCATED 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LANKIN...OR 30 MILES WEST OF
  GRAFTON...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35 MPH.

* THE TORNADIC STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  FORDVILLE AROUND 620 AM CDT.
  PISEK...ORR AND CONWAY AROUND 625 AM CDT.
  INKSTER AROUND 630 AM CDT.
  VESELEYVILLE AROUND 635 AM CDT.

THE PARENT SEVERE THUNDERSTORM IS LIKELY PRODUCING LARGE HAIL UP TO 
THE SIZE OF PING PONGS.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE TORNADIC STORM
INCLUDE VOSS AND MINTO.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 4837 9732 4803 9734 4816 9816 4838 9813
TIME...MOT...LOC 1106Z 272DEG 34KT 4826 9796

$$

GROCHOCINSKI
3 follow-up statements
617 
WWUS53 KFGF 201124
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
624 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

NDC035-063-099-201145-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110720T1145Z/
GRAND FORKS ND-NELSON ND-WALSH ND-
624 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL WALSH...
NORTHEASTERN NELSON AND NORTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTIES IN
NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 645 AM CDT...

AT 621 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES NORTHEAST
OF FORDVILLE...OR 20 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAFTON...MOVING TO THE EAST
AT 35 MPH.

THE TORNADIC STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  INKSTER AROUND 630 AM CDT.
  VESELEYVILLE AROUND 635 AM CDT.
  VOSS...JOHNSTOWN AND GILBY AROUND 640 AM CDT.
  MINTO AND ARDOCH AROUND 645 AM CDT.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE TORNADIC STORM
INCLUDE FOREST RIVER.

THE PARENT STORM IS LIKELY PRODUCING LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF 
QUARTERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 4838 9804 4837 9732 4803 9734 4814 9804
TIME...MOT...LOC 1123Z 272DEG 34KT 4824 9772

$$

GROCHOCINSKI
716 
WWUS53 KFGF 201132
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
632 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

NDC063-201142-
/O.CAN.KFGF.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110720T1145Z/
NELSON ND-
632 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN NELSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST
NORTH DAKOTA IS CANCELLED...

THE STORM WHICH PROMPTED THE WARNING HAS THE WARNED AREA.

LAT...LON 4838 9784 4837 9732 4803 9734 4811 9784
TIME...MOT...LOC 1132Z 272DEG 34KT 4822 9759

$$

NDC035-099-201145-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110720T1145Z/
GRAND FORKS ND-WALSH ND-
632 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WALSH AND
NORTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 645
AM CDT...

AT 630 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A TORNADO 3 MILES EAST OF
CONWAY...OR 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GRAFTON...MOVING TO THE EAST AT 35
MPH.

THE TORNADIC STORM WILL BE NEAR...
  VOSS...JOHNSTOWN AND GILBY AROUND 640 AM CDT.
  MINTO AND ARDOCH AROUND 645 AM CDT.

THEREAFTER SOME OTHER LOCATIONS IMPACTED BY THE TORNADIC STORM
INCLUDE FOREST RIVER.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO ABANDON CARS AND MOBILE HOMES
FOR A STURDY BUILDING.

&&

LAT...LON 4838 9784 4837 9732 4803 9734 4811 9784
TIME...MOT...LOC 1132Z 272DEG 34KT 4822 9759

$$

GROCHOCINSKI
146 
WWUS53 KFGF 201142
SVSFGF

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
642 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

NDC035-099-201152-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0049.000000T0000Z-110720T1145Z/
GRAND FORKS ND-WALSH ND-
642 AM CDT WED JUL 20 2011

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL WALSH AND NORTH CENTRAL
GRAND FORKS COUNTIES IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA WILL EXPIRE AT 645 AM
CDT...

THE TORNADO THREAT HAS DIMINISHED...THEREFORE THE TORNADO WARNING HAS
EXPIRED. HOWEVER...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT 
FOR THE AREA. LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE STILL POSSIBLE WITH 
THIS THUNDERSTORM.

LAT...LON 4838 9784 4837 9732 4803 9734 4811 9784
TIME...MOT...LOC 1142Z 272DEG 34KT 4820 9745

$$

GROCHOCINSKI

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 9:16 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFCass, Richland9 days
Jul 20, 4:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFWalsh67 min
Jul 20, 4:11 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBenson, Ramsey, Towner64 min
Jul 20, 5:00 AM CDTTornado WarningFGFRamsey45 min
Jul 20, 5:30 AM CDTTornado WarningFGFRamsey, Walsh45 min
Jul 20, 5:41 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPembina, Walsh34 min
Jul 20, 5:53 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFBenson, Cavalier, Ramsey, Towner, Walsh9 hr
Jul 20, 6:28 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBenson, Eddy, Ramsey, Towner62 min
Jul 20, 6:40 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrand Forks, Walsh50 min
Jul 20, 7:21 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBenson, Cavalier, Ramsey, Towner, Walsh54 min
Jul 20, 8:08 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCavalier, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Walsh67 min
Jul 20, 8:59 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFCavalier, Pembina, Walsh6 hr
Jul 20, 10:49 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchFGFGrand Forks47 hr
Jul 20, 10:49 AM CDTRiver Flood WatchFGFGrand Forks, Walsh47 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 2011Every tornado warning in 2011Tornadoes 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.