Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2012

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 143, NWS Bismarck, ND

July 21, 2012Billings County, Golden Valley County, McKenzie County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 21, 2012, 6:44 PM MDT for Billings County, Golden Valley County, McKenzie County, North Dakota. It was in force for 61 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 21, 2012, 6:44 PM MDT (00:44 UTC)
Expired: Jul 21, 2012, 7:45 PM MDT
In force: 61 min
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 2.75 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Billings County, ND, Golden Valley County, ND, McKenzie County, ND

The radar

The Glasgow radar (KGGW), 221 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:46 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 21, 4:41 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 00:00Z, 0.7 hours before the alert went out and 220 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: 1989 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -23 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1900 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 25 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 97 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 2.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

891 
WUUS53 KBIS 220044
SVRBIS
NDC007-033-053-220145-
/O.NEW.KBIS.SV.W.0143.120722T0044Z-120722T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
644 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN MCKENZIE COUNTY IN NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
  NORTHWESTERN BILLINGS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
  NORTHEASTERN GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA

* UNTIL 745 PM MDT

* AT 640 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
  SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP
  TO BASEBALL SIZE...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS
  STORM WAS LOCATED 6 MILES NORTH OF SKAAR...OR 51 MILES SOUTH OF
  WILLISTON...AND MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  TROTTERS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF THIS STORM...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY
BUILDING...AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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 4747 10405 4755 10406 4761 10402 4756 10346
      4729 10351 4718 10376 4735 10406 4747 10406
TIME...MOT...LOC 0044Z 293DEG 19KT 4744 10397
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 2.75IN

$$

SIMOSKO

1 follow-up statement

273 
WWUS53 KBIS 220101
SVSBIS

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
801 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012

NDC007-033-053-220145-
/O.CON.KBIS.SV.W.0143.000000T0000Z-120722T0145Z/
BILLINGS ND-GOLDEN VALLEY ND-MCKENZIE ND-
701 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHWESTERN
MCKENZIE...NORTHEASTERN GOLDEN VALLEY AND NORTHWESTERN BILLINGS
COUNTIES UNTIL 745 PM MDT...

AT 700 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL UP TO
BASEBALL SIZE...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH.  THIS STORM
WAS LOCATED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF TROTTERS...OR 53 MILES SOUTH OF
WILLISTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF EXTREME NORTHEASTERN GOLDEN VALLEY...
  NORTHWESTERN BILLINGS AND SOUTHERN MCKENZIE COUNTIES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE
IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE DESTRUCTIVE HAIL CAPABLE OF PRODUCING
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...
PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

THIS STORM HAS A HISTORY OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL. SEEK SHELTER NOW
INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

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 4747 10405 4755 10406 4761 10402 4756 10346
      4729 10351 4718 10376 4735 10406 4747 10406
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 293DEG 19KT 4740 10385
WIND...HAIL 60MPH 2.75IN

$$

SIMOSKO

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 21, 5:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 25 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 5:19 PM MDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
619 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012

.DISCUSSION...UPDATED THE FORECAST TO INCLUDE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM
WATCH NUMBER 500 FOR THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF NORTH DAKOTA. LAPS
ANALYSIS INDICATED SURFACE BASE CAPE VALUES APPROACHING 3000 J/KG
IN EASTERN MONTANA AT 23Z. THIS AXIS OF INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED TO
TRANSLATE EAST INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS A
SURFACE TROUGH SLOWLY MOVES EAST. FURTHERMORE...SURFACE-6KM SHEAR IN
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA IS BETWEEN 30-40 KNOTS. THE COMBINATION OF
DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND INSTABILITY IS GENERATING AN ENVIRONMENT
CONDUCIVE FOR ROTATING UPDRAFTS AND POSSIBLE SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. THE UPDATED GRIDDED AND
TEXT PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN SENT.

&&

.AVIATION...FOR THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT...SCATTERED
THUNDERSTORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL
REMAINS A THREAT FOR THE WESTERN AERODROMES OF KISN/KDIK. WILL
CONTINUE WITH A VCTS UNTIL SOMETHING MORE DEFINITE DEVELOPS THAT
WILL IMPACT A SPECIFIC AERODROME. OTHERWISE VFR CEILINGS AND
VISIBILITIES ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE NEXT 24 HOURS.

&&

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

&&

TM...UPDATE/AVIATION

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 5:22 PM MDT, 1 hour 22 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
622 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012

NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-222330-
DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-
BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS-
622 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012 /522 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012/

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA.
PLEASE VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR MORE DETAILS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS TO THE FORECAST MONDAY...WITH
A BETTER LIKELIHOOD OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY INTO
WEDNESDAY...POSSIBLY SEVERE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTERS HAVE BEEN ACTIVATED.

NDZ003>005-011>013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-222330-
RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-
MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-
GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
622 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012 /522 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012/

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT

ISOLATED TO SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO INITIATE
ACROSS FAR WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING AND SPREAD
INTO THE CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE OVERNIGHT. A FEW OF THESE
STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.
HOWEVER...A WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS RETURNS TO THE FORECAST MONDAY...WITH
A BETTER LIKELIHOOD OF THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY INTO
WEDNESDAY...POSSIBLY SEVERE.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

TM

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 5:26 PM MDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
626 PM CDT SAT JUL 21 2012

NDZ017-220015-
MCKENZIE-
526 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS APPROACHING WESTERN MCKENZIE COUNTY...

AT 520 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST CENTRAL RICHLAND COUNTY...MOVING EAST
AT 30 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS
STORM.

* THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR...
  RURAL MCKENZIE COUNTY AT 540 PM MDT

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW
AROUND. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS
PASSED.

SIMOSKO

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 21, 6:41 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McKenzie, Williams	64 min
Jul 21, 7:42 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Burke, Divide, Williams	24 min
Jul 21, 7:49 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Billings, Golden Valley, McKenzie	56 min
Jul 21, 9:14 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Burke, Divide	61 min
Jul 21, 11:00 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Burke, Renville, Ward	30 min
Jul 22, 3:27 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Emmons, McIntosh	63 min
Jul 22, 3:45 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Emmons, McIntosh	60 min
Jul 22, 4:08 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Emmons, McIntosh	2 hr
Jul 22, 4:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McIntosh	61 min
Jul 22, 4:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	LaMoure	57 min
Jul 22, 5:09 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh	66 min
Jul 22, 5:48 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure	47 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2012 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2012

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.