Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2017

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 62, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 4, 2017Norman County, Polk County, Minnesota; Traill County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 4, 2017, 9:47 PM CDT for Norman County, Polk County, Minnesota; Traill County, North Dakota. It was in force for 58 min. 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: Jul 4, 2017, 9:47 PM CDT (02:47 UTC)
Expired: Jul 4, 2017, 10:45 PM CDT
In force: 58 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.75 in
Wind: 50.0 mph

Counties Norman County, MN, Polk County, MN, Traill County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 37 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:51 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

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 4, 10:00 PM CDT	HAIL 2	5 E Buxton, ND	REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
Jul 4, 10:18 PM CDT	HAIL 1.5	2 Ssw Climax, MN	VERY HEAVY RAIN. HAIL WAS PRETTY SOFT. NOT MUCH WIND.
Jul 4, 10:45 PM CDT	HAIL 1	7 Ene Climax, MN

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 3 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 13 minutes after it went out.

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 4, 6:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 2.8 hours before the alert went out and 285 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: 2145 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -7 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1402 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 81 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 203 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.7
Supercell composite: 5.4

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

115 
WUUS53 KFGF 050247
SVRFGF
MNC107-119-NDC097-050345-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0062.170705T0247Z-170705T0345Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
947 PM CDT TUE JUL 4 2017

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Norman County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Southwestern Polk County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Northeastern Traill County in southeastern North Dakota...

* Until 1045 PM CDT.

* At 946 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Buxton, or 21
  miles south of Grand Forks, moving east at 15 mph.

  HAZARD...Golf ball size hail. 

  SOURCE...Radar indicated. 

  IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect 
           damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. 

* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
  Climax and Nielsville around 1020 PM CDT. 

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 113 and 118.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4741 9668 4753 9710 4767 9706 4767 9690
      4768 9689 4766 9659
TIME...MOT...LOC 0246Z 276DEG 14KT 4760 9700 

HAIL...1.75IN
WIND...<50MPH
 
$$

Gust

1 follow-up statement

798 
WWUS53 KFGF 050306
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Eastern ND/Grand Forks ND
1006 PM CDT TUE JUL 4 2017

MNC107-119-NDC097-050345-
/O.CON.KFGF.SV.W.0062.000000T0000Z-170705T0345Z/
Norman MN-Polk MN-Traill ND-
1006 PM CDT TUE JUL 4 2017

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1045 PM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN NORMAN...SOUTHWESTERN POLK AND NORTHEASTERN TRAILL
COUNTIES...

At 1005 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Climax, or 24
miles south of Grand Forks, moving east at 15 mph. This storm has 
produced 2 inch diameter between buxtoGusdtn and climax.

HAZARD...Two inch hail. 

SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. 

IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect damage 
         to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. 

This severe storm will be near...
  Climax around 1015 PM CDT. 
  Nielsville around 1020 PM CDT. 

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 113 and 118.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm is producing large hail. SEEK SHELTER NOW inside a sturdy
structure and stay away from windows.

&&

LAT...LON 4741 9668 4753 9710 4767 9706 4767 9690
      4768 9689 4766 9659
TIME...MOT...LOC 0305Z 276DEG 14KT 4759 9689 

HAIL...2.00IN
WIND...<50MPH
 
$$

Gust

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 Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 4, 9:15 PM CDT, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 4, 9:15 PM CDT, 32 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
915 PM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

.UPDATE...
Issued at 905 PM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

Line of pulse severe storms has developed across the area over the
last 3 hours with the strongest storms now stretching northeast
from around Mayville to Thief River Falls. Expecting activity to
continue to the southeast with a decreasing overall severe threat
as convective inhibition increases with sundown. Forecast updates
are minor with tweaks to match current obs.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Wednesday)
Issued at 231 PM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

Main challenge tonight will be thunderstorms. Latest high
resolution guidance still develops storms in the 4-5 pm time frame
over the northern Red River Valley, then drops them SSE through
the evening. Looking at the SPC meso page, the northern valley
is closer to the better 0-6km bulk shear, at roughly 30 knots.
Values decrease moving southward, more in the 20-25 knot range at
most. Temps have risen in the mid 80s to lower 90s region wide,
with dew points in the mid 60s to low 70s. SPC meso page shows sfc
based CAPE values in the 4000-4500 J/kg range, but some CIN
remaining. 700mb temps are about 9-10C over central ND near the
boundary, so that is why not much is happening yet.

Still expecting the window for storms in GF/EGF to be from 6-9 pm
and for the FM area to be from 8-11 pm. Once the storms develop,
will see if this timing stills hold true. If so, storms may
impact later evening outdoor holiday events across the southern
half of the FA, while the north may be done by then. Looking ahead
into Wednesday, it appears the boundary will sag southward to the
fringes of the southern and southeast FA. Depending on where
exactly this boundary sets up and how much heating occurs after
the early morning clouds, there could be strong storms around
again. SPC has the entire area in a marginal risk, but will focus
more on this potential after tonights event is done.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday night through Tuesday)
Issued at 231 PM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

More storm chances for the beginning of the period will be the main
concern for the end of the week and through the weekend.

Global models are coming into better agreement with storm potential
for the Wednesday night/early Thursday time frame. A weak surface
trough with some upper level support looks to be the main forcing
mechanism for convective development by Wednesday evening and
tracking east-southeastward into Thursday morning. Instability looks
to be fairly decent (1500-2500 J/kg) given the time of day with
shear profiles a bit more favorable (35-45 kts) than Tuesday's
event. Therefore, agree with SPC's thinking of a marginal
risk/borderline slight risk is reasonable at this time.

Following any lingering precipitation chances early Thursday, the
rest of the week looks to be relatively dry and quiet. Models
continue to diverge on their synoptic features for the weekend with
the GFS bringing precipitation chances back to the area on Saturday
while the ECMWF and Canadian remain dry. The same goes for any
chances early in the new work week with the ECMWF holding on to its
high and dry solution.

Temperatures will cool down just a bit following the Wednesday
night/Thursday system with highs on Friday back down into the 70s
area wide while ranging from the upper 70s to mid 80s for the
remainder of the period.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Wednesday evening)
Issued at 609 PM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

Thunderstorms are expected to from along a line from GFK to the
southwest in the next 2 hours. This activity is expected to move
to the southeast over the next 6 hours with VFR conditions
hereafter.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.
&&

UPDATE...JK
SHORT TERM...Godon
LONG TERM...Lee
AVIATION...JK

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 4, 5:15 AM CDT, 16 hours 32 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
515 AM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-051015-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-
West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-
East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen-
South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier-
Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson-
Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-
Richland-Western Walsh County-
515 AM CDT Tue Jul 4 2017

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A weak surface trough will move into eastern North Dakota this
afternoon. Thunderstorms will most likely develop in southern
Manitoba and move into northeastern North Dakota...then spread
south along the front. Isolated severe storms with hail up to 2
inches in diameter and winds up to 70 mph are possible. The threat
for tornadoes is low, but possible. Coverage of these storms will
be isolated and begin to decay by late evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

There is a chance for thunderstorms to develop late Wednesday
night into Thursday morning. No hazardous weather is expected
the remainder of the week beyond noontime Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible.

Speicher

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:01 PM CDT, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
801 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0725 PM     HAIL             FLORIAN                 48.44N 96.63W
07/04/2017  E1.75 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   PUBLIC

&&

WBARRETT

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:08 PM CDT, 1 hour 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
808 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0756 PM     HAIL             1 NW THOMPSON           47.79N 97.12W
07/04/2017  E1.00 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC

&&

WBARRETT

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:26 PM CDT, 1 hour 21 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
826 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0825 PM     HAIL             THOMPSON                47.78N 97.11W
07/04/2017  E1.75 INCH       GRAND FORKS        ND   PUBLIC

            VICINITY OF WALLE CHURCH.

&&

WBARRETT

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:48 PM CDT, 59 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
848 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0842 PM     HAIL             EUCLID                  47.97N 96.64W
07/04/2017  E1.50 INCH       POLK               MN   STORM CHASER

&&

WBARRETT

Local storm report, Jul 4, 8:55 PM CDT, 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
855 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0720 PM     HAIL             4 W HANNAFORD           47.31N 98.27W
07/04/2017  E2.50 INCH       GRIGGS             ND   PUBLIC

            BROKEN WINDOWS REPORTED. SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT.

&&

WBARRETT

Local storm report, Jul 4, 9:13 PM CDT, 34 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
913 PM CDT TUE JUL 04 2017

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

0649 PM     HAIL             8 NE STEPHEN            48.53N 96.75W
07/04/2017  E2.50 INCH       MARSHALL           MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            PHOTO AND REPORT POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

GGUST

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 4, 7:45 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Lake of the Woods	45 min
Jul 4, 7:54 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Norman, Polk	51 min
Jul 4, 8:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	35 min
Jul 4, 8:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Norman, Polk	19 min
Jul 4, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	47 min
Jul 4, 9:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Polk	35 min
Jul 4, 10:14 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Lake of the Woods	61 min
Jul 4, 10:41 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Norman, Polk	35 min
Jul 4, 11:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clay	50 min
Jul 4, 11:24 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Hubbard	45 min
Jul 4, 11:52 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clay	53 min
Jul 5, 12:54 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Becker, Clay, Otter Tail, Wilkin	45 min
Jul 5, 1:56 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Otter Tail	34 min
Jul 5, 2:26 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Douglas	49 min
Jul 4, 7:08 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes, Griggs, Steele	52 min
Jul 4, 7:34 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Grand Forks	26 min
Jul 4, 7:40 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Traill	35 min
Jul 4, 8:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes, Cass, Griggs, Steele, Traill	25 min
Jul 4, 9:20 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes	42 min
Jul 4, 9:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Steele, Traill	64 min
Jul 4, 10:31 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Griggs, Steele	44 min
Jul 4, 10:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Traill	62 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2017 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2017 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2017

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.