Alert archive / Minnesota / Flash Flood Warnings in 2019

Flash Flood Warning 9, NWS Grand Forks, ND

September 20, 2019Polk County, Minnesota; Grand Forks County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this flash flood warning at Sep 20, 2019, 10:59 PM CDT for Polk County, Minnesota; Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It was in force for 8 hr. 11 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
Sep 20, 2019, 10:59 PM CDT (03:59 UTC)
Expired
Sep 21, 2019, 7:00 AM CDT
In force
8 hr
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Polk County, MN, Grand Forks County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 56 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:00 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
Sep 20, 11:58 PM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Nw Grand Forks, NDUNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA POLICE REPORT UNIVERSITY AVENUE FROM COLUMBIA ROAD TO NORTH 42ND STREET IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO FLOODED STREETS
Sep 21, 12:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.593 S Grand Forks, NDRAINFALL TOTAL FROM SEPTEMBER 20 2019
Sep 21, 1:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 3.63Grand Forks Afb, ND3.79 INCHES MEASURED FROM 7 PM TO 1 AM CDT. STILL RAINING AT OBSERVATION TIME.
Sep 21, 1:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.731 Wnw Grand Forks, ND4.73 INCHES FROM 7 PM TO 1 AM CDT. STILL RAINING AT OBSERVATION TIME.
Sep 21, 1:30 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 Sse Grand Forks, NDAROUND A DOZEN CARS STALLED IN APPROXIMATELY ANKLE TO KNEE DEEP WATER ALONG MAIN ROADS FROM COLUMBIA RD/13TH AVE TO 20TH ST/32ND AVE IN THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS
Sep 21, 3:34 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 6.372 E Grand Forks, NDSTORM TOTAL ACCUMULATION VIA RAIN GAUGE PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Sep 21, 5:25 AM CDTFLASH FLOODGrand Forks, NDINTERSTATE 29 CLOSED BETWEEN EXITS 141 AND 145 DUE TO FLOODING NORTH OF HIGHWAY 2 AT GRAND FORKS. TRAFFIC SHIFTED TO OTHER ROUTES.
Sep 21, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.074 Sse Grand Forks, NDCOCORAHS STATION ND-GF-13 GRAND FORKS ND 3.7 SSE.
Sep 21, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 4.93 Sse Grand Forks, NDCOCORAHS STATION ND-GF-14 GRAND FORKS ND 3.4 SSE.
Sep 21, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 5.052 Se Grand Forks, NDCOCORAHS STATION ND-GF-8 GRAND FORKS ND 2.5 SE.
Sep 21, 7:00 AM CDTHEAVY RAIN 5.291 Wsw Grand Forks, NDOFFICIAL NWS MEASUREMENT OF 24 HR RAINFALL ENDED 700 AM CDT. LIGHT RAIN STILL OCCURRING AT THAT TIME.

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

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 280 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, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 2019-09-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 635 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, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 2019-09-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 134 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
635 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-153 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1044 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
34 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
134 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
144 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.1
Supercell composite
7.3

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

789 
WGUS53 KFGF 210359
FFWFGF
MNC119-NDC035-210730-
/O.NEW.KFGF.FF.W.0009.190921T0359Z-190921T0730Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1059 PM CDT Fri Sep 20 2019

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northwestern Polk County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Eastern Grand Forks County in northeastern North Dakota...

* Until 230 AM CDT.

* At 1057 PM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing 
  heavy rain over eastern Grand Forks and northwest Polk counties. 
  Several rounds of thunderstorms have already passed through these 
  areas. Therefore flash flooding is expected, especially in the 
  Grand Forks and East Grand Forks areas.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Thompson, Fisher, Emerado, Manvel
  and Reynolds.

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 123 and 159.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

&&

LAT...LON 4817 9672 4767 9670 4767 9738 4817 9738

$$
2 follow-up statements
765 
WGUS53 KFGF 210700
FFWFGF
MNC119-NDC035-211200-
/O.EXT.KFGF.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-190921T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
200 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2019

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has extended the

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northwestern Polk County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Eastern Grand Forks County in northeastern North Dakota...

* Until 700 AM CDT.

* At 159 AM CDT, trained weather spotters reported flash flooding 
  across the warned area. Many streets are underwater and water is 
  flooding yards and approaching homes in parts of Grand Forks and 
  East Grand Forks. Over 4 inches of rain fell due to slow moving 
  thunderstorms late Friday evening into the early morning hours 
  Saturday. Flash flooding is already occurring.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include...
  Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Thompson, Fisher, Emerado, Manvel
  and Reynolds.

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 123 and 159.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 4817 9672 4767 9670 4767 9738 4817 9738

$$

DJR
338 
WGUS73 KFGF 211144
FFSFGF

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
644 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2019

MNC119-NDC035-211200-
/O.CON.KFGF.FF.W.0009.000000T0000Z-190921T1200Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Polk MN-Grand Forks ND-
644 AM CDT Sat Sep 21 2019

...THE FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 AM CDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN POLK AND EASTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTIES...

At 642 AM CDT, thunderstorms with heavy rain continued across the 
Grand Forks and Polk county areas. This warning will likely be 
replaced soon with an areal flood warning. 

Some locations that will experience flooding include...
Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Thompson, Fisher, Emerado, Manvel and
Reynolds.

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 123 and 159.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the
dangers of flooding.

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as
well as other drainage areas and low lying spots.

&&

LAT...LON 4817 9672 4767 9670 4767 9738 4817 9738

$$

VG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 20, 7:26 PM CDTFlash Flood WatchFGFBeltrami, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Polk and 2 more8 hr
Sep 20, 7:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk57 min
Sep 20, 7:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay, Norman, Polk63 min
Sep 20, 8:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Polk55 min
Sep 20, 8:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Roseau38 min
Sep 20, 8:28 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake47 min
Sep 20, 8:45 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Polk, Roseau45 min
Sep 20, 8:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFNorman, Polk65 min
Sep 20, 9:00 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFNorman, Polk23 min
Sep 20, 9:01 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFKittson29 min
Sep 20, 9:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake48 min
Sep 20, 9:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Roseau48 min
Sep 20, 9:27 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Marshall, Roseau3 min
Sep 20, 9:53 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFRoseau2 hr
Sep 20, 9:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake50 min
Sep 20, 10:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBeltrami, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Pennington, Roseau64 min
Sep 20, 11:03 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFPennington27 min
Sep 20, 11:25 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFKittson10 hr
Sep 20, 11:39 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFBeltrami, Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau7 hr
Sep 21, 12:18 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFKittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Roseau15 hr
Sep 21, 2:54 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFNorman, Polk, Red Lake4 hr
Sep 21, 6:58 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFBeltrami, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake9 hr
Sep 21, 9:47 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFMarshall4 days
Sep 21, 9:47 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFKittson4 days
Sep 21, 9:47 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFRoseau5 days
Sep 21, 11:37 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningFGFMarshall46 hr
Sep 21, 3:29 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFKittson, Lake of the Woods, Marshall, Roseau18 hr
Sep 21, 3:46 PM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFPennington, Polk, Red Lake17 hr
Sep 21, 3:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk37 min
Sep 21, 4:34 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFPolk56 min
Sep 21, 5:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFClay41 min
Sep 21, 5:27 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFPolk33 min
Sep 21, 5:56 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFClearwater64 min
Sep 21, 5:58 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman62 min
Sep 21, 6:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBeltrami, Clearwater54 min
Sep 21, 6:53 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen67 min
Sep 20, 7:00 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFCavalier, Pembina3 hr
Sep 20, 7:03 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCass, Traill57 min
Sep 20, 7:14 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFRamsey61 min
Sep 20, 7:14 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFCass31 min
Sep 20, 7:17 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFCavalier58 min
Sep 20, 7:21 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFEddy, Nelson24 min
Sep 20, 7:39 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFCass36 min
Sep 20, 8:06 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFNelson, Walsh24 min
Sep 20, 8:09 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFPembina66 min
Sep 20, 8:36 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFCass, Traill24 min
Sep 20, 9:26 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFCass, Traill3 hr
Sep 20, 9:51 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFGrand Forks, Steele39 min
Sep 20, 10:37 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFEddy, Griggs, Nelson, Steele8 hr
Sep 20, 11:33 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFGrand Forks, Nelson7 hr
Sep 21, 12:29 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFBarnes, Grand Forks, Griggs, Steele, Traill7 hr
Sep 21, 12:51 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFBenson, Cavalier, Eddy, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey and 2 more7 hr
Sep 21, 8:11 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningFGFBenson, Cavalier, Eddy, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey and 2 more8 hr
Sep 21, 3:07 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFSteele38 min
Sep 21, 3:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFSteele, Traill47 min
Sep 21, 4:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFCass60 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Minnesota, 2019Flash Flood Warnings in North Dakota, 2019Every flash flood warning in 2019

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.