Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 290, NWS Bismarck, ND
NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 27, 2020, 6:54 PM MDT for Grant County, Hettinger County, Morton County, North Dakota. It was in force for 40 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 27, 2020, 6:54 PM MDT (00:54 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 27, 2020, 7:34 PM MDT
- In force
- 40 min
- Issued by
- NWS Bismarck, ND
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Grant County, ND, Hettinger County, ND, Morton County, ND
The radar
The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 84 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:56 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.
The watch it was issued in
The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 5:31 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 7 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 0.9 hours before the alert went out and 89 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 13 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -290 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1363 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 54 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 193 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 166 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.2
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 Aug 27, 6:02 PM MDT, 52 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 27, 6:02 PM MDT, 52 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 702 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 647 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 This update for the Severe Thunderstorms Watch number 460 across southwest and far south central North Dakota. The severe threat initially will be for Large Hail up to tennis ball size with any strong discrete cells. A non zero tornado threat will accompany some of the stronger cells as well. Later this evening the thunderstorms are expected to grow upscale becoming more of a wind threat late this evening a and overnight. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Friday) Issued at 305 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 Early this afternoon, synoptic scale flow was characterized by mainly zonal flow across the north central CONUS, with troughing beginning to deepen over the western coast. Surface pressure falls were ongoing across western North Dakota with a low and surface trough analyzed in northwest Montana, and a compact shortwave aloft approaching from the west. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, with a few stronger storms, have been moving east throughout the day. As of 1930 UTC, they are mainly in the James River Valley and the far southwest into far south central. Another round of thunderstorms are expected to initiate in eastern Montana and move into the forecast area as the shortwave pushes through and brings midlevel heights falls with it. Trend in the CAMs has been to hold off in convective initiation until later this afternoon, with our updated messaging highlighting storms moving in after 5 PM CDT. The threat ceiling has increased from this morning, with the latest forecast soundings showing higher instability than previously thought, moderately steep midlevel lapse rates, and strong bulk shear on the order of 50-60 knots, (which has been consistently advertised in guidance). At this point, there's still uncertainty in how exactly storms will progress. For storm mode, mostly perpendicular flow compared to the orientation of the surface trough will favor discrete supercells initially, but then a more cluster/upscale growth is favored, which might be most of what we see here in the forecast area. These initial supercells would have the potential for both severe hail and wind, and a tornado cannot be ruled out as well with sfc-1 km SRH on the order of 150-200 m2/s2. With such strong shear at all levels, there is potential for a few bowing segments to develop which would be primarily a severe wind threat. Unsure of the probability of any long- lived bowing segments, with low- level flow not very favorable for sustained cold pools, but CAMs have been hinting at a few short-lived smaller bowing segments, although this has become a bit inconsistent with the past few runs. Updated messaging to advertise the potential for 70 mph wind gusts and ping pong ball sized hail in the Slight Risk area, and 60 mph gusts and quarter size hail in the Marginal Risk area. We've gotten rainfall reports from thunderstorms earlier today that would put rainfall rates around 2.0" per hour, with guidance showing PWATs around the 90th percentile. Will have to keep this in mind if there are multiple rounds of storms in a relatively short amount of time, or storms are in urban areas more prone to localized flash flooding. Chances for precipitation should taper off west to east, ending around midnight in the James River Valley as the shortwave exits the area. Surface high pressure moves in, and in the wake of the surface low and trough, below average temperatures are forecast tomorrow with highs in the low to mid 70s along with mostly sunny skies. .LONG TERM...(Friday night through Thursday) Issued at 305 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 Weak ridging builds over the Northern Plains on Saturday, with a dry, breezy, and mostly sunny day expected, along with slightly warmer highs in the mid 70s to mid 80s. Upstream troughing will deepen over the upper Rockies overnight Saturday and into Sunday, with a surface low strengthening in response. This brings back the chance of widespread showers and thunderstorms beginning Sunday morning and continuing through the day and night. There is a potential for strong to severe storms, with CIPS severe analogs highlighting the eastern half of North Dakota, so will continue to monitor. As we head into next work week, longwave troughing over the Northern Plains will usher in cooler temperatures. Forecast highs on Monday are only in the 60s, with a slight warming trend through the week bringing temperatures back into the 70s. Chances for precipitation look low and inconsistent with the continued northwest flow aloft. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Friday evening) Issued at 647 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue to develop across western North Dakota this evening. The storms are expected to develop into one or two lines and move east through central and southeast North Dakota through the early morning hours after midnight. The early evening individual storms will be associated with large hail and strong winds, while the lines of storms could bring primarily widespread strong winds later this evening and overnight. The highest threat for thunderstorms will be from KDIK-KBIS-KJMS between 02z and 07z. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...WAA SHORT TERM...MJ LONG TERM...MJ AVIATION...WAA
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 27, 6:06 PM MDT, 48 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 706 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 NDZ001>005-010>013-019>023-025-035>037-290015- Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Mountrail-Ward-McHenry- Pierce-Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Burleigh-Kidder- Stutsman- 706 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 /606 PM MDT Thu Aug 27 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight Widespread thunderstorms are likely across western and central North Dakota tonight. A few storms may become strong to severe with large hail up to the size of quarters and damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. A few of these storms could become strong. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather to the NWS Bismarck office at 701-250-4224. NDZ009-017-046>048-050-051-290015- Williams-McKenzie-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 706 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 /606 PM MDT Thu Aug 27 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight Widespread thunderstorms are likely across western and central North Dakota this afternoon and tonight. A few storms may become strong to severe with large hail up to the size of ping pong balls and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. A few of these storms could become strong. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather to the NWS Bismarck office at 701-250-4224. NDZ018-031>034-040>045-290015- Dunn-Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Morton-Slope-Hettinger-Grant- Bowman-Adams-Sioux- 706 PM CDT Thu Aug 27 2020 /606 PM MDT Thu Aug 27 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central North Dakota and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight Widespread thunderstorms are likely across southwest and far south central North Dakota this evening and early morning. A few storms may become strong to severe with large hail up to the size of tennis balls and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday There is a chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. A few of these storms could become strong. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotters are encouraged to report severe weather to the NWS Bismarck office at 701-250-4224.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 27, 6:42 PM MDT, 12 minutes before
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</html>Local storm report, Aug 27, 6:49 PM MDT, 5 minutes before
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</html>The office that day
Everything else NWS Bismarck, ND issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 6:25 PM MDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | BIS | Adams, Hettinger | 50 min |
| Aug 27, 6:42 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Renville | 48 min |
| Aug 27, 7:02 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Williams | 43 min |
| Aug 27, 7:38 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Morton | 22 min |
| Aug 27, 7:53 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | McKenzie | 52 min |
| Aug 27, 7:55 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Williams | 20 min |
| Aug 27, 8:21 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Mountrail | 24 min |
| Aug 27, 8:28 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Golden Valley | 17 min |
| Aug 27, 8:31 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Stark | 29 min |
| Aug 27, 8:48 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Billings, Golden Valley, Mountrail | 27 min |
| Aug 27, 8:56 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Slope | 34 min |
| Aug 27, 9:10 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Mercer | 35 min |
| Aug 27, 9:17 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Ward | 28 min |
| Aug 27, 9:47 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Stark | 43 min |
| Aug 27, 10:26 PM MDT | Special Weather Statement | BIS | Morton | 34 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2020Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2020
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.