Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 290, NWS Bismarck, ND

August 27, 2020Grant County, Hettinger County, Morton County, North Dakota

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 27, 5:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2020-08-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 13 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2020-08-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 193 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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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Local storm report, Aug 27, 6:49 PM MDT, 5 minutes before
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    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
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The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 27, 6:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningBISAdams, Hettinger50 min
Aug 27, 6:42 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISRenville48 min
Aug 27, 7:02 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISWilliams43 min
Aug 27, 7:38 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISMorton22 min
Aug 27, 7:53 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISMcKenzie52 min
Aug 27, 7:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISWilliams20 min
Aug 27, 8:21 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISMountrail24 min
Aug 27, 8:28 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISGolden Valley17 min
Aug 27, 8:31 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISStark29 min
Aug 27, 8:48 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISBillings, Golden Valley, Mountrail27 min
Aug 27, 8:56 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISSlope34 min
Aug 27, 9:10 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISMercer35 min
Aug 27, 9:17 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISWard28 min
Aug 27, 9:47 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISStark43 min
Aug 27, 10:26 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementBISMorton34 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.