Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2020

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 82, NWS Grand Forks, ND

June 17, 2020Grand Forks County, Steele County, Traill County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jun 17, 2020, 7:03 PM CDT for Grand Forks County, Steele County, Traill County, North Dakota. It was in force for 42 min. 5 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: Jun 17, 2020, 7:03 PM CDT (00:03 UTC)
Expired: Jun 17, 2020, 7:45 PM CDT
In force: 42 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

Counties Grand Forks County, ND, Steele County, ND, Traill County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 15 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:06 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
Jun 17, 7:29 PM CDT	TSTM WND DMG	Golden Lake, ND	MULITPLE BOATS FLIPPED ON GOLDEN LAKE.
Jun 17, 7:29 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 75	Golden Lake, ND	MULITPLE BOATS, PONTOONS, AND SECTIONS OF BOAT DOCKS FLIPPED ON GOLDEN LAKE. SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE LAKE. SECTION OF ROOFING TORN OFF OF TWO CABINS. NUMEROUS LARGE BRANCHES AND LIMBS BROKEN DOWN. PEAK WINDS MEASURED FRO
Jun 17, 7:46 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 58	6 Se Kempton, ND	PEAK WIND MEASURED AT AN NDAWN STATION.
Jun 17, 7:46 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 58	6 Se Kempton, ND
Jun 17, 7:46 PM CDT	TSTM WND GST 58	6 Se Kempton, ND

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 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 26 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
Jun 17, 5:21 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 0.1 hours before the alert went out and 254 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: 271 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -203 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1609 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 54 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 26 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 110 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 5.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

977 
WUUS53 KFGF 180003
SVRFGF
NDC035-091-097-180045-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0082.200618T0003Z-200618T0045Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
703 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Grand Forks County in northeastern North Dakota...
  Northwestern Traill County in southeastern North Dakota...
  Eastern Steele County in southeastern North Dakota...

* Until 745 PM CDT.

* At 703 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Sherbrooke,
  or 37 miles northeast of Valley City, moving northeast at 55 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Mayville, Thompson, Northwood, Hatton, Portland, Golden Lake and
  Reynolds.

This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 125 and 129.
 
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4724 9764 4738 9781 4791 9754 4775 9700
TIME...MOT...LOC 0003Z 210DEG 48KT 4740 9764 

HAIL...1.00IN
WIND...60MPH
 
$$

CJ

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 Jun 17, 6:39 PM CDT, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 17, 6:39 PM CDT, 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
639 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

.UPDATE...
Issued at 638 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

Convection has developed across eastern ND and the northern valley
over the passed 60 to 90min. Severe thunderstorm watch exists
through midnight for much of the area. From a mesoanalysis stand
point the strongest storms due to stronger shear and better mid
level lapse rates should be across the NE ND in the near term.
Supercell currently exists in Walsh County with more multicellular
activity to the south. This activity will lift to the north
northeast with the area of activity gradually shifting to the east
this evening. Additional development is expected in the southern
valley and eventually in MN later this evening into the overnight.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night)
Issued at 308 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

Convective trends and strength will continue to be the main
headache for the period.

Festering elevated convection continues to linger over
northeastern ND along an axis of warm air advection. The big
question is if we will get some surface based development later on
this afternoon or evening along the stalled front extending from
our northwestern edge of the CWA into south central ND. Heating
has been a bit better than expected, with areas that saw rain from
the elevated activity quickly recovering into the 90s. Capping
therefore is not as strong as expected, but there continues to not
be that great of upper forcing with the shortwave still to the
southwest. There is some question on if we will get some surface
based convection going in the next hour or so, or if initiation
will hold off until closer to 00Z with the upper support. CAMs
would support the second scenario but have been doing poorly with
our elevated convection so will be taking them with a grain of
salt. Starting to see some better glaciation of the clouds
extending into south central ND, so think there may be some
development in the next few hours in that area. Have some pretty
high POPs and will continue to keep a severe mention, probably
more for one and a half inch hail and 60-70 mph winds as the
supercell chances diminish as storms head into our area. The
severe threat will continue into portions of the overnight as
another weak shortwave lifts northeastward from SD along the
boundary that is slowly moving eastward.

The pretty active pattern will continue into tomorrow with the
overnight shortwave lifting into MN and Ontario, and the surface
trough axis and cold front pushing slowly east. With showers and
thunderstorms ongoing in the morning, do not think we will
destabilize as much as today, but can't completely rule out
something pulsing up in west central MN on Thursday. Decent cold
air advection behind the surface trough should knock temps down
into the 70s, and even some 40s and 50s will be possible Thursday
night as we get some decreasing clouds and cold air advection.

.LONG TERM...(Friday through Wednesday)
Issued at 308 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

Main chance for impactful weather will come over the weekend, with
good chances for at least some strong, if not severe, tstms.

Fri looks to be drier and seasonally mild, as a Canadian airmass
descends upon the Northern Plains behind the departing cold front.
Afternoon highs look to be in the seasonal 70s with cooler overnight
lows from the upper 40s into the 50s. The weekend for our region
still looks to feature an upper low north of the border likely to
spin a couple of spokes/lobes through the forecast area. Sfc based
CAPE and bulk shear during the aftn/early eve each day look to be
sufficient for at least strong tstms, especially if short waves are
coincident with time of peak heating.

Another boundary passage slated for later Sun will be succeeded by a
dry and seasonal beginning to the new week. The next convective
chance should present on Tue, with increasing CAPE/shear values in
advance of a sfc boundary/shortwave.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening)
Issued at 638 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

Thunderstorms expected over the next 6 to 8 hours for the all but
BJI. DVL will just be VCTS. FAR , GFK and TVF will all see some
TS activity in the 4 to 8Z time frame. LLWS expected at BJI as
winds decouple this evening. In the wake of the convection some
MVFR CIGs will be possible towards morning with VFR and westerly
winds expected tomorrow.

&&

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

UPDATE...JK
SHORT TERM...JR
LONG TERM...WJB
AVIATION...JK

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 17, 5:14 AM CDT, 13 hours 49 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
514 AM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-181015-
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-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-
Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
Western Walsh-
514 AM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Near critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon
into the early evening. Fires that develop may be hard to control.

Thunderstorm chances increase by this evening, and periods of
showers and thunderstorms will continue through tonight across the
region. Severe thunderstorms will be possible late this afternoon
through this evening, with hail up to 2 inches, damaging winds to
75 mph, and tornadoes will be possible. Locally heavy rainfall
and slow moving thunderstorms may lead to localized flooding.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Showers and thunderstorms will continue Thursday morning, ending
in ND first but lingering in Minnesota into the afternoon. A few
severe thunderstorms will be possible through the afternoon along
and east of a line from Lake of the Woods to Otter Tail County.
Hail to 1 inch and 60 mph winds would be the main threats.
Locally heavy rainfall will also remain possible in Minnesota.

Periodic thunderstorm chances will continue through early next
week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 17, 5:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
538 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2020

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

0531 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     2 S GREENBUSH           48.67N 96.18W
06/17/2020                   Roseau             MN   PUBLIC

            REPORTED LOOKING TO THE SOUTHWEST FROM 2 SOUTH OF
            GREENBUSH

&&

JKAISER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 6:00 PM CDT, 1 hour 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
600 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

NDZ026>029-038-180000-
Griggs ND-Nelson ND-Steele ND-Barnes ND-Grand Forks ND-
600 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN GRAND FORKS...
SOUTHEASTERN NELSON...GRIGGS...WESTERN BARNES AND WESTERN STEELE
COUNTIES UNTIL 700 PM CDT...

At 559 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Wimbledon, or 25 miles northwest of Valley City, moving north at 40
mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Cooperstown, Finley, McVille, Aneta, Wimbledon, Sanborn and Binford.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
southeastern and northeastern North Dakota.

LAT...LON 4663 9843 4698 9844 4698 9847 4725 9847
      4786 9829 4767 9768 4663 9824
TIME...MOT...LOC 2259Z 200DEG 36KT 4720 9837

CJ

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 6:16 PM CDT, 47 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
616 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

MNZ004-007-NDZ008-016-027-180015-
Kittson MN-West Marshall MN-Pembina ND-Eastern Walsh County ND-
Grand Forks ND-
616 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN MARSHALL...CENTRAL
KITTSON...NORTH CENTRAL GRAND FORKS...EASTERN WALSH AND EASTERN
PEMBINA COUNTIES UNTIL 715 PM CDT...

At 616 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Voss, or 9 miles south of Grafton, moving north at 45 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Grafton, Hallock, Drayton, Stephen, Minto, St. Thomas and Oslo.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
northwestern Minnesota...and northeastern North Dakota.

LAT...LON 4879 9651 4817 9710 4817 9715 4816 9714
      4816 9712 4814 9715 4814 9713 4809 9718
      4814 9763 4900 9749
TIME...MOT...LOC 2316Z 200DEG 37KT 4828 9742

CJ

Local storm report, Jun 17, 6:53 PM CDT, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
653 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2020

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

0635 PM     HAIL             5 S ADAMS               48.35N 98.07W
06/17/2020  E1.50 INCH       Walsh              ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

&&

JKAISER

Special weather statement, Jun 17, 6:57 PM CDT, 6 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
657 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

MNZ001-007-NDZ016-026>030-038-054-180100-
West Polk MN-West Marshall MN-Griggs ND-Nelson ND-Steele ND-
Traill ND-Eastern Walsh County ND-Western Walsh County ND-Barnes ND-
Grand Forks ND-
657 PM CDT Wed Jun 17 2020

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN MARSHALL...
NORTHWESTERN POLK...GRAND FORKS...EASTERN NELSON...NORTHWESTERN
TRAILL...EASTERN GRIGGS...NORTHEASTERN BARNES...SOUTHERN WALSH AND
STEELE COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT...

At 657 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Sherbrooke, or 39 miles southwest of Grand Forks, moving northeast at
40 mph.

Penny size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Grand Forks AFB, Larimore, Thompson,
Cooperstown and Northwood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
northwestern Minnesota...and southeastern and northeastern North
Dakota.

LAT...LON 4826 9702 4795 9684 4724 9766 4724 9770
      4722 9771 4718 9832 4839 9815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2357Z 218DEG 34KT 4750 9767

CJ

Local storm report, Jun 17, 7:01 PM CDT, 2 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
701 PM CDT WED JUN 17 2020

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

0648 PM     HAIL             HANNAFORD               47.31N 98.19W
06/17/2020  E1.50 INCH       GRIGGS             ND   BROADCAST MEDIA

            PICTURE OF HAIL STONE - TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.

&&

JKAISER

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jun 17, 7:06 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Barnes, Ransom	54 min
Jun 17, 7:17 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes, Cass, Steele, Traill	58 min
Jun 17, 7:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Walsh	51 min
Jun 17, 7:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Steele, Traill, Walsh	51 min
Jun 17, 7:43 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Pembina, Walsh	47 min
Jun 17, 8:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Barnes, Cass, Ransom	59 min
Jun 17, 8:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Grand Forks, Steele, Traill	65 min
Jun 17, 8:33 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Barnes, Cass, Steele, Traill	42 min
Jun 17, 8:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Traill	66 min
Jun 17, 8:51 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks, Steele, Traill	39 min
Jun 17, 8:58 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass	47 min
Jun 17, 9:13 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Grand Forks, Steele, Traill	62 min
Jun 17, 9:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Grand Forks	56 min
Jun 17, 10:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Grand Forks, Steele, Traill	63 min
Jun 17, 11:01 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Sargent	44 min
Jun 17, 11:08 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Cass	52 min
Jun 17, 11:36 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Traill	39 min
Jun 17, 11:46 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Ransom	44 min
Jun 17, 11:54 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Traill	36 min
Jun 18, 12:15 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Traill	60 min
Jun 18, 1:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	FGF	Traill	51 min
Jun 18, 1:34 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Cass, Steele, Traill	26 min
Jun 18, 1:49 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	FGF	Cass, Traill	8 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2020 Every 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.