Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2021

Tornado Warning 6, NWS Grand Forks, ND

August 9, 2021Grand Forks County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Aug 9, 2021, 9:42 PM CDT for Grand Forks County, North Dakota. It was in force for 48 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
Aug 9, 2021, 9:42 PM CDT (02:42 UTC)
Expired
Aug 9, 2021, 10:30 PM CDT
In force
48 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
1.75 in

County Grand Forks County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 31 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:42 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
Aug 9, 9:42 PM CDTTORNADO 15 Wnw Northwood, NDA FEW COTTONWOOD TREES WERE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED IN A SHELTERBELT BETWEEN ABOUT 942 AND 943 PM CDT. LIKELY A BRIEF TORNADO TOUCHDOWN BASED ON RADAR SIGNATURE. PEAK WINDS ESTIMATED TO 90 MPH. MAXIMUM WIDTH TO 150 YARDS. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
Aug 9, 9:45 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG2 Wsw Northwood, NDA POPLAR TREE WAS BLOWN DOWN ALONG WITH SEVERAL LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS AT THE NORTHWOOD GOLF COURSE. LIKELY CAUSED BY REAR FLANK DOWNDRAFT FROM A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
Aug 9, 10:09 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG5 Ssw Emerado, NDA COUPLE OF COTTONWOOD TREES BLOWN OVER. TIME ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.

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

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Aug 9, 4:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.7 hours before the alert went out and 268 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 2021-08-10Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 296 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, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2021-08-10The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -40 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 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
296 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-462 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1238 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
56 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-40 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
31 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

118 
WFUS53 KFGF 100242
TORFGF
NDC035-100330-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0006.210810T0242Z-210810T0330Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
942 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Grand Forks County in northeastern North Dakota...

* Until 1030 PM CDT.
    
* At 941 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Northwood, or 29 miles west of Grand Forks, moving
  east at 30 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This dangerous storm will be near...
  Northwood and Kempton around 950 PM CDT.

Other locations in the path of this tornadic thunderstorm include
Emerado.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4771 9763 4778 9771 4797 9728 4778 9714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0241Z 250DEG 26KT 4775 9764 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

TG
3 follow-up statements
378 
WWUS53 KFGF 100257
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
957 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

NDC035-100330-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210810T0330Z/
Grand Forks ND-
957 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL GRAND FORKS COUNTY...
    
At 956 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Northwood, or 21 miles west of Grand Forks, moving
east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
  Emerado.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4773 9749 4784 9758 4797 9728 4778 9714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0256Z 250DEG 26KT 4779 9749 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

TG
186 
WWUS53 KFGF 100314
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1014 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

NDC035-100330-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210810T0330Z/
Grand Forks ND-
1014 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1030 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL GRAND FORKS COUNTY...
    
At 1014 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Emerado, or 12 miles west of Grand Forks, moving
east at 30 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
south central Grand Forks County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4775 9735 4787 9743 4793 9725 4778 9714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0314Z 250DEG 26KT 4783 9731 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

TG
075 
WWUS53 KFGF 100330
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1030 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

NDC035-100338-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0006.000000T0000Z-210810T0330Z/
Grand Forks ND-
1030 PM CDT Mon Aug 9 2021

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL GRAND FORKS COUNTY WILL
EXPIRE AT 1030 PM CDT...
    
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, damaging winds remain likely and a Severe 
Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.  Gusty winds 
are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for
northeastern North Dakota.

Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
South Central and Eastern Grand Forks County.

LAT...LON 4775 9735 4787 9743 4793 9725 4778 9714
TIME...MOT...LOC 0328Z 250DEG 26KT 4786 9719 

$$

Lynch

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 9, 7:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCavalier, Ramsey, Towner56 min
Aug 9, 7:11 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFCavalier, Ramsey, Towner34 min
Aug 9, 7:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFEddy, Griggs, Nelson46 min
Aug 9, 7:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCavalier, Pembina, Ramsey, Walsh63 min
Aug 9, 8:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrand Forks, Nelson27 min
Aug 9, 8:12 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFEddy, Griggs, Nelson63 min
Aug 9, 8:28 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGriggs, Nelson32 min
Aug 9, 8:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFCavalier, Pembina38 min
Aug 9, 9:09 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFGrand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Steele66 min
Aug 9, 9:20 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFGrand Forks, Nelson, Steele40 min
Aug 9, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFGrand Forks, Steele66 min
Aug 9, 10:08 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFPembina52 min
Aug 9, 10:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFGrand Forks, Steele, Traill30 min
Aug 9, 10:42 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFGrand Forks, Traill63 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 2021Every tornado warning in 2021Tornadoes in 2021

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.