Alert archive / North Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2025

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 271, NWS Bismarck, ND

September 12, 2025Bowman County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Sep 12, 2025, 3:40 PM MDT for Bowman County, North Dakota. It was in force for 39 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: Sep 12, 2025, 3:40 PM MDT (21:40 UTC)
Expired: Sep 12, 2025, 4:19 PM MDT
In force: 39 min
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 60.0 mph

County Bowman County, ND

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 224 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:43 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 nearest sounding before it

Glasgow Intl Airport, MT (KGGW), launched 12:00Z, 9.7 hours before the alert went out and 330 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: 297 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -179 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1624 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: -39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 10 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: -0.0

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 Sep 12, 2:36 PM MDT, 1 hour 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 12, 2:36 PM MDT, 1 hour 4 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 12, 2:24 PM MDT, 1 hour 16 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 12, 10:11 AM MDT, 5 hours 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1111 AM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025

NDZ023-025-121645-
Wells ND-Foster ND-
1111 AM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT EAST CENTRAL WELLS AND WEST
CENTRAL FOSTER COUNTIES THROUGH 1145 AM CDT...

At 1111 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Cathay, or 18 miles northwest of Carrington, moving southeast at 10
mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cathay and Emrick.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4744 9926 4757 9959 4771 9950 4768 9930
      4767 9929 4767 9927 4759 9927 4758 9919
TIME...MOT...LOC 1611Z 293DEG 8KT 4760 9946

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

HEINERT

Special weather statement, Sep 12, 11:43 AM MDT, 3 hours 57 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1243 PM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025

NDZ009-121815-
Williams ND-
1243 PM CDT Fri Sep 12 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN WILLIAMS COUNTY
THROUGH 115 PM CDT...

At 1242 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Ray, or 24 miles northeast of Williston, moving northeast at 10 mph.

HAZARD...Nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Tioga, Ray, and Wheelock.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4849 10288 4838 10289 4837 10285 4833 10284
      4822 10316 4836 10333 4854 10310
TIME...MOT...LOC 1742Z 230DEG 7KT 4834 10316

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH

HEINERT

Local storm report, Sep 12, 12:16 PM MDT, 3 hours 24 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Sep 12, 12:41 PM MDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Sep 12, 1:12 PM MDT, 2 hours 28 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

Special weather statement, Sep 12, 3:10 PM MDT, 30 minutes before

<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
  <meta charset="utf-8">
  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
  <title>Service Notice</title>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="index.css">
</head>
<body>
  <main class="wrap">
    <section class="card" role="status" aria-live="polite">
      <div class="status" id="status">Temporary Notice</div>
      <h1 id="headline">This service is currently unavailable.</h1>
      <p id="message1">
        The site you requested is temporarily down for maintenance or an unexpected outage.
      </p>
      <p id="message2">
        Please try again in a few minutes.
      </p>
      <p class="small" id="detail">
        If you are an administrator, restore upstream service and remove the redirect/fallback rule when normal operations resume.
      </p>
    </section>
  </main>
  <script src="index.js"></script>
</body>
</html>

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 11, 8:26 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	McHenry	34 min
Sep 11, 8:41 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry	49 min
Sep 11, 9:18 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry	42 min
Sep 11, 9:20 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	BIS	McHenry, Pierce	55 min
Sep 11, 10:01 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Bottineau, McHenry, Pierce	59 min
Sep 11, 10:46 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry, Pierce	44 min
Sep 11, 11:00 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	BIS	Bottineau, McHenry, Pierce, Rolette	45 min
Sep 11, 11:29 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry, Pierce	61 min
Sep 11, 11:33 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Bottineau, Rolette	39 min
Sep 11, 11:41 PM MDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	McHenry, Pierce	4 hr
Sep 12, 12:40 AM MDT	Flash Flood Warning	BIS	Pierce	3 hr
Sep 12, 4:12 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Dunn	33 min
Sep 12, 4:46 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Dunn	29 min
Sep 12, 6:18 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Pierce	42 min
Sep 12, 9:07 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Wells	38 min
Sep 12, 9:49 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Wells	26 min
Sep 12, 10:11 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Wells	34 min
Sep 12, 11:43 AM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Williams	32 min
Sep 12, 11:59 AM MDT	Tornado Warning Tornado observed	BIS	Williams	31 min
Sep 12, 12:41 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Burke	34 min
Sep 12, 1:12 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Burke	33 min
Sep 12, 3:10 PM MDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Bowman	35 min
Sep 12, 4:52 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Morton, Sioux	38 min
Sep 12, 5:15 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Grant	45 min
Sep 12, 5:24 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Morton, Sioux	51 min
Sep 12, 5:39 PM MDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	BIS	Emmons, Sioux	51 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 2025 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2025

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.