Alert archive / North Dakota / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 4, NWS Bismarck, ND

September 3, 20264 counties in North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this flash flood warning at Sep 3, 2026, 9:13 AM CDT for 4 counties in North Dakota. It was in force for 2 hr. 1 report 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: Sep 3, 2026, 9:13 AM CDT (14:13 UTC)
Expired: Sep 3, 2026, 11:35 AM CDT
In force: 2 hr
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Flood severity: None

Counties Bottineau County, ND, McHenry County, ND, Pierce County, ND, Rolette County, ND

The radar

The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 65 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 14:15 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
Sep 3, 10:07 AM CDT	RAIN 2.22	3 Sse Barton, ND	Broadcast media relayed report.

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

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this flash flood warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

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 text

As transmitted.

625 
WGUS53 KBIS 031413
FFWBIS
NDC009-049-069-079-031715-
/O.NEW.KBIS.FF.W.0004.260903T1413Z-260903T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
913 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Southeastern Bottineau County in north central North Dakota...
  Northeastern McHenry County in north central North Dakota...
  Pierce County in north central North Dakota...
  Southern Rolette County in north central North Dakota...

* Until 1215 PM CDT.

* At 913 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing
  heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain
  have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are
  possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected
  to begin shortly.

  HAZARD...Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas,
           highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor
           drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Rugby, Rolette, Balta, Wolford, Barton, Barton City, Berwick, Mylo,
  Overly, Nanson, Silva and Agate.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

&&

LAT...LON 4854 10030 4869 10025 4870 9949 4837 9949
      4837 9985 4812 9985 4825 10039

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR INDICATED

$$

Heinert

1 follow-up statement

115 
WGUS73 KBIS 031635
FFSBIS

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
1135 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NDC009-049-069-079-031645-
/O.CAN.KBIS.FF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260903T1715Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Bottineau ND-McHenry ND-Pierce ND-Rolette ND-
1135 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS CANCELLED FOR SOUTHEASTERN BOTTINEAU,
NORTHEASTERN MCHENRY, PIERCE AND SOUTHERN ROLETTE COUNTIES...

The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no longer expected to pose a
threat. Please continue to heed remaining road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 4854 10030 4869 10025 4870 9949 4837 9949
      4837 9985 4812 9985 4825 10039

$$

Heinert

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood 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 flash flood warning went out at Sep 3, 7:19 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Scattered showers and thunderstorms across northwest and central North Dakota this morning and afternoon. A few storms may be strong to severe, mainly in north central North Dakota.
Critical fire weather conditions are possible in far southwest North Dakota on Friday.
Temperatures warming to well above normal through Saturday, then cooling back to near or slightly below normal early to mid next week.
Medium to high chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday through Labor Day.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 7:19 AM CDT, 1 hour 54 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
719 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Scattered showers and thunderstorms across northwest and
  central North Dakota this morning and afternoon. A few storms
  may be strong to severe, mainly in north central North
  Dakota.

- Critical fire weather conditions are possible in far
  southwest North Dakota on Friday.

- Temperatures warming to well above normal through Saturday,
  then cooling back to near or slightly below normal early to
  mid next week.

- Medium to high chances for showers and thunderstorms Sunday
  through Labor Day.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 711 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Thunderstorms continue over portions of northwest and central
North Dakota this morning, with the strongest convection now
over north-central North Dakota where a recent report of ping
pong ball size hail was received. This is on the northern end
of a low-level jet with plenty of elevated instability in
place. Expect the severe threat with these storms to continue
through this morning, along with the potential for locally heavy
rainfall.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 535 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The Northern Plains lie under southwest flow aloft early this
morning between a transient ridge exiting the Red River Valley
and a deep longwave trough over the Pacific Northwest. A nearly-
stacked low pressure system is depicted on water vapor imagery
spinning northward through southern Alberta, with a separate
surface low analyzed in southeast Montana. A broad expanse of
low level warm air advection and moisture transport downstream
of these features has ignited areas of showers and
thunderstorms. One cluster of widely scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms has been migrating eastward across south
central North Dakota into the James River Valley. Meanwhile,
clusters of much stronger thunderstorms were moving through
northwest and north central parts of the state as of 5 AM CDT.
These strong to at times severe storms are moving through an
environment with up to 2000 J/kg MUCAPE and effective bulk shear
as high as 40-50 kts. Convective evolution through this
afternoon is uncertain, and CAMs offer little consistency in
potential outcomes. The ongoing convection may continue to lift
northeastward into southern Canada by this afternoon. Some CAMs
then hint at trailing redevelopment in north central North
Dakota this afternoon as an upper level jet streak lifts
northeast off the Rockies, but there are obvious questions on
how the environment may be modified by morning convection.
Model soundings and two-dimensional CIN fields suggest a
capping inversion is likely to keep storms elevated through the
day, but UH fields in the HREF broadly support strong to severe
convection in north central North Dakota this afternoon with a
similar CAPE/shear parameter space as mentioned above. Storm
mode could be mixed or clustered as there is no well-defined
surface boundary where convection is forecast, so will leave
our projected hazards at hail up to ping pong ball size and
winds up to 60 mph. Torrential rainfall could also caused
localized flooding, as has already been observed in Williston
and southwest Ward County early this morning.

Mid to upper level ridging is forecast to amplify over the
Northern Plains on Friday as a deep upper low spins over the
Pacific Northwest. This brings the high temperature forecast
into the 90s along and to the south and west of the Missouri
River, along with a strengthening southeast surface flow around
20 to 25 mph. In western North Dakota, RH is forecast to fall
below 30 percent south of the Missouri River, with minimum
values closer to 15 percent in the far southwest along the
Montana border. The greatest overlap in strong winds and low RH
is in Slope and Bowman Counties, where a Fire Weather Watch has
been issued for Friday afternoon and early evening. Surrounding
areas in west central and southwest North Dakota could see near-
critical fire weather conditions on Friday.

The ridge is forecast to become even more amplified on
Saturday, with forecast highs ranging from the mid and upper
80s north to lower and mid 90s south. The low level jet could
induce convection over parts of the region late Friday night
into Saturday morning, but mostly dry weather is otherwise
anticipated from tonight until Saturday night when the deep
western CONUS trough begins kicking shortwave energy into the
Northern Plains. This culminates in widespread low to medium
shower and thunderstorm chances Sunday through Labor Day as a
more potent shortwave lifts northeastward over the region while
the original Pacific Northwest low spins toward the Canadian
Rockies. Temperatures are favored to trend cooler early to mid
next week as the upper low crosses southern Canada.

&&

.AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 711 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue over northwest
and central North Dakota this morning and afternoon. A few
stronger storms are possible, especially over north central into
parts of northwest North Dakota, with erratic gusty winds and
hail. Categorical flight restrictions to MVFR/IFR are possible
with any thunderstorm, mainly from visibility reductions caused
by heavy rainfall, but also possibly from lower ceilings.
Outside of showers and storms, areas of fog over parts of
southwest North Dakota will result in IFR to LIFR visibility
through mid-morning. At this time, it appears the reduced
visibility should remain south of the KDIK terminal.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Fire Weather Watch from Friday afternoon through Friday
evening for NDZ040-043.

&&

UPDATE...JJS
DISCUSSION...Hollan
AVIATION...JJS

Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 3, 5:20 AM CDT, 3 hours 53 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
520 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NDZ040-043-041030-
Slope-Bowman-
420 AM MDT Thu Sep 3 2026

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

A Fire Weather Watch is in effect on Friday. See
www.weather.gov/bis for additional information.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

NDZ017-018-031>033-041-044-041030-
McKenzie-Dunn-Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Hettinger-Adams-
520 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026 /420 AM MDT Thu Sep 3 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North
Dakota and southwest North Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Near-critical fire weather conditions are possible on Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

NDZ001-009-010-019-020-035-036-042-046>048-050-051-057>062-041030-
Divide-Williams-Mountrail-Mercer-Oliver-Burleigh-Kidder-Grant-
Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey-Western McLean-
Eastern McLean-Western Morton-Eastern Morton-Western Sioux-
Eastern Sioux-
520 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026 /420 AM MDT Thu Sep 3 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North
Dakota, south central North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this morning.
Widespread severe weather is not expected, but some storms could
be strong with hail up to the size of nickels.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

NDZ002>005-012-013-022-023-025-037-055-056-041030-
Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-McHenry-Pierce-Sheridan-Wells-
Foster-Stutsman-Northwest Ward-
Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area-
520 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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...Today and Tonight

Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible
this morning and afternoon. Expected hazards include hail as large
as ping pong balls and damaging winds up to 60 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters are asked to provide reports to the NWS using standard
procedures, including through our social media accounts.

Hollan

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 7:54 AM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
754 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NDZ012-056-031330-
Central and Southern Ward/Minot Area ND-McHenry ND-
754 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MCHENRY AND
SOUTHEASTERN WARD COUNTIES UNTIL 830 AM CDT...

At 754 AM CDT, strong thunderstorms were located from near Sawyer to
10 miles north of Benedict, or from 12 miles southeast of Minot to 20
miles south of Minot, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Velva, Sawyer, and Logan.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead
to flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4785 10127 4803 10129 4818 10126 4826 10090
      4804 10086 4785 10086
TIME...MOT...LOC 1253Z 268DEG 22KT 4810 10114 4803 10114 4797 10114

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Hollan

Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:56 AM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
756 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0652 AM     Rain             15 S Minot              48.02N 101.30W
09/03/2026  M4.00 Inch       Ward               ND   Public

            Very heavy rain fell in about 45 minutes.
            Also had pea size hail. Passed on to NWS by
            broadcast media partner.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 8:02 AM CDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
802 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0723 AM     Rain             1 ESE Williston         48.15N 103.61W
09/03/2026  M3.00 Inch       Williams           ND   Public

            Heavy rainfall on the east side of
            Williston. Relayed to NWS by broadcast media
            partner.

&&

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 8:32 AM CDT, 41 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
832 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NDZ013-031400-
Pierce ND-
832 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN PIERCE COUNTY UNTIL
9 AM CDT...

At 832 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles east of Rugby, moving northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Rugby and Wolford.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4828 9985 4828 9998 4837 10010 4854 9986
      4854 9962 4845 9957 4837 9969 4837 9985
TIME...MOT...LOC 1332Z 219DEG 23KT 4838 9988

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Heinert

Special weather statement, Sep 3, 8:46 AM CDT, 27 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
846 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

NDZ012-031415-
McHenry ND-
846 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MCHENRY COUNTY
UNTIL 915 AM CDT...

At 846 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles south of Karlsruhe, or 34 miles northwest of Harvey, moving
northeast at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
  Karlsruhe, Balfour, Bergen and George Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4788 10053 4787 10069 4800 10076 4817 10059
      4822 10046 4805 10028
TIME...MOT...LOC 1346Z 219DEG 23KT 4798 10060

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

Heinert

Local storm report, Sep 3, 9:07 AM CDT, 6 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
907 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0905 AM     Rain             Velva                   48.06N 100.93W
09/03/2026  E1.30 Inch       McHenry            ND   Broadcast Media

            Broadcast media relayed report. Storm total.

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 3, 2:01 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	McKenzie	29 min
Sep 3, 2:22 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Dunn	23 min
Sep 3, 2:46 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Divide	44 min
Sep 3, 3:19 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Mountrail	41 min
Sep 3, 3:24 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Divide, Williams	36 min
Sep 3, 4:02 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Williams	28 min
Sep 3, 4:05 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Ward	25 min
Sep 3, 4:14 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Williams	3 hr
Sep 3, 4:33 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Williams	27 min
Sep 3, 4:36 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Ward	39 min
Sep 3, 4:50 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Ward	40 min
Sep 3, 5:02 AM CDT	Fire Weather Watch	BIS	Bowman, Slope	8 hr
Sep 3, 5:09 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Ward	73 min
Sep 3, 5:28 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry, Ward	62 min
Sep 3, 5:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Mountrail	30 min
Sep 3, 6:18 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BIS	McHenry, Ward	3 hr
Sep 3, 6:50 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	McHenry, Ward	40 min
Sep 3, 7:01 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry	44 min
Sep 3, 7:22 AM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BIS	McHenry	3 hr
Sep 3, 7:54 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	McHenry	36 min
Sep 3, 8:03 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Ward	110 min
Sep 3, 8:32 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Pierce	28 min
Sep 3, 8:41 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Bottineau, McHenry, Pierce, Rolette	51 min
Sep 3, 8:46 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	McHenry	29 min
Sep 3, 9:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Sheridan	27 min
Sep 3, 9:26 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	McHenry, Pierce, Sheridan, Wells	34 min
Sep 3, 10:05 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Wells	25 min
Sep 3, 10:47 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Wells	28 min
Sep 3, 1:03 PM CDT	Red Flag Warning	BIS	Bowman, Golden Valley, Slope	32 hr

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in North Dakota, 2026 Every flash flood warning in 2026

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.