North Dakota, 1997

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, July 1, 1997

July 1, 1997 · NWS FGF · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood, 1 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
1
Injuries
2
Property damage
$41,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 66 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:43 UTC.

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Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, 1 flash flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Cass

When
July 1, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Cass County, Davenport
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck 3 workers in a sugarbeet field near Davenport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When
July 1, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Cass County, Casselton
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
46.900, -97.200

Power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When
July 1, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Cass County, Prosper
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
46.970, -97.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Forks

When
July 1, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, 1 mi N of Grand Forks
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
47.930, -97.050

Strong wind blew down 12 trees, ripped apart a garage roof, and damaged a truck. A survey of the damage pattern indicated a gustnado may have formed along the thunderstorm downburst.

Flash Flood, Grand Forks

When
July 1, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

3.5 inches of rain flooded numerous roads.

High Wind, Cass

When
July 1, 4:51 PM CST
Where
Cass forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A wake low generated strong winds across the Fargo and West Fargo areas, knocking down trees and power lines. 6,000 customers were without power. A fireworks stand was blown down in south Fargo.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Lightning, Cass1997-07-0123MaleOutside/Open AreasDirect

What these are

Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
High Wind
Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5606635, 5606563, 5606562, 5606633, 5606634, 5606636.