Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in North Dakota, June 12 to 30, 2000

Trees were blown down northeast of Grafton.

A tornado touched down in an open field.

Air traffic controllers at the GFAFB ATC tower reported a brief tornado touchdown.

A fairly large tornado touched down and clipped some power lines and trees.

High winds tore the roof off a metal building. The roof fell and damaged several parked cars and another building.

After receiving 15 to 20 inches of rain over portions of western Grand Forks county, the area around Larimore quickly experienced flooding problems. During the rainfall, two men from the area decided to drive to Larimore to get something to eat. They drove into a washed out section of gravel road 30 feet deep with rushing water at the bottom. Both died in the crash about 7 miles west of Larimore. 600 feet of railroad bed washed away near Larimore, when two 3 foot diameter culverts washed out. 10 Burlington Northern-Santa Fe trains pass through this stretch daily as well as AMTRAK trains. At the Larimore Dam, water rose behind the dam and then overflowed the top. The water then cascaded 40 to 50 feet down the rocky cliffs below the dam, making it appear that the dam had failed. In the town of Larimore, water rose above the curbs. North of town, on the south branch of the Turtle River, water flowed 7 feet deep over the highway 18 bridge.

After receiving 15 to 20 inches of rain over portions of western Grand Forks county, the Turtle River rose to historic levels. At Arvilla, the Turtle River was a peaceful 2.04 feet June 12th at 11 pm. By June 13th at 2 pm, the river rose to 20.82 feet. Damage was especially high at the Turtle River State Park. Damages occurred at the main lodge, two year-round residences, the park office basement, parking lots, bridges, and roads. The park, at the height of the summer recreation season, was closed for several weeks while the mess was cleaned up. Preliminary damage estimates at the park came in at $500,000.

Flash flooding occurred around the town of Honeyford, as 15 to 20 inches of rain fell across portions of western Grand Forks county.

After receiving 15 to 20 inches of rain over portions of western Grand Forks county, flash flooding hit the town of Gilby. The flooding temporarily wiped out the drinking water supply for the 250 people of Gilby. Nearly all of the 100 homes in town had water in their basements. Just northeast of Gilby, two teenage boys were injured when they drove around a barracade and into water overflowing a county road. One broke a leg and the other injured his head. A 30-40 yard section of railroad track was washed out south of Gilby. Volunteers from the Grand Forks Air Force Base helped sandbag portions of the town.

A bean warehouse took on water from the 15 to 20 inches of rain that fell across portions of western Grand Forks county. The beans expanded and then blew out a wall.

After 10 to 15 inches of rain fell across portions of east central Nelson county, flash flooding occurred. Part of the road shoulder washed out at the US Highway 2 overpass near Petersburg, reducing the traffic to one lane. Several farmsteads were surrounded by water. 45 percent of the cropland in Nelson county was destroyed.

The town of Mekinock, population 200, was evacuated after 15 to 20 inches of rain fell upstream along the Turtle River.

6 to 8 inches of rain fell across the Grafton area, causing some flooding problems across the city. Many streets flooded and several basements took on water.

4 to 6 inches of rain fell in New Rockford, causing a ceiling in an apartment building to collapse. The 25 residents of the building had to be evacuated. The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad depot in town was also inundated with water. Streets and several homes were also flooded.

County roads were washed out around the Hamar area, after heavy rain fell across portions of Eddy county. At Camp Grafton South, 10 to 17 inches of rain fell, causing tents to collapse. The 220 soldiers were forced to endure a wet night .

Flash flooding occurred around the McCanna area of western Grand Forks county, after 15 to 20 inches of rain fell.

Golf ball sized hail accumulated up to one foot deep.

After the heavy rains and flash flooding, the Turtle River rose to historic levels. The town of Manvel, with a population of 300, had to begin sandbagging to save parts of the town. The Turtle River at Manvel, with a flood stage of 11 feet, crested near 18 feet on June 17th. Whole sections of land were under water. 270,000 acres of crops were destroyed, which amounted to one-third of the county cropland. Flooding was reduced by the Kellys Slough, a wetland designed into a National Wildlife Refuge. This natural area of sloughs absorbed some of the water heading toward Manvel. Many county roads were washed out and Grand Forks county deputies had to rescue several people stranded by the flood water. 400 feet of highway 15 west of Northwood was inundated. The Goose River in southwest Grand Forks county also caused some problems. One to five feet of water covered some county roads along the Goose River. $31 million in crop damage was reported in Grand Forks county alone.

In the northeast corner of the county, the Goose River swelled out of its banks. 15 to 20 inches of rain over western portions of Grand Forks county resulted in runoff into the Goose River. Several bridges and county roads were under water and one farmstead was surrounded by water.

Problems continued along the Goose River in Traill county, after 15 to 20 inches of rain fell across portions of western Grand Forks county. The river rose out of its banks and covered highway 18 in the northwest portion of the county. The flooding problems diminished as the Goose River reached Mayville and Hillsboro, but low-lying areas along the river were affected. The Goose River peaked around 10 feet on the 22nd.