Tornado and Flash Flooding in Minnesota, July 31, 2001

Name: Tornado and Flash Flooding in Minnesota, July 31, 2001
Start: 2001-07-31T16:15
End: 2001-07-31T23:00
Location: Minnesota

July 31, 2001 · NWS FGF · 38 events in 10 counties and zones

17 flash flood, 12 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $672,000
Crop damage: $15,000
Events: 38

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 31, 2:25 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 31, 2:25 PM CST, 1 hour 50 minutes before

FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
325 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2001

FORECAST CHALLENGE FOR TONIGHT AND WED IS PCPN. CURRENT SATELLITE
IMAGERY HAS ALL BUT SE CWFA CLOUDY. KMVX HAS SVR TSRA OVER N
CWFA...WITH OTHER TSRA TRYING TO GET ORGANIZED IN FRONTAL ZONE IN E
ND. LATEST MSAS SFC PRESSURE ANALYSIS HAS LOW PRESSURE CENTERED NEAR
MBG...WITH FRONT EXTENDING BET JMS-FAR TO GFK-DVL TO HCO. WHEN
COMPARING INITIALIZATION CONDITIONS TO MODELS...ETA INITIALIZED
BEST...BUT USED COMPROMISE SOLUTION AS NO MODEL HANDING SCENARIO
ENTIRELY. MODEL SOUNDINGS QUITE SATURATED WITH PW'S REMAINING AROUND
2.0 INCHES OVER CWFA THROUGH THE NIGHT. IN ADDITION...SFC LOW TRACKS
THROUGH CWFA OVERNIGHT...WITH GOOD 850 MB LLJ...NICE THETA-E
RIDGE...AS WELL AS A 700MB TROF AND UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE...ALL
SETTING SITES ON CWFA TO KEEP HEAVY RAIN AND SVR POTENTIAL TONIGHT.
WITH FFG VALUES FOR MAJORITY OF COUNTIES UNDER 2 INCHES...WILL KEEP
FFA OUT FOR CWFA TONIGHT...BUT WILL LET NIGHT SHIFT DETERMINE IF E
CWFA WILL NEED TO EXTEND FFA INTO WED. THANKS TO BIS AND DLH FOR
COORD.

FORECAST CHALLENGE FOR WED NIGHT AND THU IS TEMPS. STRONG CAA AHEAD
OF SFC HIGH WILL BRING BREEZY CONDITIONS TO CWFA ON WED. HIGH BUILDS
INTO CWFA BY 06Z THU...WITH GOOD 850 MB Q-VECTOR DIVERGENCE AND
WINDS GOING LIGHT AND VARIABLE...EXPECT TEMPS TO FALL INTO 55 TO 65
DEGREE RANGE. THEN ON THU...SFC HIGH MOVES E WITH SE-S RETURN FLOW
SETTING UP...ALLOWING TEMPS TO BUMP BACK INTO THE LOW TO MIDDLE 80S.

EXTENDED RANGE MODELS IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT IN SFC AND MID
LEVEL FEATURES THROUGH PERIOD IN BUILDING UPPER RIDGE INTO FORECAST
AREA. MODELS CONSISTENT IN SHOWING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE OVR DAKOTAS
WHICH MAY BRING CHC OF MAINLY NIGHTTIME TSRA THIS WEEKEND. FOLLOWING
THIS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS...SO WARM TEMPS AT 700MB MAY SQUELCH ANY
CHANCE FOR CONVECTION. FOR NOW WILL KEEP FCST DRY FOR EARLY NEXT
WEEK BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL CAPPING. AT OR ABOVE AVERAGE TEMPS TEMPS
TO CONTINUE WITH WARMEST TEMPS FIRST PART OF NEXT WEEK.

.FGF...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FULL CWFA TONIGHT.

NG/AMV

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 31, 12:53 PM CST, 3 hours 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
153 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0350 AM    3 E BUXTON                ND   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   TRAILL                         LARGE TREE DOWN

0357 AM    HALSTAD                   MN   67 MPH TSTM GUST
07/31/01   NORMAN

0417 AM    HAWLEY                    MN   .88 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   CLAY

0425 AM    GENTILLY                  MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   POLK                           4-5 INCH DIAMETER LIMBS
                                          DOWN

0425 AM    CROOKSTON                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   POLK                           4-5 INCH DIAMETER LIMBS
                                          DOWN

0515 AM    1 NE SKIME                MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   ROSEAU                         LARGE TREES DOWN

0515 AM    4 NW GRYGLA               MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   MARSHALL                       LARGE TREES DOWN

0600 AM    1 W CLEMENTSON            MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   LAKE OF THE WOODS              ROOF BLOWN OFF TRAILER
                                          HOME, 20 INCH DIAMETER
                                          TREES DOWN

1000 AM    COOPERSTOWN               ND   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   GRIGGS                         6 TO 8 INCH BRANCHES DOWN

1055 AM    COOPERSTOWN               ND   FLOODING
07/31/01   GRIGGS                         CITY PARK FLOODED, STREET
                                          FLOODING 2 FOOT DEEP
                                          DOWNTOWN

1100 AM    15 NE FINLEY              ND   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   STEELE                         4 INCH BRANCHES DOWN

1108 AM    HATTON                    ND   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   TRAILL                         5 INCH BRANCHES DOWN

1130 AM    GRAND FORKS               ND   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   GRAND FORKS                    12 INCH DIAMETER TREES
                                          DOWN

1130 AM    7 SW GRAND FORKS          ND   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   GRAND FORKS

1132 AM    FISHER                    MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   POLK                           POWER POLES BLOWN DOWN

1150 AM    3 S ANGUS                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   POLK                           NUMEROUS TREES DOWN

1215 PM    1 SW WYLIE                MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   RED LAKE

1220 PM    THIEF RIVER FALLS         MN   72 MPH TSTM GUST
07/31/01   PENNINGTON                     NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN,
                                          DAVIS WIND SENSOR REPORT

1223 PM    THIEF RIVER FALLS         MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   PENNINGTON

1235 PM    4 W MAVIE                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   PENNINGTON                     SEVERAL LARGE LIMBS DOWN

1245 PM    15 SW GRYGLA              MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   PENNINGTON                     ALONG COUNTY LINE

1245 PM    2 NE MAVIE                MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   PENNINGTON                     ALONG COUNTY LINE

1245 PM    15 SW GRYGLA              MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   MARSHALL                       ALONG COUNTY LINE

Local storm report, Jul 31, 4:15 PM CST, 0 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS
515 PM CDT TUE JUL 31 2001

TIME(CDT)  .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE  ...EVENT/REMARKS...
           ....COUNTY LOCATION....

0425 AM    12 ESE ADA                MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   NORMAN                         LARGE BRANCHES DOWN IN
                                          TWIN VALLEY

0445 AM    HALSTAD                   MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   NORMAN                         DOWNED POWER POLES

0455 AM    1 E GULLY                 MN   WIND DAMAGE
07/31/01   POLK                           TREES DOWN ALONG HWY 92

0230 PM    5 NW GRYGLA               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
07/31/01   MARSHALL                       HAIL FOR 5 MINUTES

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 58 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:15 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 flash flood, 12 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: July 31, 4:15 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 2 mi W of Key West
Property damage: $500
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.933, -96.833

A tree was blown down.

Hail, Roseau

When: July 31, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 4 mi NE of Skime
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.583, -95.533

The hail damaged the awnings on a home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Beltrami

When: July 31, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 8 mi NE of Fourtown
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.367, -95.217

Trees were blown down.

Flash Flood, Polk

When: July 31, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Polk County, East Grand Forks
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Basements were flooded in the point area of East Grand Forks.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 5:12 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, Pitt
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.717, -94.733

Signs were blown down and pieces of a roof torn off.

Hail, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, 3 mi SW of Pitt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.683, -94.783

Thunderstorm Wind, Norman

When: July 31, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Norman County, 4 mi E of Perley
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.183, -96.733

Large branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clay

When: July 31, 5:35 PM CST
Where: Clay County, 5 mi NE of Georgetown
Property damage: $500
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.133, -96.733

Branches were blown down.

Flash Flood, Marshall

When: July 31, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, Grygla
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in Grygla. County roads, yards, and fields were also flooded along the Mud River. Several homes were completely surrounded by water.

Flash Flood, Red Lake

When: July 31, 5:50 PM CST
Where: Red Lake County, Red Lake Falls
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.872, -96.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in Red Lake Falls.

Flash Flood, Marshall

When: July 31, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, Viking
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.358, -96.368 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ditches overflowed near Viking.

Flash Flood, Polk

When: July 31, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Crookston
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.774, -96.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in Crookston.

Flash Flood, Red Lake

When: July 31, 6:02 PM CST
Where: Red Lake County, 1 mi W of Plummer
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.872, -96.095 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was reported over Highway 1.

Hail, Norman

When: July 31, 6:14 PM CST
Where: Norman County, 1 mi SW of Flaming
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.450, -96.283

Flash Flood, Pennington

When: July 31, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Pennington County, Thief River Falls
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.066, -96.037 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooded was reported with numerous cars stalled.

Hail, Red Lake

When: July 31, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Red Lake County, Terrebonne
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.833, -96.150

Tornado, Beltrami

When: July 31, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 12 mi SW of Ponemah
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.900, -95.117

A tornado was reported over the Lower Red Lake.

Hail, Polk

When: July 31, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Fertile
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.533, -96.283

Hail, Polk

When: July 31, 6:35 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 4 mi SW of Erskine
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.633, -96.083

Flash Flood, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, Baudette
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets were flooded in Baudette.

Flash Flood, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, 4 mi E of Williams
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Basement flooding was reported along with water pooling in yards.

Thunderstorm Wind, Red Lake

When: July 31, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Red Lake County, 4 mi S of Oklee
Property damage: $500
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.783, -95.867

Branches were blown down.

Flash Flood, Roseau

When: July 31, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, 3 mi NW of Greenbush
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.775, -95.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water washed out county road 7.

Flash Flood, Roseau

When: July 31, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Roseau County, Roseau
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 48.775, -95.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in Roseau.

Hail, Polk

When: July 31, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 4 mi NE of Fosston
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.600, -95.667

Flash Flood, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 7:24 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, Graceton
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County road 66 was washed out.

Hail, Pennington

When: July 31, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Pennington County, 4 mi SE of High Lndg
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.017, -95.750

Hail, Clearwater

When: July 31, 7:33 PM CST
Where: Clearwater County, 2 mi NE of Clearbrook
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.717, -95.383

Hail, Clearwater

When: July 31, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Clearwater County, 10 mi N of Gonvick
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Crop damage: $15,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.883, -95.500

A 1500 acre wild rice field was flattened.

Funnel Cloud, Beltrami

When: July 31, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 6 mi W of Redlake
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Beltrami

When: July 31, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 12 mi W of Redby
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.867, -95.167

Trees were blown down along highway 1.

Hail, Pennington

When: July 31, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Pennington County, 1 mi S of Goodridge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.133, -95.800

Hail, Beltrami

When: July 31, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, Ponemah
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.017, -94.933

Flash Flood, Beltrami

When: July 31, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 1 mi S of Thorhult
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ditches overflowed onto county roads.

Flash Flood, Beltrami

When: July 31, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 8 mi NE of Fourtown
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roads and basements were flooded and several homes were surrounded by water. 7 1/2 inches of rain was reported.

Flash Flood, Beltrami

When: July 31, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 11 mi NW of Fourtown
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A township road was inundated with water. The Moose River flooded several roads.

Flash Flood, Beltrami

When: July 31, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Beltrami County, 3 mi SW of Fourtown
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.974, -94.938 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was reported over a county road. Seven inches of rain was reported.

Flash Flood, Lake of the Woods

When: July 31, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Lake of the Woods County, Baudette
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 48.771, -94.905 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets and basements were flooded. Some streets had 12 to 16 inches of water on them.

What these are

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.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Minnesota, 2001 Warnings in Minnesota, July 2001

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: 5260617, 5260618, 5260619, 5260620, 5260621, 5260622, 5260623, 5260635, 5260624, 5260625, 5260626, 5260627, 5260628, 5260629, 5260630, 5260631, 5260632, 5260633, 5260634, 5260636, 5260637, 5260638, 5260639, 5260726, 5260640, 5260641, 5260716, 5260717, 5260718, 5260719, 5260720, 5260721, 5260722, 5260723, 5260724, 5260727, 5260728, 5260725.