North Dakota, 2001

Tornado and Flash Flooding in North Dakota, August 14, 2001

August 14, 2001 · NWS FGF · 33 events in 11 counties and zones

17 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$113,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
33

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 Aug 14, 1:05 PM CST, 15 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 14, 1:05 PM CST, 15 minutes before
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
205 PM CDT TUE AUG 14 2001

AFTER FURTHER DISCUSSION...WILL GO WITH FLASH FLOOD WATCH INSTEAD OF
FLOOD WATCH AS PREV DISCUSSED IN COORD CALLS.
--------------------------
PREV AFD...

PCPN CHANCES HIGHLIGHT CHALLENGES THIS FCST.  AFTER INTER-OFFICE
COORDINATION AND COORD WITH DLH/BIS WILL ISSUE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR
FAR NE ND AND NW MN (GFK-BJI AND POINTS NORTH) FOR TONIGHT.

.CURRENT...
18Z SFC MAP SHOWS LOW NORTH OF WINNIPEG WITH TROUGH SOUTHWEST TO
NORTH OF MINOT TO ANOTHER WK LOW IN WCNTRL ND.  TSRA CONTINUES TO
DEVELOP ALONG THIS BOUNDARY AND MOVE EAST...MAINLY ACROSS SRN MB.
COLD FRONT LOCATED A BIT FARTHER NORTHWEST AND BEGINNING TO CATCH UP
TO BOUNDARY NORTH OF MINOT AND CAUSING INCREASED CONVECTION ON KMBX
RADAR.  00Z ETA GFK SOUNDING SHOWS FREEZING LEVEL AT 12.6 KFT.

12Z MODELS ARE IN FAIR AGREEMENT...AND LOOK AT UCAR MM5 AND WRF
SUPPORTS THEIR SOLNS OF BRINGING HEAVIEST PCPN DEVELOPING IN FAR NE
ND LATE THIS AFTN AND THEN OVER NW MN BTWN 00-06Z.

.SHORT TERM...
FRONT TO SAG SOUTHEAST ACROSS CWFA TONIGHT...REACHING FAR SE CWFA NR
12Z. EXPECT CONVECTION ALONG FRONT TONIGHT...ENDING NW ZONES BEFORE
MIDNIGHT.  HEAVIEST RAIN POTENTIAL PER DAY1 QPF AND MODEL QPF FROM
GFK-TVF-BJI-BDE ZONES...WHERE THEY HAVE HAD THE MOST RAINS THIS
SUMMER.  AFTER COORD WILL ISSUE AN FFA FOR TONIGHT FOR THAT AREA AS
THAT AREA STANDS THE BEST CHC OF WIDESPREAD 1+ INCH AMOUNTS.  SVR
POTENTIAL ALSO GOOD LATE THIS AFTN/EVE.  MSAS LI TO -10 IN CNTRL ND
WITH THETA E CONVERGENCE CONTINUING ALONG BOUNDARY TO OUR NORTHWEST.
GOOD SHEAR PROFILE AS WELL S-SW WINDS SFC-85H AND W-NW AT 70H SO
SUPERCELLS PSBL.

.LONGER TERM...
OVERNIGHT CONVECTION TO BE EXITING CWFA EARLY WED AM...THEN 50H
TROUGH TO DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA 18-00Z WITH 50H TEMPS TO
-16C.  ETA SOUNDINGS SHOW CONVECTIVE TEMPS NR 70...WHICH WILL BE
REACHED. THUS WILL MAINTAIN POPS FOR TSRA WEDNESDAY PER CURRENT
ZONES.  TROUGH WILL PASS OUT OF AREA WED EVENING FOLLOWED BY HIGH
PRESSURE ON THURSDAY.

.EXTENDED...MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT THRU DAY 4 AND THEN SLOWLY
DIVERGE AFTER THEN. MRF SHOWING CONTINUITY WITH PREVIOUS RUN UNTIL
DAY 6 WITH LATEST RUNS DEPICTING A LESS AMPLIFIED PATTERN OVER THE
NRN TIER OF THE U.S. BY THEN. 5H LOW OVER THE NE PACIFIC MOVES ENE
INTO WRN CANADA AS TROF DROPS INTO THE ERN U.S. DAY 3 THRU 5. 5H RDG
MOVES E INTO THE NRN PLAINS BRINGING DRY AND MILD CONDITIONS FOR THE
WEEKEND. CHC FOR PCPN FRI INITIAL TROF PASSAGE AND AGAIN ON MON AS
SECOND SHRT WV MOVES THRU IN NEARLY ZONAL FLOW. BEST CHC FOR PCPN TO
BE OVER THE NE ZONES FRI AND WL BREAK UP EXTENDED TO REFLECT THIS.
NEAR NORMAL LOWS AND BLO NORMAL HIGHS TO PREVAIL THRU THE EXTENDED.

.FGF...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TONIGHT FOR EXTREME NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA
AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF A GRAND FORKS
TO BEMIDJI LINE.

DR/RT

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 14, 8:21 AM CST, 4 hours 59 minutes before
MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-142045-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTION
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
900 AM TUE AUG 2001

CORRECTION...SOUTH OF I-29 SHOULD BE SOUTH OF I-94

...CHANCE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA LATE THIS AFTERNOON
AND EVENING...

SYNOPSIS...A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING EAST ACROSS SOUTHERN
NORTH DAKOTA AS A COLD FRONT MOVES SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE REGION. WITH
MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR IN PLACE THIS FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR
THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT LATE THIS AFTERNOON CONTINUING INTO THE
EVENING HOURS.

AREA OF CONCERN...A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS EXPECTED
ACROSS EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
BETTER CHANCES FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OVER
SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA SOUTH OF I-94.

TIME...START AFTER 1 PM AND SHOULD MOVE OUT OF THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT.

TYPE OF HAZARD...MAINLY DAMAGING WIND AND LARGE HAIL.

KENNEDY

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Towner

When
August 14, 1:20 PM CST
Where
Towner County, 3 mi SE of Hansboro
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.917, -99.317

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 14, 1:48 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 3 mi SE of Sarles
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.917, -98.950

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 14, 2:17 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 4 mi W of Dresden
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.817, -98.567

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 14, 2:28 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Langdon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.750, -98.367

Thunderstorm Wind, Cavalier

When
August 14, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Langdon
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.750, -98.367

A 58 mph wind gust was measured at an NDAWN site. The wind knocked down trees onto vehicles and powerlines. A fire started when a tree fell on a powerline near a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Cavalier

When
August 14, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Osnabrock
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.667, -98.150

Trees were blown down and a grain elevator was damaged.

Hail, Ramsey

When
August 14, 2:54 PM CST
Where
Ramsey County, 3 mi E of Starkweather
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.450, -98.817

Hail, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:06 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, 3 mi SW of Mountain
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.650, -97.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Ramsey

When
August 14, 3:13 PM CST
Where
Ramsey County, 12 mi E of Devils Lake
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.100, -98.583

Thunderstorm Wind, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, 3 mi SE of Crystal
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.567, -97.617

Branches were blown down.

Hail, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, St Thomas
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.617, -97.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, St Thomas
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.617, -97.450

Strong winds knocked over a grain auger.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walsh

When
August 14, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Walsh County, Grafton
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.417, -97.400

Trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, Drayton
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.567, -97.167

Trees were blown down in Drayton.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pembina

When
August 14, 3:49 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, 3 mi N of Drayton
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.617, -97.167

Trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walsh

When
August 14, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Walsh County, 10 mi NE of Grafton
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.517, -97.250

Trees were blown down.

Hail, Griggs

When
August 14, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, 4 mi N of Sutton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.450, -98.450

Hail, Benson

When
August 14, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 4 mi SE of Oberon
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.883, -99.133

Hail, Eddy

When
August 14, 7:55 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 3 mi E of Sheyenne
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.833, -99.050

Hail, Eddy

When
August 14, 8:00 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 6 mi SE of Sheyenne
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.767, -99.033

Hail, Eddy

When
August 14, 8:20 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 5 mi W of New Rockford
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.683, -99.233

Tornado, Eddy

When
August 14, 8:29 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 3 mi E of New Rockford
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.683, -99.067

A brief touchdown was reported.

Hail, Nelson

When
August 14, 8:35 PM CST
Where
Nelson County, 3 mi SW of Michigan City
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.983, -98.167

Hail, Eddy

When
August 14, 8:36 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 1 mi E of New Rockford
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.683, -99.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Griggs

When
August 14, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, Binford
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.567, -98.350

Branches were blown down.

Hail, Grand Forks

When
August 14, 9:59 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, 8 mi W of Grand Forks
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.917, -97.217

Hail, Grand Forks

When
August 14, 10:04 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.917, -97.050

Hail was reported at the NWS office.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Forks

When
August 14, 10:05 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks Arpt
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
47.950, -97.183

Hail, Grand Forks

When
August 14, 10:09 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.917, -97.050

Flash Flood, Grand Forks

When
August 14, 10:42 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Griggs

When
August 14, 10:45 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, 5 mi S of Hannaford
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.250, -98.183

Branches were blown down.

Flash Flood, Eddy

When
August 14, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, 10 mi NE of New Rockford
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.718, -98.902 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Basement flooding was reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barnes

When
August 14, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 2 mi NE of Rogers
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.083, -98.167

Trees were blown down.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Dakota, 2001Warnings in North Dakota, August 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: 5264504, 5264505, 5264506, 5264507, 5264508, 5264509, 5264510, 5264511, 5264512, 5264513, 5264514, 5264515, 5264601, 5264621, 5264602, 5264603, 5264604, 5264605, 5264606, 5264607, 5264608, 5264609, 5264610, 5264611, 5264612, 5264613, 5264614, 5264615, 5264616, 5264617, 5264618, 5264619, 5264620.