North Dakota, 2002

Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, August 31, 2002

August 31, 2002 · NWS FGF · 33 events in 11 counties and zones

23 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$25,000
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 31, 12:57 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 31, 12:57 PM CST, 4 hours 43 minutes before
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
157 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2002

...FORECAST CHALLENGE WILL BE HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL TONIGHT AND EARLY
SUNDAY...

.CURRENT OBSERVATIONS...
BEST SURFACE CONVERGENCE AND PRESSURE FALLS OCCURRING ACROSS
SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. AS PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT...DEWPOINTS ARE HIGHER
THAN MODEL GUIDANCE WITH MANY AREAS NEAR 70 DEGREES.

.SHORT TERM...
EXPECT THE FORECAST AREA(FA) TO BECOME VERY ACTIVE THIS EVENING AS
SURFACE FRONT ARRIVES ALONG WITH POTENT SHORT WAVE. AVN/ETA IN GOOD
AGREEMENT BRINGING PRECIPITABLE WATERS OF NEARLY 2 INCHES ACROSS
PORTIONS OF CWA. 850MB 40 KT LLJ AND WARM AIR ADVECTION POINT TO THE
BEST ORGANIZED STORM POTENTIAL ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF THE
FA WITH LEAST POTENTIAL ACROSS THE DEVILS LAKE REGION. WITH NUMEROUS
REGIONS RECEIVING HEAVY RAINFALL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS...WILL
ISSUE A FLOOD WATCH FOR TONIGHT FOR ENTIRE FA AND HIGHLIGHT THE
SOUTHEASTERN HALF.

.MID TERM...
MOST OF SUNDAY WILL BE QUIET BEFORE THE NEXT FRONT AND WAVE COMES
DOWN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. EXPECT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WITH
THIS SYSTEM BUT IT WILL HAVE A MUCH DRIER ENVIRONMENT TO WORK WITH.
HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN MONDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY BRINGING A LULL
IN THE ACTIVITY.

.EXTENDED...
NEW MRF/AVN LINING UP WITH OTHER EXTENDED RUNS IN MAINTAINING
TROUGHING OVER WEST COAST VS MORE PROGRESSIVE SOLUTION OF PREVIOUS
DAY. AS A RESULT REGION GOES BACK INTO SW FLOW ALOFT OVER SECOND
HALF OF WORK WEEK AND INTO NEXT WEEKEND. SFC LOW REORGANIZES OVER
WESTERN HIGH PLAINS WITH PIECES OF ENERGY BEING EJECTED FROM PARENT
LOW OVER PACIFIC NW. FAVORED CHANCES FOR PCPN LOOK TO BE THURSDAY
THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AS FEATURES SHIFT EAST. BASED ON POSITION OF
850MB THERMAL RIDGE AND THICKNESS TEMPS SHOULD BE AT OR ABOVE
SEASONAL AVERAGES UNTIL FROPA FRIDAY NIGHT.

THANKS FOR COORDINATION...MSP...DLH...ABR...BIS

.FGF...FLASH FLOOD WATCH ENTIRE CWA TONIGHT

DONAVON/VOELKER

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 31, 2:43 PM CST, 2 hours 57 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS, ND
343 PM CDT SAT AUG 31 2002

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

0745 AM    8 N BEMIDJI               MN   .75 INCH HAIL
08/31/02   BELTRAMI

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 hail, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Towner

When
August 31, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Towner County, 1 mi S of Hansboro
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.933, -99.367

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 2 mi W of Wales
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.900, -98.633

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Wales
Measured
3 in hail
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
48.900, -98.583

The large hail broke windows, smashed windshields. damaged siding and vehicles, and left dents in the ground.

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Sarles
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.950, -99.000

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Mt Carmel
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.933, -98.383

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:43 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 9 mi NE of Langdon
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.850, -98.233

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 6:48 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Vang
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.900, -98.117

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 7 mi E of Vang
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.900, -97.967

Hail, Pembina

When
August 31, 7:03 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, Walhalla
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.917, -97.900

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 7:43 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Osnabrock
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.667, -98.150

Hail, Towner

When
August 31, 8:20 PM CST
Where
Towner County, 8 mi SW of Cando
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.400, -99.317

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Olga
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.800, -98.033

Hail, Pembina

When
August 31, 8:34 PM CST to 8:40 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, 5 mi S of Walhalla
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.850, -97.900

Hail, Benson

When
August 31, 8:35 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 2 mi E of Leeds
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.283, -99.383

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 8:43 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 10 mi E of Langdon
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.750, -98.150

Hail, Benson

When
August 31, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 5 mi E of Leeds
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.283, -99.317

Hail, Towner

When
August 31, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Towner County, 5 mi SE of Cando
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.433, -99.117

Hail, Ramsey

When
August 31, 8:55 PM CST
Where
Ramsey County, Devils Lake
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.100, -98.850

Flash Flood, Cavalier

When
August 31, 9:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Mt Carmel
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was reported over county roads.

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 9:35 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 6 mi NE of Vang
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.967, -98.017

Flash Flood, Cavalier

When
August 31, 9:35 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 6 mi NE of Vang
Property damage
$13,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.772, -98.465 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A driveway was washed out and roads and culverts were damaged.

Hail, Pembina

When
August 31, 9:37 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, Neche
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.983, -97.533

Hail, Barnes

When
August 31, 9:38 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 5 mi W of Valley City
Measured
2.5 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.917, -98.100

The hail fell at Hobart Lake.

Hail, Cavalier

When
August 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, 5 mi NE of Milton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.683, -97.967

Thunderstorm Wind, Cavalier

When
August 31, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Cavalier County, Milton
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.633, -98.050

Many trees were blown down which knocked out power.

Flash Flood, Pembina

When
August 31, 10:00 PM CST to 11:59 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, 3 mi N of Walhalla
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.768, -97.552 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was flowing over county roads and cropland was flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Griggs

When
August 31, 10:13 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, Cooperstown
Property damage
$500
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.450, -98.117

Large tree branches were blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Barnes

When
August 31, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 3 mi SW of Oriska
Property damage
$300
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.900, -97.900

Branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Steele

When
August 31, 10:25 PM CST
Where
Steele County, Finley
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
47.517, -97.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Pembina

When
August 31, 10:39 PM CST
Where
Pembina County, Bowesmont
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
48.683, -97.167

A ND DOT RWIS site measured a 58 mph wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Traill

When
August 31, 10:40 PM CST
Where
Traill County, Hatton
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
47.650, -97.467

Hail, Cass

When
August 31, 10:45 PM CST
Where
Cass County, Fargo
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates
46.867, -96.783

The hail was reported at the WDAY studios in Fargo.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Forks

When
August 31, 11:08 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, Grand Forks
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates
47.917, -97.050

Large branches were blown down with scattered power outages.

What these are

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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, August 2002

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: 5318004, 5318005, 5318112, 5318006, 5318007, 5318008, 5318009, 5318010, 5318011, 5318012, 5318013, 5318014, 5318015, 5318016, 5318017, 5318018, 5318019, 5318020, 5318021, 5318022, 5318099, 5318100, 5318101, 5318102, 5318103, 5318104, 5318105, 5318106, 5318107, 5318108, 5318109, 5318110, 5318111.