Flash Flooding and Flood in North Dakota, July 9 to 20, 2002

Name: Flash Flooding and Flood in North Dakota, July 9 to 20, 2002
Start: 2002-07-09T18:43
End: 2002-07-20T23:59
Location: North Dakota

July 9 to 20, 2002 · NWS FGF · 18 events in 5 counties and zones

10 flash flood, 4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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: $775,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 18

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 9, 1:20 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 1:20 PM CST, 5 hours 23 minutes before

FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
220 PM CDT TUE JUL 9 2002

RADAR BACK IN NORMAL OPERATION. THANKS TO SURROUNDING OFFICES FOR
KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR US.

COORD WITH HPC/RFC ON NEW 24HR QPF.  2-3 INCH MAX AREA LOOKS REAL
GOOD IN THE GFK-FAR-BJI TRIANGLE AREA.  WILL KEEP FFA GOING ALL CWFA
THRU NOON WED.  WILL USE ETA QPF THIS PD.

SFC LOW/50H LOW OVER SRN SASK HAS ONLY BEEN SLOWLY DRIFTING
SOUTHEAST LAST FEW HOURS.  SFC BOUNDARY FROM SFC LOW HAS MOVED INTO
WRN ND (JUST WEST OF MOT-BIS) DOWN INTO WRN SD.  BIS/MBX RADAR
SHOWING TSRA FIRING JUST AHD OF BOUNDARY FROM BTWN DVL/MOT TO JUST
EAST OF BISMARCK.  ENOUGH SFC HEATING TODAY TO PUSH TEMPS INTO THE
LOWER 80S AND DEW PTS IN THE MID 60S.  WOULD EXPECT LINE WILL GROW
AS IT MOVES EAST AND INTENSIFY...AND WILL CONTINUE MENTION OF SVR
WORDING IN MOST ZONES EARLY TONIGHT.

OVERNIGHT MAIN FOCUS SHIFTS TO HEAVY RAIN EVENT AS COPIOUS MID AND
LOW LEVEL MOISTURE GETS DRAWN NORTH AHD OF 50H LOW WHICH WILL DROP
TOWARD FARGO BY 12Z WED.  LOTS OF 30H DIFFLUENCE OVER NRN RED RIVER
VALLEY THIS EVENING ALONG WITH 70H VVEL.  SEE NO REASON TO ARGUE HVY
RAIN THREAT ALL CWFA...WITH FOCUS JUST EAST OF 50H LOW NR A GFK-FFM
TRACK.

RAIN WILL DIMINISH SLOWLY FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ON WEDNESDAY...WITH
SOME CLEARING ENTERING NRN ZONES BY AFTN.  SKIES WILL CLEAR WED
NIGHT AND REMAIN FAIRLY SUNNY ON THURSDAY ALTHOUGH EXPECT SOME CU.
WILL GO A TAD BLO FWC GUIDANCE FOR HIGHS ON WED DUE TO CLDS AND RAIN
ESPECIALLY SE ND/WCNTRL MN.

EXTENDED...
MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH SUMMER PATTERN THROUGH PERIOD. UPPER
RIDGE SHOULD ANCHOR ITSELF ACROSS INTERMOUNTAIN WEST...AND RESULT IN
TEMPERATURES ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH PERIOD. WILL KEEP ENTIRE EXTENDED
DRY...WITH MINIMAL CONFIDENCE OF ANY SYSTEM MAKING IT OVER RIDGE.
BEST CHANCE OF THUNDER WOULD BE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...BUT WILL LET
LATER SHIFTS EVALUATE THIS POTENTIAL.

.FGF...FLOOD WATCH ALL OF ERN ND AND NW AND WCNTRL MN TONIGHT INTO
WEDNESDAY MORNING.

RIDDLE/KELLENBENZ

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 95 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 flash flood, 4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sargent

When: July 9, 6:43 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, 3 mi NE of Crete
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.233, -97.917

Hail, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:10 PM CST to 7:17 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, 3 mi W of Forman
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.117, -97.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, 1 mi NW of Forman
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 46.133, -97.650

Strong winds blew down a pole barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, Forman
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.117, -97.633

Large trees and power lines were blown down. One tree blocked a road and another fell on and damaged a garage. A radio tower was also knocked over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, Rutland
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 46.050, -97.500

A tree was blown over onto a house. Several other trees fell across the city streets.

Hail, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, 8 mi S of Cayuga
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 45.950, -97.383

Flash Flood, Sargent

When: July 9, 7:40 PM CST to 9:40 PM CST
Where: Sargent County, Forman
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in Forman along with water backing up around the school.

Hail, Richland

When: July 9, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Richland County, 8 mi SSW of Lidgerwood
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 45.983, -97.217

Flash Flood, Grand Forks

When: July 9, 10:55 PM CST to July 10, 12:55 AM 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)

Extensive street flooded occurred in Grand Forks, with numerous streets impassable.

Flash Flood, Grand Forks

When: July 9, 10:55 PM CST to July 10, 12:55 AM CST
Where: Grand Forks County, 4 mi SE of Thompson
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

6 to 8 inches of rain caused flooding problems over southeast Grand Forks county. Cole creek threatened a home southeast of Thompson. County roads 7 and 81 were closed due to high water levels. Many fields were flooded and roads were damaged. The county estimated $500,000 in damages.

Flash Flood, Traill

When: July 9, 11:07 PM CST to July 10, 1:07 AM CST
Where: Traill County, Hillsboro
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street and basement flooding was reported along with some sewer backup. Some cars were stranded on city streets. Portions of 20 county roads were closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Traill

When: July 9, 11:07 PM CST to July 10, 1:07 AM CST
Where: Traill County, Buxton
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

12 to 15 inches of rain fell around the town of Buxton. The 15 inch amounts were reported to the east of town. Entire sections of cropland were quickly submerged in lakes of water. Flood fighters sandbagged lower lying homes around town. The railroad tracks in town started to prevent water in town from draining to the east. A large pump was brought in and the town received permission from the railroad to lay it across the railroad tracks. Many streets in town were flooded along with quite a few basements. One home just east of Buxton had water on its main floor. Interstate 29 southbound had water over both lanes, with only the passing lane remaining open. Farmers used jet ski's to move around their land.

Flash Flood, Grand Forks

When: July 9, 11:07 PM CST to July 10, 1:07 AM CST
Where: Grand Forks County, Reynolds
Property damage: $250,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.922, -97.457 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

8 to 10 inches of rain fell over the Reynolds area, causing basement flooding and some basement walls to collapse. The coulee on the south side of town rapidly expanded, and threatened homes along it. The southwest ramp to Interstate 29 was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Traill

When: July 9, 11:07 PM CST to July 10, 1:07 AM CST
Where: Traill County, Mayville
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over six inches of rain fell at Mayville, flooding several city streets.

Flash Flood, Traill

When: July 9, 11:30 PM CST to July 10, 1:30 AM CST
Where: Traill County, 7 mi N of Hillsboro
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Rushing water washed out a culvert and a portion of railroad tracks north of Hillsboro. An alert farmer called 911 and stopped the next Amtrak train leaving Grand Forks and going southbound. The rail line was closed for 24 hours while the spot was repaired.

Flash Flood, Richland

When: July 9, 11:55 PM CST to July 10, 1:55 AM CST
Where: Richland County, Wyndmere
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported.

Flood, Traill

When: July 10, 1:08 AM CST to July 20, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Traill forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 47.454, -97.162 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sections of cropland around the Buxton area remained under lakes of water for days. Most of the cropland was a total loss.

Flash Flood, Cass

When: July 10, 10:30 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Cass County, Fargo
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many city streets were flooded as well as several county roads. Some streets were closed and several vehicles were stranded.

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.
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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2002 Every state in 2002 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, July 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: 5303486, 5303487, 5303572, 5303563, 5303573, 5303564, 5303565, 5303566, 5303567, 5303576, 5303568, 5303574, 5303643, 5303644, 5303571, 5303569, 5303575, 5303570.