High Wind in North Dakota, June 11, 2008

Name: High Wind in North Dakota, June 11, 2008
Start: 2008-06-11T13:44
End: 2008-06-11T16:00
Location: North Dakota

June 11, 2008 · NWS FGF · 5 events in 5 counties and zones

Afternoon heating led to convective overturning and increased episodes of high winds mixing down to the ground. High sustained winds and frequent high wind gusts occurred across portions of west central Minnesota between about 2 pm and 5 pm CDT.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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: $100,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Events: 5

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 happened

The episode as NWS FGF wrote it up.

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 Jun 11, 12:48 PM CST, 56 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 11, 12:48 PM CST, 56 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
148 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

.DISCUSSION...
WE WILL REISSUE THE HIGH WIND WARNING FOR SE ND INTO WC MN. STRONG
WINDS ALOFT WILL CONTINUE TO BE MIXED TO THE SFC THROUGH THIS
EVENING. GETTING DAMAGE REPORTS IN THE LAKES COUNTRY...AND SUSPECT
THAT WIND DAMAGE MAY OCCUR NEAR ANY SHOWER OR STORM TODAY. WILL
NEED TO MONITOR AREAS FURTHER NORTH THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN A WIND
ADVISORY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR...NPW OUT AND GRIDS TO BE
SENT SHORTLY.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1252 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008/

UPDATE...
NEAR TERM GUIDANCE PER THE RUC INDICATES THE THREAT FOR FLASH
FLOODING IN THE SOUTH THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THIS EVENING. THIS
AREA HAS RECEIVED AN INCH+ OF RAIN TODAY...WITH ANOTHER 1-3
POSSIBLE. WE HAVE ALSO TRANSITIONED OUR WIND WARNINGS TO A WIND
ADVISORY FOR THE ENTIRE REGION THROUGH 00Z. WE WILL ISSUE AN
UPDATE SHORTLY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

AVIATION... VERY TRICKY FCST TODAY REGARDING HOW FAST MVFR CIGS
ADVANCE NORTHEAST ACROSS THE AREA. FEEL LIKE IT WILL TAKE TIL 16Z-
18Z FOR GFK-TVF-BJI AREAS AS THESE AREAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF
DRY EASTERLY FLOW THE LONGEST. SOME CHANCE OF IFR CIGS THIS
EVENING BEFORE FRONT SWINGS THRU AND WINDS TURN SOUTHWEST AND DRY
SLOT MOVES IN. LOOKS WET MOST OF THE DAY WITH GUSTY EAST WINDS TO
25-30 KTS MOST OF THE DAY.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1130 AM CDT WED JUN 11 2008/

DISCUSSION...
WE EXTENDED THE WIND ADVISORY TO THE NORTH AND KEPT THE HIGH WIND
WARNING IN THE SOUTH. WE ARE STILL GETTING WARNING WINDS IN THE
SOUTH...AND STRONG WINDS DEVELOPING IN THE NORTH.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 934 AM CDT WED JUN 11 2008/

DISCUSSION...
WE ARE GETTING DAMAGING WIND MOVING EAST OF THE VALLEY INTO WILKIN
COUNTY. WITH PROGRESSION OF CONVECTION EAST AND DRYING...WILL BRING
THE HIGH WIND WARNING TO THE EAST INTO MN. IT SEEMS WE HAVE SOME
SORT OF A WAKE LOW WITH THE DYING CONVECTION HELPING TO MIX 60KT
FROM NEAR 850 MB.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 850 AM CDT WED JUN 11 2008/

DISCUSSION...
WE ISSUED A HIGH WIND WARNING THROUGH NOON FOR GRAND FORKS COUNTY
SOUTH THROUGH RICHLAND COUNTY AND POINTS WEST THROUGH 18Z. WINDS
ARE STRONG ON THE BACKSIDE OF DYING CONVECTION...HELPING TO MIX
50-60KT TO THE SFC. GETTING REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES IN BARNES
COUNTY AT 830 AM...AND THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD MOVE NORTH AND EAST
PER RADAR VELOCITY/REFLECTIVITY TRENDS. WE WILL NEED TO MONITOR AREAS TO
THE EAST ONCE BACKSIDE OF SHOWERS MOVES FURTHER EAST TODAY. WE
MAY NEED A WIND ADVISORY FOR COUNTIES TO THE EAST. WE WILL CONTINUE
TO MONITOR. NPW HAS BEEN SENT WITH GRIDS/TEXT PRODUCTS TO FOLLOW.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 326 AM CDT WED JUN 11 2008/

SHORT TERM...
FCST CHALLENGE IS TSTM POTENTIAL AND RAINFALL AMOUNTS TODAY.
DYNAMIC SITUATION EARLY THIS MORNING AS 50-60 KT 850 MB JET PLOWS
NORTH INTO ERN SD THEN TURNS NORTHWEST INTO SCNTRL ND. EARLIER MCS
WHICH FORMED IN NW SD MOVING ENE THRU SCNTRL INTO SE ND ATTM WITH
MARGINAL SVR STORMS ALONG SD/ND BORDER ON SOUTH EDGE OF STRATIFORM
RAIN SHIELD ALONG INTERSTATE 94 FROM BISMARCK TO FARGO. RECENT 41
MPH GUST AT ELLENDALE AT 215 AM AND JAMESTOWN NORTH IN THE
STRATIFORM RAIN PICKING UP NEARLY ONE INCH OF RAIN IN THE PAST SIX
HOURS.

BUT NOW SEEING NEW ELEVATED CELLS FORMING FROM ABERDEEN SOUTHWARD
INTO SCNTRL SD AND THIS AREA IS PROGGED BY SPC AND HIT ON BY NEW
06Z NAM AS TAKING OVER AND BECOMING THE DOMINATE TSTM/MCS AREA
LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS IT MOVES INTO SRN MN. ND PCPN ARE
WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTHEAST BUT IT WILL RUN INTO DRIER AIR SO
IT WILL LIKELY WEAKEN A BIT THIS MORNING BUT STILL GOT 50+KTS AT
850 MB PLOWING INTO ERN ND THIS MORNING WITH PLENTIFUL 850 MB
MOISTURE. SO LIKELY SEE STRATIFORM RAIN AREA MOVE THRU MOST OF ERN
ND THIS MORNING INTO MIDDAY AND THEN INTO NW MN MIDDAY-AFTN.

QUESTION LATER THIS AFTN/EVE IS ANY SEVERE TSTM THREAT. SFC LOW IN
SCNTRL SD WILL MOVE NORTHEAST INTO NE SD AND CNTRL MN THIS EVE.
SOME MODELS WANT TO DRAG SFC LOW A BIT FARTHER NORTH AND WEST INTO
SE/ECNTRL ND AND SPREAD -1 TO -3C SHOWALTERS UP IN THE CNTRL RED
RIVER VALLEY AND WCNTRL/NW MN AT 00Z THU. SO THREAT FOR THUNDER
WOULD INCREASE LATE TODAY/THIS EVE IN SE ND/WCNTRL MN AND SOME SVR
CELLS MAY FORM. AREA IS IN SLIGHT RISK MAINLY FAR-PKD SOUTHWARD.
LIFT STRONGLY AIDED BY NOSE OF 100 KT 300 MB JET MAX PROGGED TO BE
OVER SE ND 00Z-03Z TIME PERIOD. AS FOR PCPN AMOUNTS...AGREE WITH
PREV SHIFT AND NO FLASH FLOOD WATCH REQUIRED BASED ON CURRENT
THINKING. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AN INCH OR TWO STILL VERY LIKELY BUT
OVER A 12-24 HOUR PD. THUS NET EFFECT WILL BE TO RAISE RIVERS A
BIT MORE AND PROLONG THE FLOOD CREST ALONG SOME RIVERS IN THE
SOUTHERN VALLEY.

AFTER THIS JET MAX MOVES THRU...DRY SLOT MOVES IN AND SUBSIDENCE
MOVES IN SQUASHING ANY PCPN AND WILL TAPPER OFF PCPN AFTER
MIDNIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING AS LIKELY AREA OF CLEARING MOVES IN
AS WINDS TURN SOUTHWEST. THEN ON THURSDAY...AS UPR LOW MOVES
TOWARD NW ND OR SE SASK...COOLER AIR ALOFT WILL MOVE EAST INTO ERN
ND/NW MN 18Z-00Z PD THU AFTN/EVE. THIS ALONG WITH SOME HEATING
EXPECTED IN DRY SLOT THURSDAY AND STILL SOME MOISTURE SHOULD AID
IN DEVELOPMENT OF SOME THUNDERSTORMS.

UPR LOW WILL MOVE JUST NORTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER FRIDAY
WITH FCST AREA ON SRN EDGE OF WRAPAROUND CLOUDS/SHOWERS AND GUSTY
WEST WINDS. TEMPS REMAIN ON THE COOL SIDE. ALL THIS COVERED WELL
BY PREV FCST SO LITTLE CHANGE NEEDED.

LONG TERM...
WILL MAINTAIN LOW POPS SATURDAY AS UPR LOW MOVES SLOWLY EAST-
NORTHEAST TOWARD NW ONTARIO. THREAT FOR SHOWERS MUCH LESS SATURDAY
THAN ON FRIDAY BUT STILL PRETTY COOL ALOFT WITH -18 TO -20C
POCKET AT 500 MB. SO SOME AFTN CU WITH SPOTTY AFTN SHOWERS PSBL.
00Z GFS HAS PRETTY STRONG SHORT WAVE MOVING THRU SUNDAY WITH MORE
PCPN BUT THIS IS STRONGER THAN PAST RUNS AND NOT GREATLY SUPPORTED
BY OTHER MODELS. PREV FCST HAD LOW POPS IN AND WILL LEAVE. COORD
WITH BIS AND ABR FOR SUN NIGHT INTO MONDAY TO REMOVE POPS/WX AS
HIGH MOVES IN.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ038-039-049-
     052-053.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR NDZ038-039-049-052-
     053.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ006>008-014>016-
     024-026>030-054.

MN...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ002-003-
     022>024-027>032-040.

     FLASH FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 1 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR MNZ003-027>031-040.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR MNZ001-004>009-
     013>017.

&&

DK

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 11, 1:19 PM CST, 25 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
219 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

MNZ001-004>009-013>017-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-054-121930-
WEST POLK-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS-WEST MARSHALL-
EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE-EAST POLK-
NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-TOWNER-CAVALIER-PEMBINA-BENSON-
RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-
TRAILL-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY-
219 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

...A WIND ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH WILL PERSIST THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING...ESPECIALLY
NEAR ANY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. THERE IS
ALSO THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
NEAR ANY THUNDERSTORMS. THIS MAY PRODUCE LOCAL PONDING OF WATER IN
URBAN AND POORLY DRAINED AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST...WITH AN ACTIVE
WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.

MNZ002-022>024-032-121930-
NORMAN-MAHNOMEN-SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WADENA-
219 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

...A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

WIND GUSTS TO 60 MPH ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON IN WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA. SHOWERS ARE HELPING TO MIX STRONG WINDS TO THE SURFACE.
IN ADDITION...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS
THROUGH TONIGHT...WITH THE MAIN THREAT LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST...WITH AN ACTIVE
WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

MNZ003-027>031-040-NDZ038-039-049-052-053-121930-
CLAY-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN-WEST OTTER TAIL-
EAST OTTER TAIL-GRANT-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT-RICHLAND-
219 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 1 AM THURSDAY MORNING...

...A HIGH WIND WARNING IS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH
DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
WINDS WILL GUST TO 65 MPH AT TIMES THIS AFTERNOON IN PORTIONS OF
SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA. IN
ADDITION...HEAVY RAINS THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT MAY CAUSE
LOCALIZED FLASH FLOODING. IN ADDITION...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...WITH THE MAIN THREATS DAMAGING WIND AND
LARGE HAIL. AN ISOLATED TORNADO IS POSSIBLE THIS EVENING ACROSS
EXTREME SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA ALONG
AND SOUTH OF A LISBON TO WAHPETON TO PARKERS PRAIRIE LINE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODIC CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL EXIST...WITH AN ACTIVE
WEATHER PATTERN EXPECTED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT FOR SEVERE
WEATHER REPORTS.

DK

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 11, 11:52 AM CST, 1 hour 52 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1252 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1205 PM     HAIL             5 E BRAMPTON            45.99N 97.67W
06/11/2008  E0.88 INCH       SARGENT            ND   PUBLIC

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 11, 12:05 PM CST, 1 hour 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
105 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1030 AM     HIGH SUST WINDS  2 NW BUFFALO            46.94N 97.58W
06/11/2008  M48 MPH          CASS               ND   MESONET

            SUSTAINED WINDS TO 48 MPH WITH WIND GUSTS TO 54 MPH
            MEASURED AT THE NDDOT RWIS SITE ON HWY 38. SUSTAINED
            WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH SINCE 930 AM CDT.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 11, 12:41 PM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
141 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0135 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 2 N PELICAN RAPIDS      46.60N 96.09W
06/11/2008                   OTTER TAIL         MN   BROADCAST MEDIA

            TREE DAMAGE REPORTED ON PELICAN LAKE.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 11, 1:11 PM CST, 33 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
211 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0209 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST AUDUBON                 46.86N 95.98W
06/11/2008  E70 MPH          BECKER             MN   NWS EMPLOYEE

            HIGH WIND GUSTS NEARLY FLATTENING TREES NEAR AUDUBON
            LAKE.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 11, 1:34 PM CST, 10 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
234 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0209 PM     TSTM WND DMG     3 NE BARRIE             46.60N 97.08W
06/11/2008                   RICHLAND           ND   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SEVERAL LARGE 4-6 INCH BRANCHES DOWN.

&&

GGUST

Local storm report, Jun 11, 1:37 PM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
237 PM CDT WED JUN 11 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0236 PM     TSTM WND GST     DAVENPORT               46.71N 97.07W
06/11/2008  E60 MPH          CASS               ND   LAW ENFORCEMENT

            WINDS AT 50-60 MPH WITH LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

&&

GGUST

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Barnes

When: June 11, 1:44 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Barnes forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.936, -98.072 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Cass

When: June 11, 1:44 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.933, -97.248 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Ransom

When: June 11, 1:44 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Ransom forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.456, -97.657 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Sargent

When: June 11, 1:44 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Sargent forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) estimated sustained
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.108, -97.631 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Richland

When: June 11, 1:44 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Richland forecast zone
Measured: 40 kt (46 mph) measured sustained
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 46.265, -96.948 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sustained winds of 42 mph with gusts to 48 mph were measured at the NDDOT RWIS site near highway 13.

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2008 Every state in 2008 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, June 2008

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: 120711, 120713, 120716, 120717, 120719.