Conditions were ripe for severe weather during the late afternoon and early evening of the 30th, as afternoon temperatures had peaked out in the 80s with some dew point readings around 70F. In addition, a surface boundary had set up along a Jamestown (ND) to Roseau (MN) line.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS FGF wrote it up.
Conditions were ripe for severe weather during the late afternoon and early evening of the 30th, as afternoon temperatures had peaked out in the 80s with some dew point readings around 70F. In addition, a surface boundary had set up along a Jamestown (ND) to Roseau (MN) line. Just above the surface layer, the low level jet was quite strong, with wind speeds of 50 to 60 knots. Instead of forming along the surface boundary, most of the thunderstorms fired out well to the east of the surface boundary, in an area of overall weaker bulk shear. Therefore, most of the thunderstorms were weaker than expected. However, along the leading edge of one of the lines of thunderstorms that formed, some of the strong winds aloft did mix down to the surface and produce strong wind gusts.
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 30, 8:09 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 909 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 .DISCUSSION... MAIN CHALLENGE YET THIS EVENING WILL BE THE REMAINING HOUR OF TORNADO WATCH 635. LOTS OF WIND JUST OFF THE SURFACE LAYER AND THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW REPORTS OF 40-50 MPH WINDS MIXING DOWN WITH THE RAIN PASSING THRU. HOWEVER IT APPEARS THE THREAT FOR ANY SEVERE WEATHER FOR THE EVENING IS WINDING DOWN. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT ALL THE FAVORABLE PARAMETERS DID NOT QUITE LINE UP. LOTS OF THE CONVECTION FIRED OUT AHEAD OF THE SFC BOUNDARY WHERE THE BULK SHEAR WAS NOT QUITE AS GOOD AND MID LEVEL TEMPS WERE WARMER. HARD TO SAY FOR SURE AS THERE WAS AMPLE MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY IN SOME PLACES. HAVE CANCELLED THE WATCH FOR OUR ND COUNTIES AND WILL LEAVE IT IN PLACE FOR OUR MN COUNTIES FOR NOW. TRIED TO DO SOME CUTTING BACK OF PCPN CHANCES BUT WILL LEAVE LOW TEMPS AS IS. && .AVIATION... MOST OF THE PCPN SHOULD AFFECT KFAR/KBJI THE MOST FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. AFTER THE PCPN CLEARS OUT...AM NOT TOO SURE ABOUT CLOUD TRENDS AND FOG POTENTIAL. SO FAR THE LOWEST CLOUDS HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED TO THE KDVL AREA. IF WINDS CAN GO LIGHT FOR A TIME TOWARD MORNING THERE COULD BE SOME FOG...BUT NOT SURE THAT WILL HAPPEN AT THIS POINT. WILL LOOK OVER NEW 00Z MODEL RUNS AND DECIDE FOR THE 06Z TAFS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010/ SHORT TERM... SEVERE POTENTIAL TONIGHT AND THEN PRECIP CHANCES FOR THE REST OF THE PERIOD WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST HEADACHE FOR THE SHORT TERM. WV LOOP HAS A STRONG TROUGH ROTATING THROUGH THE CENTRAL ROCKIES TOWARDS THE PLAINS TODAY...WITH ONE LEAD VORT MAX/DISTURBANCE ALREADY MOVING INTO SD AHEAD OF THE MAIN TROUGH. ELEVATED SHOWERS AND STORMS HAVE BEEN ONGOING IN THE DEVILS LAKE BASIN FOR MUCH OF THE DAY UNDER STRONG UPPER DIVERGENCE ON THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A JET STREAK. ADDITIONAL ELEVATED STORMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING ALONG A LINE FURTHER SOUTH...CURRENTLY FROM BINFORD TO BJI AND MOVING NORTH. THE MAIN FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLED OUT AROUND FAR THIS MORNING...BUT HAS BEGUN TO LIFT NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT DURING THE LAST FEW HOURS. SPC MESOANALYSIS AND MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOW THAT WE ARE STILL CAPPED IN RESPECT TO SFC BASED CONVECTION WITH CIN VALUES AROUND MINUS 100-250 J/KG. THERE HAS BEEN GOOD HEATING SOUTH OF THE FRONT HOWEVER...AND WITH DEWPOINTS AROUND 70 IT IS DEFINITELY JUICY. THERE IS STILL SOME QUESTION IF IT WILL COME TOGETHER RIGHT FOR THE EXACT TIMING SO WE CAN GET A SHORTWAVE COMING IN JUST AS WE HIT MAX HEATING FOR SOMETHING SFC BASED TO DEVELOP. THE LEAD SHORTWAVE IN SD MAY BE A BIT TOO EARLY AND THE MAIN TROUGH IN WY A BIT TOO LATE. IF ANYTHING SFC BASED DOES DEVELOP IT WILL BECOME SEVERE PRETTY QUICKLY WITH GOOD CAPE AND STRONG SHEAR. STORM RELATIVE HELICITY VALUES JUST NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY ARE VERY LARGE...SO TORNADO CHANCES ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. EVEN IF THE STORMS ARE ELEVATED...THERE IS ENOUGH MU CAPE FOR SOME HAIL. PWAT VALUES GET UP CLOSE TO 2 INCHES...AND THERE COULD BE SOME TRAINING ALONG THE BOUNDARY. MADE A FEW TWEAKS TO POPS FOR TIMING AND PLACEMENT...BUT CONTINUED WITH SEVERE AND HEAVY RAIN MENTION. THE UPPER SHORTWAVE WILL MOVE OFF INTO MANITOBA TOMORROW...AND THE COLD FRONT WILL THE REST OF THE WAY THROUGH THE CWA. THERE WILL BE A DECENT MID LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE OVER OUR EASTERN COUNTIES...SO KEPT SOME 20-30 POPS LINGERING IN THAT AREA THROUGH THE REST OF THE DAY. TUESDAY NIGHT WILL BE FAIRLY QUIET BETWEEN SYSTEMS AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN BEHIND THE FRONT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE QUITE A BIT COOLER...WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND LOWS IN THE 40S TO LOW 50S. BY WEDNESDAY...THE NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO WESTERN ND. THE SFC HIGH WILL BE HEADING EASTWARD AND THE LEE TROUGH REDEVELOPING. THE MODELS START TO DIVERGE ON HOW THEY HANDLE THE DETAILS WITH THE SYSTEM...WITH THE NAM BRINGING OUT ONE LEAD SHORTWAVE OUT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THE GFS MORE PHASED AND SLOWER WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE UPPER TROUGH. WITH THE UNCERTAINTY AND ALL OF THE SHORT TERM CONCERNS...ELECTED NOT TO CHANGE THE GOING POPS FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. TEMPS SHOULD BE FAIRLY COOL WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S TO 70S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 40S TO 50S. LONG TERM [THU NIGHT - SUN]... THE MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT IN THE LONG TERM. A PASSING SYSTEM COULD LINGER SOME SHOWERS THURSDAY NIGHT...MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHERN VALLEY AND EAST OF THE VALLEY. HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD THEN MOVE INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS FRIDAY...HELPING PREVENT ANY PCPN DESPITE SOME MODELS CONTINUING TO SHOW SOME PCPN OUTPUT. COOL WEATHER WILL STICK AROUND THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE COOL AIRMASS ALOFT AND SURFACE HEATING COULD CREATE SOME INSTABILITY SUNDAY...RESULTING IN A VERY SLIGHT CHANCE OF PCPN. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...NONE. MN...NONE. && GODON
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 440 AM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024- 026>030-038-039-049-052>054-310945- WEST POLK-NORMAN-CLAY-KITTSON-ROSEAU-LAKE OF THE WOODS- WEST MARSHALL-EAST MARSHALL-NORTH BELTRAMI-PENNINGTON-RED LAKE- EAST POLK-NORTH CLEARWATER-SOUTH BELTRAMI-MAHNOMEN- SOUTH CLEARWATER-HUBBARD-WEST BECKER-EAST BECKER-WILKIN- WEST OTTER TAIL-EAST OTTER TAIL-WADENA-GRANT-TOWNER-CAVALIER- PEMBINA-BENSON-RAMSEY-EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-EDDY-NELSON- GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-TRAILL-BARNES-CASS-RANSOM-SARGENT- RICHLAND-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY- 440 AM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AND TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING OVER THE DEVILS LAKE BASIN...THEN MOVE INTO THE REST OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA BY LATE AFTERNOON. THUNDERSTORM WILL THEN MOVE INTO WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA THIS EVENING. SOME STORMS WILL LIKELY BECOME SEVERE FROM 5 PM UNTIL MIDNIGHT...WITH THE BIGGEST THREAT FROM DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. THERE WILL BE A THREAT FOR ISOLATED TORNADOES ABOUT 20 MILES EITHER SIDE OF A VALLEY CITY TO GRAND FORKS TO HALLOCK LINE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HEAVY RAIN WILL ALSO ACCOMPANY ANY THUNDERSTORM...AND LOCALIZED PONDING AND SOME MINOR FLOODING OF URBAN AND POORLY DRAINED AREAS IS ALSO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. DK
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 714 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ003-029-030-040-NDZ039-053-310100- CASS ND-CLAY MN-GRANT MN-RICHLAND ND-WEST OTTER TAIL MN-WILKIN MN- 714 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN CLAY COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...AND SOUTHWESTERN OTTER TAIL...WESTERN GRANT AND WILKIN COUNTIES IN WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA...AND EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN CASS AND RICHLAND COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 711 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 13 MILES NORTHEAST OF WYNDMERE TO 11 MILES SOUTH OF NEW EFFINGTON...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... WALCOTT...SONORA AND GREAT BEND AROUND 720 PM CDT. LAMARS...DWIGHT AND CHRISTINE AROUND 725 PM CDT. WAHPETON...WOLVERTON AND MCCAULEYVILLE AROUND 730 PM CDT. BRECKENRIDGE AROUND 735 PM CDT. FOR MOTORISTS ON INTERSTATE 29...THE STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN...MILE MARKERS 6 AND 51... FOR MOTORISTS ON INTERSTATE 94...THE STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN MINNESOTA MILE MARKER 12 AND MINNESOTA MILE MARKER 55... BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. G2
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 719 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ001-002-013>015-310100- EAST POLK MN-NORMAN MN-PENNINGTON MN-RED LAKE MN-WEST POLK MN- 719 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR WESTERN POLK...PENNINGTON...RED LAKE AND NORTHERN NORMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 715 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM 14 MILES WEST OF FERTILE...OR 34 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND FORKS...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... MELVIN AND HAROLD AROUND 725 PM CDT. CROOKSTON...MAPLE BAY AND DUGDALE AROUND 730 PM CDT. MENTOR...GENTILLY AND DELORME AROUND 735 PM CDT. PERAULT...HUOT AND DOROTHY AROUND 740 PM CDT. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. G2
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 721 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ002-003-NDZ030-039-310100- CASS ND-CLAY MN-NORMAN MN-TRAILL ND- 721 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CLAY AND SOUTHWESTERN NORMAN COUNTIES IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...AND EASTERN CASS AND SOUTHEASTERN TRAILL COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 800 PM CDT... AT 720 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR MAPLETON...OR 11 MILES NORTHWEST OF FARGO...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... KRAGNES AND ARGUSVILLE AROUND 730 PM CDT. GEORGETOWN AROUND 735 PM CDT. GARDNER AROUND 740 PM CDT. PERLEY AND GRANDIN AROUND 745 PM CDT. FOR MOTORISTS ON INTERSTATE 29...THE STORM WILL BE BETWEEN...MILE MARKER 76 AROUND 730 PM CDT...AND MILE MARKER 84 AROUND 735 PM CDT... BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY. G2
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 759 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ004-005-007>009-013-310200- EAST MARSHALL MN-KITTSON MN-NORTH BELTRAMI MN-PENNINGTON MN-ROSEAU MN-WEST MARSHALL MN- 759 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN BELTRAMI...EASTERN MARSHALL...NORTHEASTERN PENNINGTON...ROSEAU AND SOUTHEASTERN KITTSON COUNTIES UNTIL 900 PM CDT... AT 758 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 9 MILES NORTH OF KARLSTAD TO 9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THIEF RIVER FALLS...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STORMS. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... MIDDLE RIVER...MAVIE AND LEO AROUND 810 PM CDT. STRATHCONA AND HAUG AROUND 815 PM CDT. GREENBUSH AND GOODRIDGE AROUND 820 PM CDT. ROSS...PINECREEK AND BADGER AROUND 825 PM CDT. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DTR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 820 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ002-003-016-022-023-027>031-040-310215- CLAY MN-EAST BECKER MN-EAST OTTER TAIL MN-GRANT MN-MAHNOMEN MN-NORMAN MN-NORTH CLEARWATER MN-SOUTH CLEARWATER MN-WEST BECKER MN-WEST OTTER TAIL MN-WILKIN MN- 820 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OTTER TAIL...BECKER...SOUTHERN CLEARWATER...GRANT...EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN WILKIN...EASTERN CLAY... SOUTHERN MAHNOMEN AND SOUTHEASTERN NORMAN COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM CDT... AT 816 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 5 MILES WEST OF DETROIT LAKES TO 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WHEATON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. WIND GUSTS TO 50 MPH ARE LIKELY ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE STORMS. THE STORMS WILL BE NEAR... FERGUS FALLS...PELICAN RAPIDS AND WENDELL AROUND 825 PM CDT. LAKE PARK...EDWARDS AND DUNVILLA AROUND 830 PM CDT. ELBOW LAKE...MAPLEWOOD STATE PARK AND LAKE LIDA AROUND 835 PM CDT. WESTBURY...SHOREHAM AND DALTON AROUND 840 PM CDT. FOR MOTORISTS ON INTERSTATE 94...THE STORMS WILL BE BETWEEN MINNESOTA MILE MARKER 49 AND MINNESOTA MILE MARKER 80... BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DTR
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 921 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 MNZ006-009-016-017-022>024-027-028-030>032-040-310330- EAST BECKER MN-EAST OTTER TAIL MN-GRANT MN-HUBBARD MN-LAKE OF THE WOODS MN-MAHNOMEN MN-NORTH BELTRAMI MN-NORTH CLEARWATER MN-SOUTH BELTRAMI MN-SOUTH CLEARWATER MN-WADENA MN-WEST BECKER MN-WEST OTTER TAIL MN- 921 PM CDT MON AUG 30 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR OTTER TAIL...EASTERN BECKER...BELTRAMI...CLEARWATER...GRANT...WADENA...SOUTHEASTERN MAHNOMEN...LAKE OF THE WOODS AND HUBBARD COUNTIES UNTIL 1030 PM CDT... AT 916 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM WARROAD TO BAGLEY THEN TO FERGUS FALLS AND ELBOW LAKE...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 40 MPH. WIND GUSTS ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THESE STORMS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE LIKELY. THE STORMS WILL AFFECT... BAUDETTE BEMIDJI LAKE ITASCA PARK RAPIDS ELBOW LAKE PERHAM BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. DTR
The Duluth radar (KDLH), 204 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:23 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The wind gust was measured by a MNDOT RWIS mesonet sensor.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, August 2010
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: 247823.