After the first round of elevated convection from the early morning hours of the 24th drifted off to the northeast, a surface warm front was left along the North Dakota and South Dakota border by mid morning. By mid afternoon of the 24th, the warm front had pushed north to a Jamestown (ND) to Bemidji (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.
After the first round of elevated convection from the early morning hours of the 24th drifted off to the northeast, a surface warm front was left along the North Dakota and South Dakota border by mid morning. By mid afternoon of the 24th, the warm front had pushed north to a Jamestown (ND) to Bemidji (MN) line. Behind this front, afternoon temperatures had increased to around 90 degrees with dew points in the mid to upper 60s. High precipitable water values remained over eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota, keeping the heavy rain threat in place throughout the 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 May 24, 10:20 AM CST, 3 hours 10 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
1120 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010
.UPDATE...
ACTIVE AFTN/EVE EXPECTED IN PARTS OF THE FCST AREA. STRONG 850 MB
MOISTURE ADVECTION WILLL CONTINUE TODAY...AND WATER VAPOR SHOWS
SEVERAL SHORT WAVES MOVING NORTH EAST OF THE ERN COLORADO 500 MB
LOW INTO ND/NW MN. ONE SUCH WAVE PRODUCED THE MORNING STORMS FROM
DETROIT LAKES TO BEMIDJI AND THIS IS NOW OVER INTERNATIONAL FALLS
AREA MOVING AWAY. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE ASSOC WITH A PUSH OF HIGHER
850 MB DEW PTS CAUSING STORMS TO INTENSIFY IN AREAS WEST OF
JAMESTOWN AND SOUTHWEST OF DEVILS LAKE. ANOTHER STRONGER STORM WAS
IN NORTH CENTRAL. ALL ACTIVITY IS ELEVATED. 12Z ABR SOUNDING SHOWS
CAPPED AT THE SFC BUT VERY UNSTABLE LAYER STARTING ABOUT 870 MB.
ACTIVITY LATER TODAY INTO THIS EVENING DEPENDENT ON LOCATION OF
WARM FRONT WHICH IS NOW LIFTING NORTHWARD THRU FAR NE SD AND CNTRL
MN. WARM FRONT VERY WELL DEFINED WITH WINDS TURNING SOUTH-
SOUTHEAST AND DEW PTS CLIMBING AROUND 70F. AT 16Z...OBS INDICATE
LIKELY WARM FRONT LOCATION FROM NORTH OF MOBRIDGE...TO JUST PAST
BRITTON SD TO NEAR WAHPETON TO JUST SOUTH OF FERGUS FALLS THEN TO
NEAR WADENA. DEW PTS 71 AT ELBOW LAKE AND AT DALTON. RUC AND NAM12
HAVE THIS BOUNDARY REACHING NR A BAUDETTE TO GRAND FORKS TO
JAMESTOWN LINE. RUC13 VGP INDICATE FOCUS OF VERY HIGH 0-2KM VGP
VALUES OF OVER 1.0 JUST SOUTH OF FRONT...AND ALSO FOCUS OF 71-73
DEW PTS AND CAPES NR 4000 J/KG. NOW RUC MIGHT BE A TAD HIGH WITH
VALUES...BUT STILL EVIDENCE IS THERE THAT WARM FRONT AREA WILL
LIKELY BECOME FOCUS FOR SVR CONVECTION LATER THIS AFT/EVE. WITH
ANY STORM ALONG WARM FRONT...LOW LEVEL ROTATION PRESENT FOR PSBL
TORNADIC STORMS. SECOND TORNADIC THREAT WILL BE IN SW ND CLOSER TO
SFC LOW TRIPLE POINT.
FZL LEVELS REMAIN HIGH 13-14KFT AND PWATS INDICATE HVY RAIN THREAT
FROM ANY CELLS. WILL NOT DEVIATE ANY FROM CURRENT FLASH FLOOD
WATCH IN PLACE.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 355 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010/
SHORT TERM...MAIN CONCERN IS GOING TO BE SEVERE STORM POTENTIAL
AND FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL TODAY INTO THIS EVENING. MODELS IN
DECENT AGREEMENT...WITH DETAILS ALWAYS HARD TO FIGURE OUT. WILL
USE A BLEND.
VERY MOIST AIRMASS AND STRONG 850MB WARM FRONT SURGING INTO THE
SOUTHERN FA ATTM WITH UP TO 2000 J/KG MUCAPE. THIS COMBINED WITH
DEEP LAYER SHEAR 40-50KNTS ENOUGH TO PRODUCE SOME STORMS WITH
SEVERE HAIL. THIS ACTIVITY LIKELY WILL CONTINUE NORTHWARD
PROPAGATION THROUGH THE MORNING. SEVERE WATCH 211 COVERS THIS
WELL...WILL NEED TO WATCH IF THE CURRENT WATCH NEEDS TO BE
EXPANDED NORTHWARD LATER THIS MORNING.
CONSIDERING UPSTREAM RADAR IMAGERY...THINKING THERE WILL BE
ANOTHER AREA OF STORMS THAT MOVES ACROSS MAINLY THE WESTERN FA
THIS MORNING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. GIVEN INSTABILITY OF
AIRMASS AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR VALUES...AGAIN COULD BE SOME SEVERE
STORMS. A BRIEF BREAK POSSIBLE...AND THEN MID-LATE AFTERNOON SHOW
BEGINS. SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH SKY COVER...BUT IF SOME CLEARING
DEVELOPS IN THE AFTERNOON MODERATE TO HIGH INSTABILITY WILL
DEVELOP. ALSO SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH POSITION OF WARM FRONT...BUT
DEFINITELY SFC BASED STORMS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SW FA
WHICH IS CLOSEST TO THE SFC LOW. THIS COULD BE THE PERIOD WHERE
THE STRONGEST OF THE STORMS TODAY WILL OCCUR. DRY AIRMASS THEN
MOVES FROM WEST THE EAST TONIGHT...WITH A VERY STRONG LOW-LEVEL
JET. INSTABILITY DOES WEAKEN...BUT COULD BE ENOUGH TO KEEP SEVERE
THREAT GOING. NEEDLESS TO SAY...COULD BE A LONG DAY OF ON AND OFF
SEVERE WEATHER. SEE SWODY1 FOR MORE DETAILS.
FLASH FLOOD THREAT STILL HIGH ACROSS THE AREA WHERE HEAVY RAINS
FELL LAST NIGHT. WILL KEEP FLASH FLOOD WATCH GOING...AND ADD
RANSOM AND SARGENT COUNTIES. MODELS SIGNALING SEVERAL SHOTS FOR
CONVECTION TO THIS AREA THROUGH THE DAY.
A MORE QUIET PERIOD EXPECTED TUE-WED. SHOULD BE DECENT MIXING ON
TUESDAY WITH 850MB WIND SPEEDS AROUND 35 KNTS. A WIND ADVISORY MAY
BE NEEDED FOR A PORTION OF THE WESTERN FA.
LONG TERM...NOT A LOT OF TIME TO LOOK AT THIS PERIOD WITH ONGOING
SEVERE WEATHER. BRIEF LOOK AT 00Z ECMWF/GFS LEAD TO NO CHANGES
REQUIRED.
AVIATION...THUNDER CHANCES WILL INCREASE BY MONDAY
MORNING. PERIODS OF MVFR CONDITIONS POSSIBLE TODAY...ESPECIALLY
WITH HEAVIER STORMS.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR NDZ006-014-015-024-
026>029-038-049-052-054.
MN...NONE.
&&
RIDDLE/TGHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 510 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 NDZ006-014-015-024-026>029-038-049-052-054-251200- TOWNER-BENSON-RAMSEY-EDDY-NELSON-GRAND FORKS-GRIGGS-STEELE-BARNES- RANSOM-SARGENT-WESTERN WALSH COUNTY- 510 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR TODAY THROUGH LATE TONIGHT... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT PERIODIC STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TODAY INTO TONIGHT. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF STORMS WILL OCCUR DURING THIS TIME. LARGE HAIL WILL BE A THREAT THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. THE GREATEST THREAT FOR STRONG WINDS AND A TORNADO OR TWO WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA RECEIVED HEAVY RAINFALL SATURDAY NIGHT...AND THUS SOILS ARE SATURATED. ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL COULD RESULT IN FLASH FLOODING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY...AND A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ007-008-016-030-039-053- 251200- 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-CAVALIER-PEMBINA- EASTERN WALSH COUNTY-TRAILL-CASS-RICHLAND- 510 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA...WEST CENTRAL AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT PERIODIC STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY TODAY INTO TONIGHT. SEVERAL ROUNDS OF STORMS WILL OCCUR DURING THIS TIME. LARGE HAIL WILL BE A THREAT THROUGHOUT THE PERIOD. THE GREATEST THREAT FOR STRONG WINDS AND A TORNADO OR TWO WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. THESE THUNDERSTORMS ALSO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE HEAVY RAINFALL IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY...AND A WIND ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED. TG
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 949 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 MNZ009-017-241515- NORTH BELTRAMI MN-SOUTH BELTRAMI MN- 949 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EASTERN BELTRAMI COUNTY UNTIL 1015 AM CDT... AT 945 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM NEAR BLACKDUCK...OR 24 MILES NORTHEAST OF BEMIDJI... MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THE STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... SHOOKS AND KELLIHER AROUND 1000 AM 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. HOPKINS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1032 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1015 AM FLASH FLOOD 3 S WHITE EARTH 47.05N 95.84W
05/24/2010 BECKER MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
WATER FLOWING OVER BECKER COUNTY 109 SOUTH OF WHITE
EARTH. SEVERAL OTHER SECONDARY ROADS NEAR THE BECKER AND
MAHNOMEN COUNTY LINE HAVE BEEN REPORTED FLOODED OR WASHED
OUT DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE RAIN.
&&
MEWENSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1229 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1210 PM HAIL 4 W PLUMMER 47.92N 96.13W
05/24/2010 M1.00 INCH RED LAKE MN PUBLIC
&&
MEWENSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 1254 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 NDZ028-038-241900- BARNES ND-GRIGGS ND- 1254 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN BARNES AND WESTERN GRIGGS COUNTIES UNTIL 200 PM CDT... AT 1249 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM 8 MILES NORTHEAST OF JAMESTOWN...MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 55 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THE STORM. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... WIMBLEDON AROUND 105 PM CDT. SUTTON AND REVERE AROUND 120 PM CDT. MOSE...JESSIE AND BINFORD AROUND 135 PM CDT. RED WILLOW LAKE AROUND 140 PM CDT. BE PREPARED TO TAKE SHELTER IF THE STORMS INTENSIFY AND BECOME SEVERE...OR A WARNING IS ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. KAISER
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 121 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 NDZ028-029-038-039-241900- BARNES ND-CASS ND-GRIGGS ND-STEELE ND- 121 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME NORTHWESTERN CASS... BARNES...SOUTHWESTERN STEELE AND SOUTHEASTERN GRIGGS COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA UNTIL 200 PM CDT... AT 117 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM 21 MILES SOUTHWEST OF VALLEY CITY...MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 55 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS EXPECTED WITH THE STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... VALLEY CITY AND SANBORN AROUND 140 PM CDT. BALD HILL DAM AROUND 145 PM CDT. SIBLEY...PILLSBURY AND LUVERNE AROUND 200 PM CDT. IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. IN ADDITION...THE STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM 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. EWENS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND 144 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 MNZ005-006-009-241945- LAKE OF THE WOODS MN-NORTH BELTRAMI MN-ROSEAU MN- 144 PM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BELTRAMI...LAKE OF THE WOODS AND EASTERN ROSEAU COUNTIES UNTIL 245 PM CDT... AT 140 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A THUNDERSTORM 33 MILES NORTH OF CLEARBROOK...OR 42 MILES EAST OF THIEF RIVER FALLS...MOVING TO THE NORTH AT 45 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THE STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. THE STORM WILL BE NEAR... OTTO...MALCOLM AND FOURTOWN AROUND 150 PM CDT. WASKISH AROUND 155 PM CDT. GATES CORNER AROUND 205 PM CDT. OAKS CORNER AROUND 210 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. HOPKINS
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 97 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:31 UTC.
9 thunderstorm wind, 6 hail, 3 flash flood, 3 flood, 2 tornado, 2 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.
A metal street light pole was snapped off and several trees were blown down near the courthouse area. The tornado was viewed approaching town by airport employees located two miles east-southeast of Grafton. Peak winds were estimated at 95 mph.
A small metal shed was blown up onto the fencing near the cemetery.
A persistent funnel tracked just to the east of Valley City. A brief touchdown and debris cloud were viewed by employees at a city business while the funnel was still south of Interstate 94. No damage was reported as the touchdown occurred over an open field. Peak winds were estimated at 75 mph.
Ditches were flooded along a county road and briefly covered the road.
A funnel extended nearly to the ground just north of exit 294 on Interstate 94, northeast of Valley City.
A rotating wall cloud was viewed by a meteorologist located near Tower City.
Pea to penny sized hail fell.
Heavy afternoon rains combined with earlier runoff to cause localized flooding near the community.
Several large trees were blown down on the south end of town.
Small marble to quarter sized hail fell near Wheatland.
An empty steel grain bin was ripped from its pad and thrown across a farm yard. Several large tree limbs were snapped.
A quarter mile stretch of highway 32 was closed due to water over the road. Water was also reported to be running over Interstate 94 near the Cass County line.
Small trees and numerous large branches were blown down. Approximately 3.69 inches of rain was also reported.
Eight inch diameter tree branches were blown down.
A semi was blown over on Interstate 94 near the Casselton exit.
Two large trees were uprooted and a shed was blown down.
Several large tree limbs were broken down in the Lakewood area. Waves on Devils Lake reached nearly six feet in height and swamped several lakeshore residences.
A large tree was blown down in a farmyard.
Heavy rains in the headwaters of the Maple River produced flooding and roadbed washouts near county road 1. Area corn crops were swept away by fast moving waters.
Overland flow covered portions of North Dakota highway 32 near the Barnes County line. The golf course near Hope was also damaged by high water.
Water continued to flow over North Dakota highway 32 in multiple locations where local creeks contribute to the Maple River.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Dakota, 2010Warnings in North Dakota, May 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: 237295, 237293, 237296, 237299, 237301, 237302, 237303, 237309, 237308, 237305, 237306, 237327, 237307, 237311, 237313, 237316, 237317, 237318, 237319, 237320, 237322, 237321, 237324, 237325, 237326.