Hail, McKenzie
- When
- August 15, 12:02 AM MST to 12:08 AM MST
- Where
- McKenzie County, 10.21 mi W of Keene
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.940, -103.170
Hail and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, August 15, 2011
Steep lapse rates and moderate elevated instability developed during the early morning of the 15th north of a surface warm front stretched from northeast Montana through western North Dakota and into South Dakota. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm developed and tracked southeast along this boundary from near McKenzie County to near Bismarck before dissipating.
Where it happened
Every event with a place to put it. 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 7
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 BIS wrote it up.
Steep lapse rates and moderate elevated instability developed during the early morning of the 15th north of a surface warm front stretched from northeast Montana through western North Dakota and into South Dakota. An isolated strong to severe thunderstorm developed and tracked southeast along this boundary from near McKenzie County to near Bismarck before dissipating. Several severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for this storm.
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 Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 14, 11:29 PM MST, 33 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 14, 11:29 PM MST, 33 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 129 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 .UPDATE... ALL GRIDS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY. && .DISCUSSION... THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE THANKS TO FORCING ATTRIBUTED TO A LLJ NOSING INTO SOUTH CENTRAL ND...AND ANOTHER OVER NORTHWEST ND...AROUND/AHEAD OF A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY. SHOULD SEE ACTIVITY START TO WANE BETWEEN NOW AND 12Z AS FORCING WEAKENS. RELATIVELY QUIET MONDAY DAYTIME WITH LINGERING PRECIPITATION POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING EAST...AND REDEVELOPMENT WEST IN THE AFTERNOON. MUCH MORE ACTIVE MONDAY NIGHT WITH THE SFC FRONT PUSHING INTO WESTERN AND EVENTUALLY CENTRAL ND...AND AS THE MAIN SHORT WAVE TROUGH LIFTS INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA. SCALED BACK CONSIDERABLY ON POPS TUESDAY DAYTIME AND EVENING AS STRONG DRY AIR ADVECTION DEVELOPS FROM WEST TO EAST...AND ALL FORCING ASSOCIATED WITH THE S/WV PUSHES OFF TO OUR EAST. && .AVIATION... A WARM FRONT IN EASTERN MONTANA TONIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS EARLY THIS MORNING ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST. WAA ACROSS THE SOUTH CENTRAL WILL MAINTAIN THUNDERSTORMS HERE AS WELL EARLY THIS MORNING. THUNDERSTORMS WILL AGAIN BE THE FOCUS MONDAY MORNING EAST AND MONDAY AFTERNOON WEST. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE/AVIATION...NH
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 14, 2:02 PM MST, 10 hours before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 402 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-152115- DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD- MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS- FOSTER-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER- STUTSMAN-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN- LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 402 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 /302 PM MDT SUN AUG 14 2011/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE EAST ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING. POSSIBLE FLOODING WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACTIVITY. CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT OVER WEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. A FEW STRONGER STORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING. SOME STORMS MAY BE STRONG TO SEVERE DURING THIS PERIOD. STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT AND AGAIN MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. TM
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 7:50 PM MST, 4 hours 12 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 950 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 NDZ034-046-150345- EMMONS-MORTON- 950 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 947 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN MORTON COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...FREQUENT DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... FORT RICE AT 1000 PM CDT RURAL NORTHEAST EMMONS COUNTY AFTER 10 PM. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. ABELING
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 8:58 PM MST, 3 hours 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1058 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 NDZ034-035-046-150500- BURLEIGH-EMMONS-MORTON- 1058 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 1051 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHWESTERN EMMONS COUNTY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HAZELTON... VERY HEAVY RAIN AND SMALL HAIL CAN BE EXPECTED WITHIN THIS STORM. A FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHERN EMMONS COUNTY. TAEGER/HEINERT
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 9:57 PM MST, 2 hours 5 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1157 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 NDZ035-046-150600- BURLEIGH-EMMONS- 1157 PM CDT SUN AUG 14 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 1155 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EXTREME NORTHWESTERN EMMONS COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING AND FREQUENT DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... MOFFIT... STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. TAEGER/HEINERT
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 10:07 PM MST, 1 hour 55 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1207 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 NDZ020-034-035-150600- BURLEIGH-MORTON-OLIVER- 1207 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 1204 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEASTERN OLIVER COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... PRICE BY 1220 AM CDT... DOUBLE DITCH INDIAN VILLAGE BY 1230 AM CDT... BALDWIN BY 1245 AM CDT... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. ABELING
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 10:51 PM MST, 1 hour 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 1251 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 NDZ035-046-150645- BURLEIGH-EMMONS- 1251 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 1250 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWESTERN BURLEIGH COUNTY NEAR BISMARCK TO EXTREME NORTHWESTERN EMMONS COUNTY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 5 MPH. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF MODERATE DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. * THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR... LINCOLN BY 100 AM CDT... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. ABELING
Special weather statement, Aug 14, 11:45 PM MST, 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 145 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 NDZ020-035-150745- BURLEIGH-OLIVER- 145 AM CDT MON AUG 15 2011 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 144 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EXTREME WEST CENTRAL BURLEIGH COUNTY... MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...FREQUENT DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. * THE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... BALDWIN BY 200 AM CDT... REGAN BY 225 AM CDT... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE OBJECTS TO BLOW AROUND. STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. ABELING
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
4 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Dunn
- When
- August 15, 2:20 AM MST to 2:25 AM MST
- Where
- Dunn County, 0.47 mi W of Halliday
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.350, -102.340
Hail, Mercer
- When
- August 15, 3:26 AM CST to 3:31 AM CST
- Where
- Mercer County, 13.33 mi N of Zap
- Measured
- 0.88 in hail
- Reported by
- CoCoRaHS
- Coordinates
- 47.470, -101.870
Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer
- When
- August 15, 3:56 AM CST to 4:02 AM CST
- Where
- Mercer County, 2.72 mi ESE of Hazen
- Measured
- 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- AWOS
- Coordinates
- 47.280, -101.580
Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer
- When
- August 15, 3:56 AM CST to 4:03 AM CST
- Where
- Mercer County, 5.23 mi E of Hazen
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.306, -101.519
Pea size hail accompanied the strong winds.
Hail, Mercer
- When
- August 15, 4:00 AM CST to 4:15 AM CST
- Where
- Mercer County, 1.57 mi WNW of Beulah
- Measured
- 1.25 in hail
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.280, -101.810
Strong winds accompanied the large hail and damaged the farm. The dollar damage estimate was placed with the high thunderstorm wind Storm Data entry.
Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer
- When
- August 15, 4:00 AM CST to 4:15 AM CST
- Where
- Mercer County, 2 mi NW of Beulah
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Reported by
- COOP Observer
- Coordinates
- 47.291, -101.810
Large hail accompanied the strong winds and damaged property on the farm.
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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Flash Flood and Hail in North Dakota, August 15 to 16, 2011
- Wildfire in Texas, August 15, 2011
- Hail in Wyoming, August 15, 2011
- Wildfire in Idaho, August 15 to 18, 2011
- Flash Flooding in North Dakota, August 15, 2011
- Lightning Strike in Delaware, August 15, 2011
- Lightning Strike in Florida, August 15, 2011
- Lightning Strikes in Florida, August 15 to 16, 2011
- Flood in Ohio, August 15, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Montana, August 15, 2011
- Wildfire in Texas, August 15 to 18, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, August 15, 2011
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, August 2011
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: 332581, 332582, 332583, 332584, 332585, 332586, 332587.