Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 515 was in effect during this event. A weakening capping inversion north of a surface cold front combined with moderately unstable air and 50 knots of deep layer shear and led to severe thunderstorm development across southwest North Dakota during the evening hours.
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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 BIS wrote it up.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 515 was in effect during this event.
A weakening capping inversion north of a surface cold front combined with moderately unstable air and 50 knots of deep layer shear and led to severe thunderstorm development across southwest North Dakota during the evening hours. Several reports of large hail and severe thunderstorm winds were received.
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 Jul 24, 4:07 PM MST, 2 hours 17 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 607 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 .DISCUSSION...CONTINUING TO WATCH THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING. JUST TALKED TO SPC ABOUT THE RECENT MESOSCALE DISCUSSION. OUR INPUT IN THE OFFICE IS THAT WE THINK THERE IS A THREAT FURTHER EAST AS WELL THIS EVENING...IN ADDITION TO WHERE THE PROPOSED MCD IS. SPC WANTS TO REVIEW THE 00Z SOUNDINGS AND WILL THEN ISSUE THEIR PROPOSED WATCH AREA. && .AVIATION...A SURFACE COOL FRONT COMBINED WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL SPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FROM WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING. A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND PERSIST THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY. WILL LIKELY SEE SUB VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS WITH ANY STORMS THAT MOVE OVER TAF SITES. WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND CONTINUE WITH VICINITY THUNDER FOR NOW AND AMEND AS NEEDED. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TO 8 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR NDZ031-032- 040-043. && SHORT TERM...KS AVIATION...KS/NH
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 626 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ001>005-009>013-017>023-025-033>037-041-042-044>048-050-051- 252330- DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD- MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS- FOSTER-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-HETTINGER-GRANT- ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 626 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 /526 PM MDT TUE JUL 24 2012/ 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 THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT. THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL THE PRIMARY THREATS...WITH AN ISOLATED TORNADO POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO LIKELY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY LATE THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. PLEASE CALL THE BISMARCK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 1-800-247-0212 TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER. NDZ031-032-040-043-252330- GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-SLOPE-BOWMAN- 526 PM MDT TUE JUL 24 2012 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT THERE IS A THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT. LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL THE PRIMARY THREATS...WITH AN ISOLATED TORNADO POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY A RED FLAG WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY EVENING. MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES BETWEEN 20 AND 30 PERCENT ALONG WITH GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS OF 20 TO 30 MPH IN COMBINATION WITH DRY FUELS WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE WEATHER GROWTH. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PORTIONS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. PLEASE CALL THE BISMARCK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 1-800-247-0212 TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER. KS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 301 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ001-009-017-242100-CORRECTION DIVIDE-MCKENZIE-WILLIAMS- 301 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...DEVELOPING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER EASTERN MONTANA HEADING EAST... AT 254 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 26 MILES NORTHWEST OF CROSBY TO 69 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WILLISTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH. SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WINDS...CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... HANKS... BONETRAIL... AMBROSE... FORT UNION TRADING POST... FORT UNION... ZAHL... FORT BUFORD STATE HISTORICAL SITE... EAST FAIRVIEW... BLACKTAIL LAKE... APPAM... TRENTON... CARTWRIGHT... CROSBY... ALAMO... SATHER DAM... THESE STORMS MAY INTENSIFY AS THE MOVE EAST INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA. BE SURE TO MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATED INFORMATION...INCLUDING FOR POSSIBLE WATCHES AND WARNINGS. HEINERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 345 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ001-009-017-242145- DIVIDE-MCKENZIE-WILLIAMS- 345 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT... AT 342 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 11 MILES WEST OF CROSBY TO 64 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WILLISTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 40 MPH...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE POSSIBLE WITH THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... FORT BUFORD STATE HISTORICAL SITE... EAST FAIRVIEW... BLACKTAIL LAKE... CARTWRIGHT... APPAM... TRENTON... CROSBY... ALAMO... WILLISTON... SKAAR... CHARBONNEAU... CORINTH... SATHER DAM... ALEXANDER... SPRING BROOK... 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. HEINERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 425 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ009-017-242230- MCKENZIE-WILLIAMS- 425 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM APPROACHING WILLISTON... AT 419 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WILLISTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND FREQUENT DOWNPOURS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... WILLISTON... SPRING BROOK... LEWIS AND CLARK STATE PARK... EPPING... TOBACCO GARDEN BAY RECREATION AREA... WHITE TAIL BAY RECREATION AREA... WHEELOCK... RAY... 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. HEINERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 429 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ001-002-242230- BURKE-DIVIDE- 429 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING INTO EASTERN DIVIDE AND WESTERN BURKE COUNTIES... AT 423 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CROSBY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS GREATER THAN 30 MPH...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... NOONAN... LARSON... COLUMBUS... LIGNITE... NORTH PORTAL... PORTAL... FLAXTON... 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. HEINERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 525 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ009-010-017-242330- MCKENZIE-MOUNTRAIL-WILLIAMS- 525 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING EAST ALONG THE MISSOURI RIVER... AT 518 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WILLISTON...MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... TOBACCO GARDEN BAY RECREATION AREA... WHITE TAIL BAY RECREATION AREA... CHARLSON... WHITE EARTH BAY RECREATION AREA... STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. HEINERT
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 534 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 NDZ002-242330- BURKE- 534 PM CDT TUE JUL 24 2012 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING EAST ACROSS LIGNITE... AT 530 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL BURKE COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH. PEA SIZE HAIL...CONTINUOUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...AND BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... FLAXTON... NORTHGATE... LIGNITE... PORTAL... STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. HEINERT
The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 151 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:24 UTC.
5 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The hail combined with strong winds resulted in damage to area crops.
The strong winds combined with large hail resulted in damage to area crops.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, July 2012
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: 390699, 390700, 390702, 390703, 390704, 390706.