Lead shortwave impulses ejecting across the Northern Plains from a northern Rocky Mountain trough triggered strong to severe convection from eastern Montana into parts of North Dakota during the late afternoon and early evening. The strongest storms occurred along a west to east orientated surface boundary over northwest and north central North Dakota where they produced severe thunderstorm wind…
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 BIS wrote it up.
Lead shortwave impulses ejecting across the Northern Plains from a northern Rocky Mountain trough triggered strong to severe convection from eastern Montana into parts of North Dakota during the late afternoon and early evening. The strongest storms occurred along a west to east orientated surface boundary over northwest and north central North Dakota where they produced severe thunderstorm 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 Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 5, 1:52 PM CST, 1 hour 43 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 252 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 251 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERN THROUGH THE SHORT TERM PERIOD IS THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE AND POTENTIAL FOR SOME SEVERE WEATHER. STRONG STORMS...A FEW LIKELY PRODUCING SOME SMALL HAIL...HAVE MOVED INTO FAR NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA ON THE NOSE OF A H5 SHORT WAVE AND IN THE VICINITY OF A SURFACE TROUGH. THIS AREA WILL LIKELY HAVE THE BIGGEST THREAT FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS...WITH THE BIGGEST THREATS LARGE HAIL AND A FEW GUSTS AROUND 60 MPH. WILL ALSO BE WATCHING FOR A POSSIBLE ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADO IN BACKED LOW LEVEL FLOW NEAR A BOUNDARY IN THE NORTHWEST. LATER TONIGHT...SEVERE POTENTIAL SHOULD WANE AS STORMS SPREAD EASTWARD INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. THE SURFACE TROUGH WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE HEART OF THE FORECAST AREA BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. AREA SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 200 AND EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER HAVE BEEN OUTLOOKED IN THE SPC DAY 2 SLIGHT RISK. HIGHER INSTABILITY...PWAT AOA 1.5 INCHES...ALONG WITH DEEP LAYER SHEAR AROUND 40 KTS INDICATE POTENTIAL FOR MORE WIDESPREAD SEVERE WEATHER. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 251 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST IS A CONTINUATION OF THE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN FROM THE SHORT TERM THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF THUNDERSTORMS...SOME POSSIBLY SEVERE. THE 12 UTC GUIDANCE SUITE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON QUASI-ZONAL FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH A POTENTIAL RE-AMPLIFICATION OF THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST RIDGE POSSIBLY PROPAPAGATING INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THIS SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN THROUGH TUESDAY. AT THIS TIME...MOST OF SUNDAY APPEARS TO BE DRY IN THE WAKE OF OVERNIGHT CONVECTION WITH SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...WITH POTENTIALLY LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT CONVECTION WITH WEAK IMPULSES ALOFT AND THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF THE JET. GREATER CHANCES FOR CONVECTION...POSSIBLY SEVERE...LOOKS TO BE MONDAY AFTERNOON INTO TUESDAY MORNING AS A MORE SIGNIFICANT SHORTWAVE PROPAGATES ACROSS THE REGION...WITH A POTENTIAL MCS APPARENT ON THE 12 UTC GFS/ECMWF/GEM. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z SATURDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 251 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 MODEL CONSENSUS PROVIDED ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO TAKE A STAB AT MORE SPECIFIC TIMING FOR SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. EXPECTING HIGHEST COVERAGE OF STORMS AT KISN/KDIK THROUGH THE EVENING...WITH THE FOCUS THEN SHIFTING TO KMOT/KBIS OVERNIGHT. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...RP KINNEY LONG TERM...AYD
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 240 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ004-012-061945- BOTTINEAU-MCHENRY- 240 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TONIGHT. A FEW COULD PRODUCE SOME SMALL HAIL...BUT NO SEVERE STORMS ARE EXPECTED. RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT ACROSS PARTS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. FOR DETAILS GO TO WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS. CLICK ON THE RIVERS AND LAKES TAB NEAR THE TOP OF THE MAIN PAGE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EXPECT PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AND MONDAY ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY MONDAY EVENING AND NIGHT. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES INTO TUESDAY. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH SATURDAY. NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-061945- DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY- BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS- 240 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 /140 PM MDT FRI JUL 5 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. A FEW STORMS COULD BE SEVERE THROUGH THIS EVENING...WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EXPECT PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AND MONDAY ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY MONDAY EVENING AND NIGHT. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES INTO TUESDAY. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. NDZ003-005-011-013-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-061945- RENVILLE-ROLETTE-WARD-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS- FOSTER-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN- LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 240 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 /140 PM MDT FRI JUL 5 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT EXPECT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS LOW. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY EXPECT SCATTERED TO WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING HOURS. SOME SEVERE STORMS ARE POSSIBLE...MAINLY EAST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER AND SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 200. THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AND MONDAY ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...WITH THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY MONDAY EVENING AND NIGHT. THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES INTO TUESDAY. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RP KINNEY/AYD
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 219 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ001-009-010-052015- DIVIDE-MOUNTRAIL-WILLIAMS- 219 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING NORTHWEST... AT 218 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF RAPIDLY DEVELOPING THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM AMBROSE TO HANKS...AND MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...ARE POSSIBLE ACCOMPANY THESE STORMS. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE... CROSBY... BLACKTAIL LAKE... ZAHL... APPAM... ALAMO... CORINTH... NOONAN... WILDROSE... HAMLET... MCGREGOR... RAY... TIOGA... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL CAN LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THESE STORMS HAVE PASSED. KINNEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 316 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ001-009-052115- DIVIDE-WILLIAMS- 316 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 ...STRONG STORM NEAR WILLIAMS/DIVIDE COUNTY LINE... AT 310 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR APPAM...OR 26 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CROSBY... MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR PONDING WATER ON HIGHWAY 85 NEAR APPAM...AND LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... APPAM... ALAMO... CORINTH... WILDROSE... HAMLET... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. KINNEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 330 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ001-002-009-052130- BURKE-DIVIDE-WILLIAMS- 330 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE NORTHWEST... AT 324 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTH OF HAMLET...OR 17 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CROSBY...MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH. NICKEL SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL LIKELY PRODUCE 1 TO 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN A SHORT TIME...WHICH WILL CAUSE PONDING WATER ON ROADS AND STREET FLOODING. DO NOT DRIVE INTO WATER OF ANY DEPTH. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF NORTHEASTERN WILLIAMS...SOUTHEASTERN DIVIDE AND WESTERN BURKE COUNTIES. GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. VERY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. KINNEY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 415 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ009-052200- WILLIAMS- 415 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS WILLIAMS COUNTY... AT 406 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ALAMO...OR 24 MILES NORTHEAST OF WILLISTON...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. MOTORISTS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR PONDING WATER ON COUNTY ROAD 42 SOUTH OF CORINTH...AND LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING. PEA SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... WHEELOCK... RAY... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL CAN LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. TM
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 429 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 NDZ002-010-052215- BURKE-MOUNTRAIL- 429 PM CDT FRI JUL 5 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM HEADING TOWARDS POWERS LAKE... AT 421 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BATTLEVIEW...OR 31 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CROSBY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH. BOATERS ON POWERS LAKE OR SURROUNDING LAKES SHOULD SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOR IMMEDIATELY...UNTIL THIS STORM PASSES. ONE HALF INCH DIAMETER HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... POWERS LAKE... LOSTWOOD... GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL OBJECTS SUCH AS TRASH BINS TO BLOW AROUND. HEAVY RAINFALL CAN LEAD TO FLOODING OF LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND UNDERPASSES. SEEK SHELTER IN A STURDY STRUCTURE UNTIL THIS STORM HAS PASSED. TM
The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 139 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:33 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
A camper was blown over four miles west of Powers Lake on Highway 50.
Very heavy rain accompanied the strong winds.
Winds were estimated at over 60 miles per hour.
Very heavy rain accompanied the strong winds.
Very heavy rain accompanied the strong winds.
Tree branches three inches in diameter were blown down in New Town.
Severe thunderstorm winds were reported in the city Minot.
Heavy rainfall of 1.25 inches fell in 25 minutes in Sawyer.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, July 2013
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: 459244, 459245, 459246, 459247, 459248, 459249, 459250, 459251, 459252.