Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, June 20, 2013

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in North Dakota, June 20, 2013
Start: 2013-06-20T16:23
End: 2013-06-20T22:00
Location: North Dakota

June 20, 2013 · NWS BIS · 15 events in 4 counties and zones

Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 331 was in effect during this event. A surface warm front extending from central South Dakota into the central Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota was the focus for scattered severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 20th.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $359,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Events: 15

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.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 331 was in effect during this event.

A surface warm front extending from central South Dakota into the central Red River Valley of eastern North Dakota was the focus for scattered severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 20th. Large hail and heavy rain accompanied the severe thunderstorms over south central North Dakota.

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 Jun 20, 2:07 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 2:07 PM CST, 2 hours 16 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
307 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

MAIN FOCUS IS SEVERAL SEVERE THREAT AND FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL THIS
EVENING. THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN REGENERATING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA. MOIST ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT GOING
JAMES RIVER VALLEY.

.LONG TERM...(FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY)
ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

LONG TERM...FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...

A SLOW MOVING UPPER LEVEL LOW AND TROUGH ENTRENCHED OVER
ALBERTA/SASKATCHEWAN AND INTO THE INTER-MOUNTAIN WEST WILL GRADUALLY
ROTATE THROUGH THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS BY LATE SUNDAY INTO EARLY
MONDAY. THE END RESULT IS FOR A CONTINUED SOUTHWEST FLOW WITH
MULTIPLE SHORTWAVES MEANDERING THROUGH WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA PROMOTING ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. SEVERE
WEATHER POTENTIAL SATURDAY APPEARS TO BE MOST CONCENTRATED OVER
SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. THE
SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL TRANSITION TO A SOMEWHAT DRIER WESTERLY FLOW
SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY BEFORE ADDITIONAL SHORTWAVES ARRIVE FOR
MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. THE GFS AND ECMWF AGREE THAT A
FOUR CORNERS RIDGE WILL BEGIN TO GROW BY MID WEEK AND EXPAND NORTH
BY THE END OF THE WEE. THAT WOULD RESULT IN NORTH DAKOTA
TRANSITIONING TO A NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT...JUST WEST OF THE RIDGE
AXIS. THERE COULD BE SOME SHORTWAVES/RIDGE TOPPERS RIDING INTO NORTH
DAKOTAS FOR A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS...BUT WILL NEED TO SEE THE
PROXIMITY OF THE RIDGE TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

THE MAIN HAZARD TO AVIATION WILL BE THUNDERSTORMS GENERALLY EAST
OF A LINE FROM KMOT-KBIS. AT 3 PM CDT...A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY
EXTENDED FROM NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA INTO CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA.
THIS FRONT WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON
AND EVENING.

AREAS OF MVFR CONDITIONS WILL BECOME VFR FROM KISN-KMOT-BIS-KDIK BY
22Z-00Z THURSDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE DEVELOPING ACROSS
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...IMPACTING KJMS THROUGH 03Z THURSDAY
EVENING.

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
ISSUED AT 258 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

FLOOD WARNINGS CONTINUE AND HAVE BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH FRIDAY
ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS
IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY FOR KIDDER...WELLS...DICKEY...FOSTER...LA
MOURE...LOGAN...MCINTOSH AND STUTSMAN COUNTIES. MULTIPLE PERIODS
OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT THE SOUTH CENTRAL...THE FIST THURSDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THEN AGAIN FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...AND
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR NDZ023-025-036-037-
047-048-050-051.

&&

SHORT TERM...WAA
LONG TERM...KS
AVIATION...WAA
HYDROLOGY...WAA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 20, 2:39 PM CST, 1 hour 44 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
339 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ004-011-012-212045-
BOTTINEAU-WARD-MCHENRY-
339 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS
AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE...WITH THE
MAIN THREATS BEING LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FLASH
FLOODING.

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...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY AND
POSSIBLY INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. MAIN THREATS THROUGH SATURDAY
WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
CAUSING FLASH FLOODING. SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF NORTH DAKOTA ARE
FAVORED FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NDZ001>003-005-009-010-013-017>022-031>035-040>046-212045-
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-
DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-
MORTON-BURLEIGH-SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-
339 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013 /239 PM MDT THU JUN 20 2013/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH
DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER PORTIONS WEST AND
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME SEVERE
WEATHER IS POSSIBLE...WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY AND
POSSIBLY INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. MAIN THREATS THROUGH SATURDAY
WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
CAUSING FLASH FLOODING. SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF NORTH DAKOTA ARE
FAVORED FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

NDZ023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051-212045-
WELLS-FOSTER-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
339 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. SOME
SEVERE WEATHER IS POSSIBLE...WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING LARGE
HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND FLASH FLOODING.

AREA FLOOD WARNINGS ARE IN EFFECT FOR AREAS ALONG AND NEAR THE
JAMES RIVER BASIN THROUGH FRIDAY. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT
THROUGH SUNDAY. MULTIPLE PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE
THE CHANCE FOR FLASH FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY

PERIODS OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY AND
POSSIBLY INTO THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. MAIN THREATS THROUGH SATURDAY
WILL BE LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING WINDS...AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL
CAUSING FLASH FLOODING. SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF NORTH DAKOTA ARE
FAVORED FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

WAA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 10:38 AM CST, 5 hours 45 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1138 AM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ012-013-201730-
MCHENRY ND-PIERCE ND-
1138 AM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR PIERCE AND EASTERN MCHENRY COUNTIES
UNTIL 1230 PM CDT...

AT 1135 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 27 MILES SOUTH OF
BOTTINEAU TO 33 MILES NORTHWEST OF MADDOCK TO 33 MILES WEST OF
MADDOCK...AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES IS EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG
WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THESE STORMS INCLUDE...
  BARTON...
  BALTA...
  RUGBY...
  SILVA...
  WOLFORD...

IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.

TORRENTIAL RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED ROADWAY.

HAMILTON/HUBER

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 11:14 AM CST, 5 hours 9 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
1214 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ013-201815-
PIERCE-
1214 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 1212 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTH CENTRAL PIERCE COUNTY...MOVING EAST AT
30 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY
RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
    RURAL PIERCE COUNTY AT 1230 PM CDT

STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. 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.

TARDIF-HUBER/HAMILTON

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 1:46 PM CST, 2 hours 37 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
246 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ025-202045-
FOSTER-
246 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 244 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST CENTRAL FOSTER COUNTY...MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 40 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL
ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  MCHENRY...

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.

SIMOSKO

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 3:19 PM CST, 1 hour 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
419 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ046-047-202200-
EMMONS-LOGAN-
419 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 414 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER EAST CENTRAL EMMONS COUNTY...NORTHEAST OF
LINTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...WINDS UP TO 50 MPH...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL
ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  KINTYRE...            NAPOLEON...

GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE SMALL BRANCHES TO BE BLOWN DOWN...AND LOOSE
OBJECTS 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.

SIMOSKO

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 4:22 PM CST, 1 minute before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
522 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

NDZ037-202300-
STUTSMAN-
522 PM CDT THU JUN 20 2013

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 517 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM FROM JUST NORTH OF JAMESTOWN TO SPIRITWOOD
LAKE...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 15 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING...VERY HEAVY
RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  NORTH JAMESTOWN...
  SPIRITWOOD LAKE...

STAY AWAY FROM HIGH OBJECTS OUTDOORS SUCH AS TREES. 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.

TARDIF-HUBER

The radar

The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

13 hail, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 4:23 PM CST to 4:28 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 8.98 mi S of Kintyre
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.420, -99.950

Hail, Burleigh

When: June 20, 4:45 PM CST to 4:50 PM CST
Where: Burleigh County, 2.01 mi WNW of Driscoll
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.860, -100.170

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 3.11 mi SSW of Kintyre
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.510, -99.980

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 5:02 PM CST to 5:10 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 5.39 mi SSW of Braddock
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.500, -100.130

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 5:35 PM CST to 5:45 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, Linton
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.270, -100.230

Hail ranged from nickel to golf ball sized.

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 5:45 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 0.84 mi SW of Braddock
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.560, -100.090

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 5:55 PM CST to 6:10 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, Linton
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: $50,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.270, -100.230

The large hail caused home, car, and tree damage in the city of Linton, and crop damage outside of town.

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 6:28 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 6.21 mi E of Linton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.270, -100.100

Flash Flood, Emmons

When: June 20, 7:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 3.8 mi SSE of Temvik to 5.73 mi S of Kintyre
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.324, -100.207

Deep water was flowing over highway 34 about 11 miles east of Hazelton, and county roads in this area were under deep water. There were rain reports of nearly three inches.

Flash Flood, Logan

When: June 20, 7:00 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Logan County, 4.16 mi NW of Napoleon to 3.8 mi WNW of Napoleon
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $9,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.543, -99.832

Deep water and debris was flowing fast over Highway 34 west of Napoleon in Logan County. Rain reports of up to three inches were received from adjacent areas of Emmons County.

Hail, Emmons

When: June 20, 7:30 PM CST to 7:35 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 0.48 mi E of Strasburg
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.130, -100.160

Hail, Logan

When: June 20, 7:55 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
Where: Logan County, 12.44 mi N of Lehr
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.460, -99.350

Hail, McIntosh

When: June 20, 8:00 PM CST to 8:08 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 6.56 mi WSW of Danzig
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.100, -99.600

Hail, McIntosh

When: June 20, 8:20 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, Ashley
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 46.030, -99.370

Hail, McIntosh

When: June 20, 8:20 PM CST to 8:35 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, 7.32 mi NE of Ashley
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 46.110, -99.270

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, June 2013

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: 457410, 457411, 457412, 457413, 457414, 457415, 457416, 457429, 457421, 457428, 457430, 457431, 457432, 457433, 457434.