Hail and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, August 20, 2014

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, August 20, 2014
Start: 2014-08-20T14:19
End: 2014-08-20T20:48
Location: North Dakota

August 20, 2014 · NWS BIS · 8 events in 6 counties and zones

Thunderstorms formed mainly to the north of a warm front in a moisture rich atmosphere. Large hail and strong wind gusts were reported, with multiple reports of heavy rain split into two main areas.

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: $32,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 8

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.

Thunderstorms formed mainly to the north of a warm front in a moisture rich atmosphere. Large hail and strong wind gusts were reported, with multiple reports of heavy rain split into two main areas. One area was mainly in south central North Dakota and the second in north 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 Aug 20, 1:46 PM CST, 33 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 1:46 PM CST, 33 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
246 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY)
ISSUED AT 244 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL AND HEAVY RAINFALL WILL HIGHLIGHT
THE SHORT TERM FORECAST.

LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR
SEVERE CONVECTION REMAINS ALONG AND EAST OF THE HIGHWAY 83
CORRIDOR WHERE FILTERED SUNSHINE THROUGH MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUD
COVER HAS ALLOWED FOR TEMPERATURES TO WARM INTO THE LOWER
80S...AMID A MOIST AIRMASS WITH DEW POINTS GENERALLY IN THE UPPER
60S. SOME WEAK ML INHIBITION REMAINS...WHICH LEADS TO UNCERTAINTY
IF THE BOUNDARY LAYER CAN HEAT OUT GIVEN THE AFOREMENTIONED CLOUD
COVER. EFFECTIVE DEEP LAYER SHEAR IS MARGINAL...ON THE ORDER OF
THE 25-30 KTS...SUPPORTING A POSSIBLE SUPERCELL OR TWO IF
INHIBITION CAN BE OVER COME. GREATER CONVECTIVE STRENGTHENING
LOOKS TO BE DELAYED UNTIL 21-00 UTC WITH GREATER LOW LEVEL
CONVERGENCE AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT PROPAGATING THROUGH WESTERN
NORTH DAKOTA. IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS...HEAVY
RAIN WILL ALSO BE A PRIMARY THREAT AS CORFIDI VECTORS REMAIN SLOW
BETWEEN 10 AND 20 KTS...WITH CONTINUED INCREASING LOW LEVEL
MOISTURE TRANSPORT. FINALLY...CONTINGENT UPON SEVERE CONVECTIVE
DEVELOPMENT...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT WITH 0-1 KM
SHEAR OF 15-20 KTS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. STORMS WILL PROPAGATE EAST
THROUGH THE EVENING...WITH THE SEVERE THREAT WANING AFTER SUNSET.
A BRIEF LULL IN PRECIPITATION MAY BE IN STORE FOR MUCH OF WESTERN
AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA ON THURSDAY WITH WEAK SHORTWAVE RIDGING
ALOFT BEFORE THE WET PATTERN IN THE EXTENDED.

.LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY)
ISSUED AT 244 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

ACTIVE SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE
EXTENDED KEEPING PRECIPITATION CHANCES IN THE FORECAST. MAJOR
CONCERN IS GOING INTO THE END OF THE WORK WEEK INTO THE WEEKEND AS
MODELS CONTINUE THEIR CONSISTENCY WITH GENERALLY HIGH QPF...WHICH IF
THIS COMES TO FRUITION MAY RESULT IN SOME HYDRO CONCERNS. NATIONAL
GUIDANCE KEEPS THE HIGHEST QPF VALUES THROUGH THE WEEKEND MAINLY
OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...BUT A SLIGHT SHIFT IN THE MODELS
SOLUTIONS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS COULD BRING THE CONCERNS FURTHER
EAST. WILL HAVE TO WATCH THIS CLOSELY. AS FOR TEMPERATURES...COOLER
AIRMASS WILL START TO SINK IN FRIDAY WITH WELL BELOW AVERAGE
TEMPERATURES EXPECTED BY THE WEEKEND...CONTINUING INTO EARLY NEXT
WEEK.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON)
ISSUED AT 244 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS
AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE EVENING AT ALL TAF SITES AS A COLD FRONT
MOVES ACROSS THE STATE. EMBEDDED MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS ARE
FORECAST. SEE TAFS FOR THUNDERSTORM TIMING AND IMPACTS

&&

.HYDROLOGY...
ISSUED AT 244 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

HYDROLOGIC CONCERNS ARE CENTERED UPON THE STRONG STORM SYSTEM
FORECAST TO IMPACT THE NORTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. WHILE
HEAVY RAINFALL IS CERTAIN...ITS EXACT PLACEMENT WILL REMAIN A BIT
UNCERTAIN OVER THE NEXT 24 TO 36 HOURS AS THE MODEL TRACKS
CONTINUE TO WOBBLE A BIT. GIVEN UNCERTAINTY...WILL HOLD OFF ON A
WATCH FOR NOW AND HIGHLIGHT THE POTENTIAL CONCERNS IN THE HWO AND
ISSUE AN SPS.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...AYD
LONG TERM...JJS
AVIATION...AYD
HYDROLOGY...AYD

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 12:09 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
109 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

NDZ004-211815-
BOTTINEAU-
109 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOURIS RIVER NEAR
WESTHOPE. SEE THE RIVERS AND LAKES TAB AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR
DETAILS.

PERIODS OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. SMALL STREAMS AND COULEES MAY FLOOD DUE TO EXCESSIVE
RUNOFF. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

REPORT NEW FLOODING TO NWS BISMARCK AT 701-223-4582...OR VIA
SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/BIS.

NDZ003-005-011>013-019>023-025-032-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-
211815-
RENVILLE-ROLETTE-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-
SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-BILLINGS-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-
GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
109 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014 /1209 PM MDT WED AUG 20 2014/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN. SMALL STREAMS AND COULEES MAY
FLOOD DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUNOFF. A FEW STORMS MAY BE SEVERE WITH
LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

REPORT NEW FLOODING TO NWS BISMARCK AT 701-223-4582...OR VIA
SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/BIS.

NDZ001-002-009-010-017-018-031-033-040-041-043-044-211815-
DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-STARK-
SLOPE-HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS-
109 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014 /1209 PM MDT WED AUG 20 2014/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE THIS
AFTERNOON...AND DECREASE THROUGH THE EVENING. THE THREAT OF SEVERE
WEATHER WILL BE LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.

THERE WILL BE A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

REPORT NEW FLOODING TO NWS BISMARCK AT 701-223-4582...OR VIA
SOCIAL MEDIA.

&&

MORE INFORMATION...ALONG WITH OTHER WEATHER...HYDROLOGICAL AND
CLIMATE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND...AT WEATHER.GOV/BIS.

AYD

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 20, 1:28 PM CST, 51 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
228 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

NDZ005-202015-
ROLETTE ND-
228 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER ROLETTE COUNTY...

AT 224 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 26 MILES EAST OF BOTTINEAU...MOVING NORTHEAST AT
15 MPH. ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS ALSO CONTINUE BETWEEN ROLLETTE AND
ST JOHN.

HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF PENNIES AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THESE STORMS...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORMS INCLUDE...
  SHELL VALLEY...
  BELCOURT...
  ROLLA...
  ST. JOHN...

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

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.

SCHILD

Special weather statement, Aug 20, 2:17 PM CST, 2 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
ISSUED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
317 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014

NDZ001>005-009>013-017>022-031>035-040>046-210200-
DIVIDE-BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-
MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-
GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-SLOPE-HETTINGER-
GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...CROSBY...BOWBELLS...MOHALL...
BOTTINEAU...ROLLA...WILLISTON...NEW TOWN...MINOT...TOWNER...
RUGBY...WATFORD CITY...KILLDEER...BEULAH...HAZEN...CENTER...
GARRISON...MCCLUSKY...BEACH...MEDORA...DICKINSON...MANDAN...
BISMARCK...MARMARTH...MOTT...ELGIN...BOWMAN...HETTINGER...
FORT YATES...LINTON
317 PM CDT WED AUG 20 2014 /217 PM MDT WED AUG 20 2014/

...MULTIPLE ROUNDS FOR HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE THROUGH THE WEEKEND...

MULTIPLE WAVES OF RAIN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH POTENTIALLY
HEAVY RAINFALL ARE EXPECTED BEGINNING THIS AFTERNOON...AND
CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY. OF MOST CONCERN IS A SIGNIFICANT STORM
SYSTEM THAT MAY IMPACT THE NORTHERN PLAINS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
UNCERTAINTY IN THE EXACT TRACK AND PLACEMENT OF HEAVY RAINFALL
REMAINS WITH THIS SYSTEM. THOSE LOCATIONS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY
MULTIPLE ROUNDS OF HEAVY RAIN MAY BE AT RISK FOR RIVER AND
OVERLAND FLOODING. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR PORTIONS OF THE
AREA THAT HAVE ALREADY SEEN HEAVY RAIN OVER THE PAST WEEK. VISIT
WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BIS FOR THE LATEST FORECAST UPDATES.

AYD

The radar

The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

5 hail, 3 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Rolette

When: August 20, 2:19 PM CST to 2:20 PM CST
Where: Rolette County, 3.72 mi NNE of Thorne
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.780, -99.890

Hail, Stark

When: August 20, 1:46 PM MST to 1:47 PM MST
Where: Stark County, 5.55 mi S of (Dik)dickinson Muni
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.720, -102.790

Thunderstorm Wind, Stark

When: August 20, 2:32 PM MST to 2:35 PM MST
Where: Stark County, 0.47 mi E of Lefor
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.680, -102.540

A shed was destroyed and trees were damaged.

Hail, Morton

When: August 20, 4:55 PM CST to 4:57 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 4.93 mi S of Hebron
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.830, -102.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: August 20, 5:00 PM CST to 5:04 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 5.53 mi S of Glen Ullin
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.740, -101.830

A driver going north on North Dakota Highway 49 was having trouble staying on the road. Visibility was reduced to near zero in torrential rain.

Hail, Burleigh

When: August 20, 6:00 PM CST to 6:02 PM CST
Where: Burleigh County, 5.55 mi S of Baldwin
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 46.950, -100.780

Hail, Ward

When: August 20, 6:15 PM CST to 6:17 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 3.45 mi N of Sawyer
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 48.130, -101.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Emmons

When: August 20, 8:45 PM CST to 8:48 PM CST
Where: Emmons County, 8.12 mi E of Linton
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 46.270, -100.060

Small tree branches were broken and yard furniture was damaged.

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

Every storm in North Dakota in 2014 Every state in 2014 This day in weather history Warnings in North Dakota, August 2014

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: 537709, 537710, 537714, 537711, 537715, 537712, 537713, 537716.