Hail in North Dakota, June 13, 2014

Name: Hail in North Dakota, June 13, 2014
Start: 2014-06-13T20:15
End: 2014-06-13T21:38
Location: North Dakota

June 13, 2014 · NWS BIS · 4 events in 1 county or zone

A surface trough of low pressure moved slowly east across western North Dakota and triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in Williams County.

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: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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.

A surface trough of low pressure moved slowly east across western North Dakota and triggered scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in Williams County.

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 13, 5:46 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 13, 5:46 PM CST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
646 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

.UPDATE...
ISSUED AT 635 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

TRIMMED POPS BACK A BIT NORTHWEST WHERE SHORT RANGE DETERMINISTIC
MODELS HAVE BEEN A BIT TOO FAST IN BRINGING IN PRECIPITATION EARLY
THIS EVENING. THREAT FOR SEVERE WEATHER EARLY THIS EVENING
SOUTHWEST.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY)
ISSUED AT 335 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

FORECAST CONCERNS IN THE SHORT TERM REVOLVE AROUND CONVECTION
CHANCES. ALSO STRONG WINDS WITH CURRENT WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT.

REGARDING WIND ADVISORY...NO CHANGES TO CURRENT ADVISORY. WESTERN
COUNTIES DROP OFF AT 4PM. SOUTH CENTRAL WILL REMAIN IN THE
ADVISORY THROUGH 7 PM.

LATEST MESOSCALE MODELS SHOW VARYING SOLUTIONS AS FAR AS
CONVECTION THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. SO WILL UTILIZE A
BROAD BRUSHED APPROACH IN GENERAL AS WE HEAD INTO THE LATE EVENING
AND OVERNIGHT HOURS...BUT HIGHLIGHTING THE BETTER POTENTIAL IN THE
WEST THIS AFTERNOON SPREADING INTO THE CENTRAL...IN ADDITION TO
THE ONGOING ELEVATED CONVECTION OVER THE NORTH CENTRAL INTO THE
JAMES RIVER VALLEY. LATEST HRRR SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON
ONGOING CONVECTION AND ITS LATEST OUTPUT LOOKS REASONABLE WITH TWO
AREAS OF CONVECTION...ONE TRACKING FROM EAST CENTRAL MONTANA INTO
NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...AND ANOTHER AREA OVER SOUTHEAST
MONTANA MOVING INTO THE WESTERN DAKOTAS...ALONG THE ND/SD/BORDER.

CURRENTLY...ATMOSPHERE CONTINUES TO DESTABILIZE OVER EASTERN
MONTANA NEAR THE LOCATION OF A SURFACE TROUGH. MU-CAPES ARE
APPROACHING 2000 J/KG OVER THE MONDAY REGION...WITH INCREASING LOW
AND MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES. CAPPED ATMOSPHERE OVER WESTERN NORTH
DAKOTA BUT NOT FAR INTO MONTANA...THE 18Z RUN OF THE RAP SHOWS THE
CAP BREAKING AROUND 21-22 UTC. CAP THEN BECOMES NEGLIGIBLE OVER
WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA...OPENING THE DOOR TO POSSIBLE CONVECTION.
THE BEST DIRECTIONAL SHEAR LOOKS TO BE OUT AHEAD OF THE MAX
INSOLATION AND INSTABILITY. HOWEVER...WITH SUCH STRONG CAPES THIS
AREA IS BECOMING MORE FAVORABLE FOR SUPERCELL STORMS. THUS AN
ISOLATED TORNADO WOULD BE POSSIBLE. WITH SUCH STRONG DEEP LAYER
SHEAR AND INCREASING HAIL CAPES...THE MAIN THREAT IS EXPECTED TO
BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

CONVECTION EXPECTED TO FIRE FARTHER WEST IN MONTANA/WYOMING MAY
EVENTUALLY EVOLVE INTO AN MCS WHICH MAY TRACK ALONG THE NORTH
DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER. LATER THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT
HOURS.

THE SURFACE LOW MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL DAKOTAS BY SATURDAY MORNING
WITH THUNDERSTORM CHANCES ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA.
HOWEVER...THE BEST CHANCES WILL RESIDE OVER THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY
AND INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA.

.LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY)
ISSUED AT 335 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

THE BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION WILL WANE FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY
NIGHT AS THE SURFACE LOW AND ASSOCIATED INVERTED TROUGH OVER THE
JAMES RIVER VALLEY SHIFTS INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA BY 06Z SUNDAY.
JET SUPPORT WEAKENS AS WELL ALLOWING ANY LINGERING SHOWERS TO END
OVERNIGHT. WILL THEN AWAIT FOR THE MAIN UPPER LOW/COLD POCKET IN
SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN AND MANITOBA ALONG WITH A SURFACE COLD FRONT
TO NOSE INTO NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA SUNDAY. THIS IS WHERE THE
BEST DESTABILIZATION WILL OCCUR. HENCE HIGH CHANCE TO LIKELY SHOWER
MENTION WITH A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSHOWERS EXTENDING FROM NORTH
CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA INTO THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY. PRECIPITATION
CHANCES WILL QUICKLY DECREASE FARTHER WEST AND SOUTH FROM THE ABOVE
MENTIONED AREAS.

WITH THE DEPARTURE OF THE UPPER LOW SUNDAY NIGHT...MORE STABLE
CONDITIONS DEVELOP LEADING TO A DRY NIGHT. THE 12Z GFS 500MB PATTERN
FOR MONDAY AND BEYOND HAS NOW SHIFTED AWAY FROM A DEVELOPING RIDGE
AND IS IN LINE WITH THE ECMWF AND GEM FROM PREVIOUS/CURRENT RUNS. THUS
CONFIDENCE GROWING WITH ADDITIONAL CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS DAILY AND INCREASING THROUGH FRIDAY. A PERSISTENT
SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF ANOTHER SLOW MOVING CLOSED UPPER LOW UNFOLDS
ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN AND INTO THE CENTRAL/NORTHERN PLAINS THROUGH
THE PERIOD.

&&

.AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY EVENING)
ISSUED AT 635 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

HAZARDS TO AVIATION TONIGHT INCLUDE THUNDERSTORMS FOLLOWED BY MVFR
CONDITIONS FROM KBIS-KJMS IN MORE WIDESPREAD SHOWERS EARLY SATURDAY.
SURFACE TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IN EASTERN MONTANA WILL BE THE FOCUS
FOR THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING...IMPACTING KDIK BY 02-04Z. SHOWERS
AND SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SPREADING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST
ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THE NIGHT. MAIN IMPACTS WILL BE
SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH 08Z...THEN MVFR CEILINGS AND RAIN
SHOWERS AFTER 10Z KBIS-KJMS. SOME UNCERTAINTY FOR THUNDERSTORMS
AFTER 10Z...BUT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS KJMS AREA POSSIBLE...BUT DID
NOT INCLUDE AT THIS TIME. WENT NO LOWER THAN MVFR...BUT IFR A
POSSIBILITY KBIS-KJMS IF SHOWERS MORE WIDESPREAD.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT /6 PM MDT/ THIS EVENING FOR
NDZ019>022-034>036-042-045>047-050.

&&

UPDATE...WAA
SHORT TERM...TWH
LONG TERM...TWH
AVIATION...WAA

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 13, 5:54 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
654 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

NDZ004-150000-
BOTTINEAU-
654 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

A RIVER FLOOD WARNING CONTINUES FOR THE SOURIS RIVER NEAR
WESTHOPE.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE THREAT FOR SEVERE
WEATHER WILL BE LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...AND
AGAIN TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

&&

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

NDZ017>020-031>034-040>045-150000-
MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-
SLOPE-HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-
654 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014 /554 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 2014/

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS THIS EVENING WEST...AND AREA
WIDE TONIGHT. SOME STORMS MAY BE SEVERE THIS EVENING SOUTHWEST AND
SOUTH CENTRAL...WITH THE MAIN THREATS LARGE HAIL...STRONG
WINDS...AND HEAVY RAIN.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT.

&&

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

NDZ001-002-009-010-150000-
DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-
654 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. THE THREAT FOR
SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE LOW.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

&&

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

NDZ003-005-011>013-021>023-025-035>037-046>048-050-051-150000-
RENVILLE-ROLETTE-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE-MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER-
BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-EMMONS-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY-
654 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

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

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT. A FEW STORMS MAY BE
SEVERE ACROSS THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY WEST TO THE MISSOURI RIVER
VALLEY...WITH THE MAIN THREATS LARGE HAIL...STRONG WINDS...AND
HEAVY RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TONIGHT.

&&

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

WA

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 13, 5:44 PM CST, 2 hours 31 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
544 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 2014

NDZ043-140045-
BOWMAN-
544 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 2014

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHWEST BOWMAN COUNTY...

AT 542 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 17 MILES WEST OF MUD BUTTES...OR 37 MILES WEST OF
BOWMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  MUD BUTTES...
  RHAME...
  SUNSET BUTTE...

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.

LAT...LON 4620 10405 4628 10393 4623 10364 4606 10366
      4601 10368 4601 10366 4597 10367 4594 10382
      4594 10404 4595 10406 4600 10406
TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 237DEG 27KT 4603 10411

SIMOSKO

Special weather statement, Jun 13, 6:59 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
759 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

NDZ017-140200-
MCKENZIE-
659 PM MDT FRI JUN 13 2014

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM IN SOUTHWEST MCKENZIE COUNTY...

AT 654 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 15 MILES NORTHEAST OF TROTTERS...OR 28 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF SIDNEY...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  THEODORE ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK NORTH...

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.

LAT...LON 4777 10342 4762 10313 4744 10323 4733 10372
      4751 10387
TIME...MOT...LOC 0059Z 245DEG 21KT 4748 10365

SIMOSKO

Special weather statement, Jun 13, 7:46 PM CST, 29 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
846 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

NDZ009-140245-
WILLIAMS-
846 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

...SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...

AT 842 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 12 MILES SOUTH OF DAGMAR...OR 31 MILES NORTHWEST
OF WILLISTON...MOVING EAST AT 10 MPH.

PEA SIZE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  BONETRAIL...
  BLACKTAIL LAKE...

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.

LAT...LON 4844 10405 4857 10406 4862 10389 4852 10364
      4838 10375 4834 10406 4844 10406
TIME...MOT...LOC 0146Z 254DEG 9KT 4841 10416

ABELING

Special weather statement, Jun 13, 8:02 PM CST, 13 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
902 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

NDZ009-017-140300-
MCKENZIE-WILLIAMS-
902 PM CDT FRI JUN 13 2014

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM NORTHEAST OF ALEXANDER...

AT 900 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 11 MILES NORTH OF RAWSON...OR 15 MILES SOUTHEAST
OF WILLISTON...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

PENNY SIZE HAIL...VERY HEAVY RAIN...WILL ACCOMPANY THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
  LEWIS AND CLARK STATE PARK...
  TOBACCO GARDEN BAY RECREATION AREA...
  WHITE TAIL BAY RECREATION AREA...
  CHARLSON...

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.

LAT...LON 4835 10311 4824 10282 4813 10283 4811 10280
      4802 10278 4785 10349 4800 10364
TIME...MOT...LOC 0201Z 237DEG 30KT 4797 10345

SIMOSKO

The radar

The Glasgow radar (KGGW), 200 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Williams

When: June 13, 8:15 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where: Williams County, 6.66 mi NW of Bonetraill
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.490, -103.950

Funnel Cloud, Williams

When: June 13, 9:14 PM CST to 9:17 PM CST
Where: Williams County, 4.37 mi NNW of Epping
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 48.340, -103.380

North Dakota Department of Transportation webcam in Ray showed a funnel cloud west of Ray. There were no reports indicating this funnel cloud reached the surface.

Hail, Williams

When: June 13, 9:30 PM CST to 9:34 PM CST
Where: Williams County, 0.69 mi S of Ray
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 48.340, -103.170

Hail, Williams

When: June 13, 9:33 PM CST to 9:38 PM CST
Where: Williams County, 0.69 mi S of Ray
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 48.340, -103.170

There was minor damage to vehicles along U.S. Highway 2.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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, June 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 526405, 526406, 526407, 526408.