Funnel Cloud, Golden Valley
- When
- June 23, 2:50 PM MST to 2:52 PM MST
- Where
- Golden Valley County, 5.84 mi NNE of Golva
- Reported by
- Emergency Manager
- Coordinates
- 46.810, -103.940
Damaging Winds in North Dakota, June 23, 2015
A passing upper level jet streak combined with modest instability to produce isolated severe weather in southwest North Dakota.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- 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 passing upper level jet streak combined with modest instability to produce isolated severe weather in southwest 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 23, 11:29 AM MST, 3 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 23, 11:29 AM MST, 3 hours 21 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 129 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 .SHORT TERM...(THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 129 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WILL BE CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE PERIOD...SOME MARGINALLY SEVERE SOUTHWEST THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...AND ACROSS WESTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WEDNESDAY. CURRENTLY...ACTIVE WEST-NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WITH A SFC TROUGH STATIONARY ACROSS THE NORTHERN HIGH PLAINS OF MT/WY. UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE IN THE EXIT REGION OF AN UPPER LEVEL JET COUPLED WITH DIURNAL INSTABILITY WILL SEE THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON WEST AND NORTH...THEN SPREADING SLOWLY SOUTHEAST TONIGHT. BEST CHANCE FOR STRONGER STORMS REMAINS ACROSS THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE STATE...MORE SO THE SOUTHWEST WHERE MODELS PORTRAY 800-1200 J/KG OF MUCAPE ALONG WITH 50KTS OF 0-6KM SHEAR. LATEST HRRR ALONG WITH THE 00Z 4KM NSSL WRF INDICATE CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON FROM EASTERN MONTANA INTO SOUTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA. WILL MAINTAIN HIGH CHANCE SCATTERED POPS FOR THIS AREA. FOR WEDNESDAY...FLOW ALOFT AND UPPER DIVERGENCE REMAINS UNCHANGED OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS. SFC TROUGH ADVANCES EAST WED MORNING AND AFTERNOON INTO THE CENTRAL DAKOTAS. DAYTIME INSTABILITY AND BULK SHEAR INDICATE CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS AREA WIDE...MARGINALLY SEVERE OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTY WARNING AREA (ALL OF WEST AND CENTRAL ND). WILL MAINTAIN POSSIBLE SEVERE WORDING IN THE HWO. DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY...OPTED TO NOT INCLUDE IN THE GRIDS AT THIS TIME. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 129 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AS AN UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH CONTINUES ON AN EASTWARD TRACK OUT OF THE STATE. A TRANSITION FROM QUASI ZONAL FLOW ALOFT INTO NORTHWEST FLOW IS EXPECTED THROUGH THURSDAY. THE CURRENT MODEL PACKAGE PROVIDES GOOD AGREEMENT ON NORTH/NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT REMAINING IN PLACE THROUGH THE REST OF THE EXTENDED. SEVERAL EMBEDDED MID-LEVEL SHORTWAVES ARE PROJECTED ACROSS THE AREA...RESULTING IN FREQUENT CHANCES FOR ISOLATED/SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS THOUGH PREDICTABILITY IS LOW. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 129 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 ISOLD/SCT -TSRA POSSIBLE TODAY INTO TONIGHT OVER THE REGION. INITIAL DEVELOPMENT WEST AND NORTH CENTRAL THIS AFTERNOON...THEN EAST INTO THE SOUTH CENTRAL THIS EVENING. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD...WITH A DETERIORATION IN CONDITIONS WITH ANY THUNDERSTORM. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && SHORT TERM...NH LONG TERM...AC AVIATION...NH
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 23, 12:03 PM MST, 2 hours 47 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 203 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 NDZ001-002-009>011-017>021-031>035-040>046-241915- DIVIDE-BURKE-WILLIAMS-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCKENZIE-DUNN-MERCER-OLIVER- MCLEAN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-MORTON-BURLEIGH-SLOPE- HETTINGER-GRANT-BOWMAN-ADAMS-SIOUX-EMMONS- 203 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 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 THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON...SPREADING EAST TONIGHT. SOME STORMS COULD BE STRONG TO SEVERE WITH GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES CONTINUE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. LOWER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED FOR THE END OF THIS WEEK INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY WIND GREATER THAN 40 MPH...HAIL...FLOODING...FUNNEL CLOUDS AND TORNADOES TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 701-250-4224 OR BY POSTING TO THE NWS BISMARCK FACEBOOK OR TWITTER PAGES. NDZ003>005-012-013-022-023-025-036-037-047-048-050-051-241915- RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-MCHENRY-PIERCE-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER- KIDDER-STUTSMAN-LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 203 PM CDT TUE JUN 23 2015 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 THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT. SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED ACROSS THE EAST. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THUNDERSTORM CHANCES CONTINUE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS. LOWER CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED FOR THE END OF THIS WEEK INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jun 23, 1:46 PM MST, 1 hour 4 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 246 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015 NDZ032-033-040-232115- STARK-BILLINGS-SLOPE- 246 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT FAR SOUTHWESTERN STARK... NORTHEASTERN SLOPE AND SOUTHWESTERN BILLINGS COUNTIES... AT 244 PM MDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 15 MILES SOUTH OF MEDORA... OR 16 MILES NORTHWEST OF AMIDON...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WINDS UP TO 40 MPH AND PEA SIZE HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. THIS STORM WILL REMAIN OVER MAINLY RURAL AREAS OF SOUTHWESTERN STARK...SOUTHWESTERN BILLINGS AND NORTHEASTERN SLOPE COUNTIES. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4679 10357 4675 10306 4652 10316 4662 10361 TIME...MOT...LOC 2044Z 283DEG 21KT 4669 10350 HEINERT
Special weather statement, Jun 23, 2:25 PM MST, 25 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
325 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015
NDZ032-033-040-232200-
STARK-BILLINGS-SLOPE-
325 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN STARK...
NORTHEASTERN SLOPE AND SOUTH CENTRAL BILLINGS COUNTIES...
AT 323 PM MDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 13 MILES NORTH OF AMIDON...
MOVING EAST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
BELFIELD.
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND
TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
LAT...LON 4657 10337 4684 10338 4691 10307 4685 10300
4654 10293
TIME...MOT...LOC 2123Z 262DEG 14KT 4668 10328
HEINERTSpecial weather statement, Jun 23, 2:32 PM MST, 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 332 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015 NDZ031-232200- GOLDEN VALLEY- 332 PM MDT TUE JUN 23 2015 ...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL AFFECT SOUTHWESTERN GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY... AT 332 PM MDT...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WAS 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF BEACH...MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH AND HALF INCH HAIL ARE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BEACH...GOLVA AND SENTINEL BUTTE. THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. LAT...LON 4702 10404 4703 10381 4669 10380 4674 10404 TIME...MOT...LOC 2132Z 275DEG 20KT 4686 10414 HEINERT
The radar
The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 242 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:48 UTC.
Event by event
2 funnel cloud, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Slope
- When
- June 23, 3:43 PM MST to 3:45 PM MST
- Where
- Slope County, 10.67 mi WNW of Amidon
- Measured
- 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 46.550, -103.520
Thunderstorm Wind, Slope
- When
- June 23, 3:58 PM MST to 4:00 PM MST
- Where
- Slope County, 1.99 mi NW of Amidon
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 46.500, -103.350
A trained spotter reported strong thunderstorm wind gusts near Amidon.
Funnel Cloud, Hettinger
- When
- June 23, 4:35 PM MST to 4:37 PM MST
- Where
- Hettinger County, 7.13 mi NW of Regent
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
- Coordinates
- 46.490, -102.660
What these are
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- 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
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, June 23, 2015
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, June 23 to 25, 2015
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Maryland, June 23, 2015
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, June 23, 2015
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in New Jersey, June 23, 2015
- Heat in New Jersey, June 23, 2015
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Pennsylvania, June 23, 2015
- Flood in Texas, June 23, 2015
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, June 23, 2015
- Flash Flooding and Flood in Pennsylvania, June 23, 2015
- Hail and Heavy Rain in Nebraska, June 23, 2015
- Damaging Winds in New York, June 23, 2015
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, June 2015
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: 586704, 586705, 586706, 586707.