A deepening surface low that moved from the Dakotas into Minnesota brought a mix of rain, snow, and gusty winds to many parts of North Dakota. The strongest winds developed over the north central.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A deepening surface low that moved from the Dakotas into Minnesota brought a mix of rain, snow, and gusty winds to many parts of North Dakota. The strongest winds developed over the north central.
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 May 17, 2:32 PM CST, 2 hours 33 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 332 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 SIGNIFICANT STORM IMPACTING NORTH DAKOTA WILL BEGIN TO WANE TONIGHT AND EXIT THE REGION ON MONDAY. AS COLDER AIR WRAPS UP INTO THE SYSTEM SNOW WILL START TO ACCUMULATE ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL...WITH 2 TO NEAR 6 INCHES EXPECTED. STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE NIGHT. WILL KEEP WIND ADVISORY THROUGH 7 PM NORTH CENTRAL THEN TRANSITION TO A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE SNOW AND MENTION THE STRONG WINDS IN THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WILL MAINTAIN WIND ADVISORY THROUGH THE NIGHT SOUTH CENTRAL. THE RAIN WILL SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT. UNTIL THEN THERE IS A FLOOD ADVISORY FOR EAST CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WHERE WIDESPREAD WARM CONVEYER BELT PRECIP HAS BEEN QUASI STATIONARY TODAY. FINALLY...WIDESPREAD FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED ACROSS WEST AND CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA TONIGHT. WILL LET THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY AND ITS SNOW AMOUNTS STAND IN FOR THE FREEZE WARNING NORTH CENTRAL. ACROSS THE WEST AND SOUTH WILL ISSUE A FREEZE WARNING TONIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY. MONDAY WILL BECOME SUNNY WITH DIMINISHING WINDS. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 COOL AND DRY WILL CHARACTERIZE THE LONG TERM. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE DEPARTING WEEKEND STORM MONDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL LEAD TO CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WIND. TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT WILL LIKELY FALL INTO THE MID 20S FOR MOST OF NORTH DAKOTA. A FREEZE WARNING WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH WIDESPREAD FROST. THE REST OF THE WEEK LOOKS DRY WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE REMAINING ENTRENCHED OVER NORTH DAKOTA AND UPPER LEVEL RIDING BUILDING WEST. THIS WILL KEEP MOST OF THE MOISTURE AND STORM TRACKS THIS WEEK SOUTH OF NORTH DAKOTA. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO REBOUND INTO THE 60S BY THURSDAY. THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION ARRIVES THIS WEEKEND AS THE RIDGE BREAKS DOWN AND AN UPPER LEVEL LOW MOVES INTO THE PLAINS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 WIDESPREAD IFR CONDITIONS IN RAIN AND SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. RAIN WILL CONTINUE TO TRANSITION TO SNOW FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST THIS EVENING...EVENTUALLY REACHING KBIS/KJMS AROUND SUNSET. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TOMORROW MORNING FROM WEST TO EAST. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 330 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 HAVE ISSUED AN AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY THROUGH THIS EVENING EAST CENTRAL. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF TWO TO 4 INCHES WITH SOME ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS CAUSING PONDING...AND FLOODED FIELDS. CALLS AND INQUIRIES SO FAR HAVE REVEALED ROADS TO BE OK WITH SOME MINOR FLOODING. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM 1 AM CDT /MIDNIGHT MDT/ TO 10 AM CDT /9 AM MDT/ MONDAY FOR NDZ001-009-017>020-031>037-040>048-050-051. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT /6 AM MDT/ MONDAY FOR NDZ019-020- 034-035-042-045. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR NDZ002>005-010>013-021>023-025. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR NDZ003>005-011>013- 021>023-025. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT MONDAY FOR NDZ036-037-046>048-050- 051. && SHORT TERM...WAA LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...AJ HYDROLOGY...WAA
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND 337 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 NDZ001-009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044-182045- DIVIDE-WILLIAMS-MCKENZIE-DUNN-GOLDEN VALLEY-BILLINGS-STARK-SLOPE- HETTINGER-BOWMAN-ADAMS- 337 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WINDY WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SNOW THIS EVENING. FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED MONDAY MORNING...TUESDAY MORNING...AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ019-020-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-182045- MERCER-OLIVER-MORTON-BURLEIGH-KIDDER-STUTSMAN-GRANT-SIOUX-EMMONS- LOGAN-LA MOURE-MCINTOSH-DICKEY- 337 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WINDY WITH RAIN TODAY...RAIN HEAVY AT TIMES. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT. FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TONIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED MONDAY MORNING...TUESDAY MORNING...AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. NDZ002>005-010>013-021>023-025-182045- BURKE-RENVILLE-BOTTINEAU-ROLETTE-MOUNTRAIL-WARD-MCHENRY-PIERCE- MCLEAN-SHERIDAN-WELLS-FOSTER- 337 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA...NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT VERY WINDY WITH SNOW. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED THIS AFTERNOON AND A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF BETWEEN 2 AND 6 INCHES. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED MONDAY MORNING...TUESDAY MORNING...AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. WAA
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
428 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0427 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 S LINCOLN 46.76N 100.70W
05/17/2015 M4.00 INCH BURLEIGH ND EMERGENCY MNGR
TOTAL RAINFALL SINCE PRECIPITATION BEGAN ON FRIDAY 5
15.
&&
ZHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
500 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0456 PM HEAVY RAIN JAMESTOWN 46.91N 98.71W
05/17/2015 M4.25 INCH STUTSMAN ND PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL THUS FAR. 1.75 MEASURED YESTERDAY AND 2.50
MEASURED TODAY. STILL RAINING. REPORT RELAYED VIA SOCIAL
MEDIA.
&&
ZHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
503 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0501 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 SW BISMARCK 46.79N 100.81W
05/17/2015 M1.75 INCH BURLEIGH ND PUBLIC
2 DAY STORM TOTAL THUS FAR BY RIVERSIDE PARK. RELAYED
VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
ZHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
504 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0504 PM HEAVY RAIN BISMARCK 46.81N 100.78W
05/17/2015 M2.75 INCH BURLEIGH ND PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL THUS FAR. FROM THE SLEEPY HOLLOW AREA IN
BISMARCK...RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
ZHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
508 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0508 PM HEAVY RAIN MENOKEN 46.82N 100.53W
05/17/2015 M1.60 INCH BURLEIGH ND PUBLIC
STORM TOTAL THUS FAR. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
ZHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
511 PM CDT SUN MAY 17 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0509 PM HEAVY RAIN MINOT 48.23N 101.30W
05/17/2015 M1.66 INCH WARD ND PUBLIC
2 DAY STORM TOTAL THUS FAR. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
&&
ZHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Gusts to 71 mph were measured at the Turtle Mountain RAWS near Belcourt.
Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph over northern Pierce County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, May 2015
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: 577565, 577569.