The winter snow melted first across portions of Grant, Wilkin, and Clay counties. Visible satellite imagery confirmed this fact, showing a distinct snow free north to south band that extended roughly 20 or so miles east of the Red River in these three counties.
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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 FGF wrote it up.
The winter snow melted first across portions of Grant, Wilkin, and Clay counties. Visible satellite imagery confirmed this fact, showing a distinct snow free north to south band that extended roughly 20 or so miles east of the Red River in these three counties. In Fargo, the snow depth fell to zero on April 6th. However, a blizzard from April 10th to 12th brought more snow to the area. This snow finally melted by April 16th. As the snow melted, it flooded low lying areas and roads. Numerous sections of land pooled with water from the snow melt. Conditions were particularly bad from Campbell to Sabin, where drone footage showed many sections of land under water. Norman County was also hit hard. Highway 75 was closed due to high water south of Halstad. High resolution satellite imagery, drone footage, and vehicle reconnaissance showed numerous flooded sections of land over central and western Norman County. In Moorhead, the 12th avenue north and north Broadway bridges were closed due to high water in the Red River.
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 Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 31, 11:58 PM CST, 2 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 1258 AM CDT Mon Apr 1 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 1243 AM CDT Mon Apr 1 2019 High clouds observed on satellite moving over the region as well as upstream from the west will slow temperatures from decreasing overnight tonight. Additional low-mid clouds associated with Sunday's exiting clipper will linger in the central and southern Valley. Because of this, have increased low temps a bit. This may also slow the development of fog. Still expecting fog to develop with surface high to settle in over the area utilizing near surface available moisture from snowmelt and today's melted snowfall. Some sites are beginning to detect some reduction of visibility in the northern and central Valley. Fog is forecast to linger mid morning. UPDATE Issued at 953 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 Light snow has ended, with an isolated flurry still possible in northwest Minnesota. Fog is expected to develop overnight as temperatures fall leaving the boundary layer saturated. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Monday night) Issued at 308 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 Weather impacts in the short term remain minor with the slow snowmelt continuing and little to no measurable precipitation. Weakening clipper system to slowly end light snow across the area late this afternoon and into the evening as lift weakens. In its wake a relatively saturated blyr persists aiding the development of fog tonight anywhere skies can clear as winds will be light. Lows will depend on clouds and fog development, ranging in the low to mid 20s to upper teens in the cooler spots of NW MN. Tomorrow westerly winds will help temps rise to near 40F for highs, cooler over deeper snowpack and warmer where little snow remains. WEsterly winds stay up Monday night ahead of the next clipper with lows in the mid and upper 20s expected. .LONG TERM...(Tuesday through Sunday) Issued at 308 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 Northwest flow aloft continues with a few troughs moving through this flow during the week. A cold front scheduled to pass through the region early Tue should have gusty NW winds toward 30 mph in its wake, accompanied by some rain and snow shower activity, the pcpn type largely driven by time of day. Most of this activity should be restricted to the MN side by late aftn. Looking for minimum impacts with this feature, the prime result being a lowering of temps a bit for mid week. Highs in the 30s Wed in the wake of the front as surface high pressure settles overhead. Then more zonal flow later in the week will boost the mercury back up into the 40s. Warm air advection scheme later in the week is more defined by the GFS than the ECMWF, with pcpn type likely to favor rain around about Thu. After that, the next chance for pcpn should arrive next weekend, with pronounced warm air advection yielding 850 mb temps in the 5 to 10C range and a swath of rain from later Sat into Sun. Should be looking at readings in the 50s by then. The warmer temps and rain potential will be a factor in river and overland flooding, which will be continually monitored throughout the upcoming week. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Monday night) Issued at 1243 AM CDT Mon Apr 1 2019 Most sites starting off VFR with a CIG around 5 kft. CIGs expected to drop along with the development of fog within the Red River Valley into Minnesota. Should fog develop over TAF sites, IFR conditions can be expected from around 08 Z - 15 Z, although confidence in exact timing is moderate. After fog diminishes by late morning, VFR conditions prevail through the rest of the day with areas of high clouds and a southwest winds of around 10-15 kt during the afternoon. && .HYDROLOGY... Issued at 953 PM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 Snow melt and runoff continue to produce minor to moderate flooding along the Red River from Fargo to Wahpeton, the Buffalo River at Dilworth and Hawley, and the South Branch of the Buffalo River at Sabin. Additionally, the Maple River and Wild Rice Rivers (MN and ND) are forecast to rise above flood stage at Enderlin (ND) and Twin Valley (MN) and Abercrombie (ND), respectively. Although fields across west central Minnesota are showing plenty of soil, ditches remain filled with water and the sub-freezing temperatures at night are only allowing a slow drain into the Red River. Additionally, ice continues to affect readings along portions of some ND and MN tributaries, causing some notable fluctuations in stage. The pattern of daytime highs in the upper 30s to low 40s with overnight lows in the 20s will allow for the gradual snowmelt to continue through the middle of the week. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && UPDATE...CJ SHORT TERM...JK LONG TERM...WJB AVIATION...CJ HYDROLOGY...BP
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 552 AM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024- 026>030-038-039-049-052>054-011100- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods- West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake- East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin- West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier- Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson- Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent- Richland-Western Walsh County- 552 AM CDT Sun Mar 31 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Areas of snow melt overland and river flooding continue along the Red River and its tributaries. Refer to the latest flood warnings and statements for detailed information on specific locations. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday Areas of snow melt overland and river flooding continue along the Red River and its tributaries. Refer to the latest flood warnings and statements for detailed information on specific locations. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, April 2019
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: 809020, 809035, 809044.