Funnel Cloud, Polk
- When
- July 3, 6:47 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 1.96 mi SW of Olga
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 47.660, -95.700
A funnel cloud was viewed and photographed from multiple locations.
Hail and Damaging Wind in Minnesota, July 3, 2019
By the early evening of July 3rd, a stationary boundary set up from near Oakes, North Dakota, to near Bemidji, Minnesota. The boundary was mainly a wind shift line, with south winds to the south of the boundary, and north winds to the north of the boundary.
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
- 5
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 FGF wrote it up.
By the early evening of July 3rd, a stationary boundary set up from near Oakes, North Dakota, to near Bemidji, Minnesota. The boundary was mainly a wind shift line, with south winds to the south of the boundary, and north winds to the north of the boundary. Thunderstorms broke out along the boundary, and also to the north of the boundary. The storms were slow movers, tracking slowly to the east-northeast. These storms mainly produced large hail and damaging wind gusts.
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 Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 3, 6:04 PM CST, 43 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 3, 6:04 PM CST, 43 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 704 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 647 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 Several areas of convection developing across the area as upper wave approaching the area is helping overcome weak mid level lapse rates. MU CAPE ranging from 1000J/kg in the northern valley and up to 3000J/kg along the SD/ND border. Effective shear remains strongest in the north and west with around 40kts and 25 to 30 in the south. Went ahead and expanded the watch to include the Red River valley counties from Grand Forks/Polk southward which goes until midnight. Most likely hazards will be hail with initial updrafts and then wind gusts as storms evolve. General eastward progression expected this evening into the overnight. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Thursday night) Issued at 347 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 Afternoon surface observations show two areas of low level convergence, worth noting for potential locations of evening convective initiation. The first area of interest is along a weak boundary extending southwest to northeast across the Devils Lake basin, where cumulus congestus have begun to develop from Devils Lake southwest toward Bowden. Despite a strongly sheared profile, instability and lapse rates are fairly weak in this region, diminishing severe weather threat. A second, more apparent area of interest has develop along and south of a frontal boundary extending from western NE to southeast ND and west central MN. GOES-16 1 minute visible data this afternoon show areas of orphan anvil development in this region since mid day, but cells north of the ND/SD border have struggled to maintain an updraft given the weaker sheared but more strongly unstable, uncapped environment. Orientation of westerly deep layer shear vectors slightly off of the boundary would suggest that developing storms will not remain discrete for long before merging into clusters. Expect tonight into early Thursday to evolve similarly to Tuesday evening, in which isolated strong to severe thunderstorms cannot be ruled out but would need to overcome a conditional environment. CAMs indicate severe weather from the evening activity would be most likely from 4-8pm, before instability starts to wane diurnally. Orientation of westerly deep layer shear vectors slightly off of the boundary would suggest that developing storms will not remain discrete for long before merging into clusters. There is once again a signal for a shower/storm complex to develop in the western Dakotas and progress east or northeast into the forecast area. This is most likely to affect areas along and (mostly) south of US Hwy 2 across east central to southeast ND late tonight and northwest and west central MN late tonight into Thursday morning. Main threats with the strongest cells embedded in this storm complex would be damaging hail (up to quarter sized) and wind gusts (up to 60 mph) but cannot rule out threat for localized heavy rainfall given precipitable water values near 1.5 inches. After showers and storms clear out early Thursday, Independence Day looks to be quite pleasant, despite lingering potential for isolated showers or storms during the afternoon and evening. Afternoon high temperatures on Independence Day will reach the 70s to lower 80s. .LONG TERM...(Thursday night through Wednesday) Issued at 347 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 12Z Fri - 00Z Sun Cold front is expected to exit the far southeast zones Fri morning. Short wave forecast to move through Fri night and will produce precip in the southern zones. Sun - Wed Split flow across North America with northern stream over central Canada and southern stream over northern states. Long wave trough over the West Coast will break down and shift east. Long wave ridge over the Central and Southern Plains will retrograde over the Desert Southwest and Intermountain West. The ECMWF becomes a faster solution compared to the GFS over the area by Mon. The two models are out of phase by Tue. Next best chance for thunderstorms will be Sun night through Tue. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Thursday evening) Issued at 647 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 Thunderstorms approaching GFK and FAR in the next 1 to 3 hours will have the potential for gusty winds and possibly hail. Storms will continue to move east through the overnight with light winds and possible MVFR CIGS for a short period tomorrow morning. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && UPDATE...JK SHORT TERM...BP LONG TERM...JH AVIATION...JK
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 3, 4:47 AM CST, 14 hours before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 547 AM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 MNZ004>009-013-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026-027-054-041100- Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-West Marshall-East Marshall- North Beltrami-Pennington-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey- Eastern Walsh County-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Western Walsh County- 547 AM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through this evening, with widespread showers and thunderstorms south of Highway 2 overnight tonight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. MNZ001>003-014>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ028>030-038-039-049-052- 053-041100- West Polk-Norman-Clay-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- Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 547 AM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms will remain possible through this evening, with widespread showers and thunderstorms south of Highway 2 overnight tonight. Severe thunderstorms may develop this afternoon and evening across southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota mainly south of Highway 200. Hail to 1.5 inches and winds to 60 mph are the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 4:41 PM CST, 2 hours 6 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 541 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 NDZ014-015-024-026-032315- Nelson ND-Eddy ND-Benson ND-Ramsey ND- 541 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BENSON... NORTHWESTERN NELSON...SOUTHEASTERN RAMSEY AND EASTERN EDDY COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT... At 541 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles southwest of Warwick, or 23 miles south of Devils Lake, moving northeast at 30 mph. Penny size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with this storm. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Tokio around 600 PM CDT. Warwick around 605 PM CDT. Hamar around 615 PM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks. If on or near Stump Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for northeastern North Dakota. LAT...LON 4762 9892 4780 9909 4815 9839 4787 9812 TIME...MOT...LOC 2241Z 238DEG 24KT 4777 9889 NC
Special weather statement, Jul 3, 5:11 PM CST, 1 hour 36 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
611 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019
NDZ014-024-026-028-032345-
Griggs ND-Nelson ND-Eddy ND-Benson ND-
611 PM CDT Wed Jul 3 2019
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHEASTERN BENSON...SOUTHERN
NELSON...NORTHWESTERN GRIGGS AND EASTERN EDDY COUNTIES UNTIL 645 PM
CDT...
At 611 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Bartlett to 10 miles northwest of McHenry.
Movement was east at 20 mph.
Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
these storms.
Strong thunderstorms will be near...
Mose and Red Willow Lake around 645 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
office in Grand Forks.
If on or near Stump Lake, get out of the water and move indoors or
inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 10 miles
from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you are close
enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter now! Do not
be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.
&&
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for
southeastern and northeastern North Dakota.
LAT...LON 4792 9856 4792 9853 4795 9852 4802 9845
4802 9842 4804 9842 4798 9788 4792 9788
4752 9831 4768 9881
TIME...MOT...LOC 2311Z 287DEG 16KT 4796 9841 4769 9873
NCThe radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:43 UTC.
Event by event
3 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Beltrami
- When
- July 3, 8:34 PM CST
- Where
- Beltrami County, 1.99 mi WSW of Bemidji
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 47.470, -94.940
Dime to quarter sized hail was reported near the high school.
Thunderstorm Wind, Beltrami
- When
- July 3, 8:35 PM CST
- Where
- Beltrami County, 3.1 mi SSE of Wilton
- Measured
- 55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 47.460, -94.970
A tree was blown onto Archery Road.
Hail, Norman
- When
- July 3, 8:36 PM CST
- Where
- Norman County, 0.94 mi E of Perley
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 47.180, -96.800
Hail, Beltrami
- When
- July 3, 8:50 PM CST
- Where
- Beltrami County, 0.93 mi E of Bemidji
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Amateur Radio
- Coordinates
- 47.480, -94.880
The hail fell along Division Street.
What these are
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- 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
- Heat in Illinois, July 3, 2019
- Tornadoes and Flooding in South Dakota, July 3 to 4, 2019
- Flash Flood in South Dakota, July 3, 2019
- Lightning Strike in South Carolina, July 3, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Kentucky, July 3, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, July 3 to 4, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Indiana, July 3, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Wisconsin, July 3, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Hail in North Carolina, July 3, 2019
- Flood and Damaging Wind in Indiana, July 3, 2019
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Ohio, July 3, 2019
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Oklahoma, July 3, 2019
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, July 2019
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: 829128, 829129, 829130, 829132, 829134.