September 2nd was a cool day across eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota. Late afternoon temperatures ranged from the upper 50s around the Lake of the Woods region to the lower 70s across portions of southeast North Dakota.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 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 FGF wrote it up.
September 2nd was a cool day across eastern North Dakota and the northwest quarter of Minnesota. Late afternoon temperatures ranged from the upper 50s around the Lake of the Woods region to the lower 70s across portions of southeast North Dakota. Thunderstorms fired between Bismarck and Minot by mid afternoon, then tracked east-southeast during the late afternoon into early evening. A bow echo appeared in the radar imagery between Devils Lake and Jamestown by 430 pm CDT, tracked through the Fargo-Moorhead area around 6 pm, then shifted into west central Minnesota after 7 pm. Winds up to 90 mph and large hail were common along the track of the bow echo. After the bow echo had tracked through, a wake low formed behind it, resulting if a few more damaging wind gusts.
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 Sep 2, 3:23 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 423 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 .MESOSCALE DISCUSSION... Issued at 422 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 The threat for severe weather this afternoon into evening remains in place for portions of eastern North Dakota into northwest and west- central Minnesota. Main hazards will be damaging wind gusts to 75 mph with a continued but lesser threat for hail to the size of golf balls and a tornado or two. Timing looks to start near 3 PM in the Devils Lake Basin ending around Midnight in west-central Minnesota. Highest threat area remains in southeastern North Dakota into west- central Minnesota, including the Fargo metro. A vigorous short wave trough readily apparent on water vapor is moving through southern Canada with an upper jet max ahead. In the lower levels, warm air advection resultant of a strong LLJ is feeding a severe but elevated MCS currently in central North Dakota. These elevated storms are northeast of a warm front and thin warm sector ahead of a cold front lingering behind in western North Dakota. Strong winds throughout the column are resulting in 50+ kt shear and MCS storm mode gives confidence in the potential for winds gusting to 75 mph. This MCS is starting to take on bow-like characteristics as it matures just upstream of the CWA. However, a limiting factor on transferring these higher winds to the surface is a large shallow stable layer noted by 18Z BIS RAOB and visually seen as extensive stratus within the warm sector ahead of convection. However, additional warm air and moisture advection may help erode this stable layer as the afternoon progresses. Still looking for best chance for highest winds on the southwestern portion of this MCS closest to the area of higher DCAPE within the warm sector. While not as likely, hail is still a threat due to the strong EML noted by very steep mid level lapse rates will aid in a tongue of MUCAPE values exceeding 2000 J/kg, despite meager surface based moisture noted by dew points in the low to mid 60s advecting into western, central, and now southeastern North Dakota. This combined with very strong wind shear will continue the threat of large hail, possibly up to 2 inches. Another issue may be wind driven hail. Again, strongest convection on the southern/western edge of the MCS and any additional discrete storms hold best chance for large hail. The reservoir of higher surface moisture content in central South Dakota is looking more likely to advect into southeastern North Dakota into west-central Minnesota, at least partially. As the trough moves east, the passage of the warm frontal boundary will aid in strong low level shear along with strengthening of the a LLJ towards this evening. This brings the chance of QLCS tornadoes within the MCS given strength of low level shear, particularly due to the observation of mid level development along the leading edge of the MCS. Models currently are maintaining a strong cap in place over southeast ND and west-central MN, but I wouldn't rule out cap erosion on the western periphery of the MCS. && .SHORT TERM...(This afternoon through Tuesday night) Issued at 353 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 This afternoon-tonight: Showers/storms should continue to overspread our CWA as negatively titled trough progresses eastward, with main severe threat tending to be tied to MCS (hugging instability axis/theta-E gradient). Tendency in guidance is for most activity to move east through the evening transitioning east of our CWA after midnight. Window for severe seems to be through the evening (probably wrapping up by midnight). Widespread moderate to heavy rain is expected with most lighting activity where more intense thunderstorm activity tracks (mainly in our southwestern 2/3). Tuesday-Tuesday night: Cold pool lingering in our eastern CWA (mainly MN) could support a few showers redeveloping through the day Tuesday before sunset, with dry conditions generally favored further west in ND. Unidirectional flow and LLJ behind departing upper trough should support windy conditions, with clearing/mixing heights determining how high winds actually get. Could see near advisory winds depending on mixing. Complications of sky cover on wind and temps through the day. Due to strong CAA we may see highs struggle to warm above 60-62 for some areas (dependent on clearing). .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 353 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 The extended period will be unsettled with waves crossing the area every few days...particularly on Thursday and Saturday...in northwest flow aloft. Otherwise...expect cooler Canadian high pressure to settle in between the systems as the upper trof shifts over the area. Thus...overall expecting temperatures to be a bit on the cool side and increasingly moist as the pattern resembles more of a typical fall season regime. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Tuesday afternoon) Issued at 118 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 LIFR conditions due to low stratus lingering over BJI should begin to improve during the early afternoon with system approaching from our west. Showers and thunderstorms will impact all terminals during the TAF period, with best chances in ND in the 22-03 period and 00Z-06Z period in MN. Severe thunderstorms capable of strong winds in excess of 60 mph, large hail, and the possibility of tornadoes may develop, but severe impacts at terminals still uncertain enough I held back on introducing more significant impacts during this issuance. MVFR or even lower conditions may occur as a result of moderate to heavy rain in thunderstorms, with stratus possibly lingering as system transitions east and southeast of the region late this evening. While winds would shift to the west-northwest and diminish at the surface as thunderstorms move east, a period of low level wind shear is still possible behind thunderstorm activity. Northwest winds are expected to increase late Tuesday morning with gusts 25-35kt possible (mainly in the Red River Valley). && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && MESOSCALE...CJ SHORT TERM...DJR LONG TERM...Hopkins AVIATION...DJR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 154 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 MNZ001>003-015-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006-007-014-015-024-026>030- 038-039-049-052>054-031900- West Polk-Norman-Clay-East Polk-Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard- West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail- Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier-Benson-Ramsey-Eddy-Nelson- Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent- Richland-Western Walsh County- 154 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening across much of the region. Risks will include damaging winds to 75 mph, hail to 2 inches, and the possibility for tornadoes. Isolated to scattered severe storms may develop this afternoon and early evening. Then a large thunderstorm complex will push across eastern North Dakota during the late afternoon to early evening and into Minnesota by early to mid evening. General storm motion will be northwest to southeast. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated. MNZ004>009-013-014-016-017-NDZ008-016-031900- Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-West Marshall-East Marshall- North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-North Clearwater- South Beltrami-Pembina-Eastern Walsh County- 154 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon trough this evening with damaging wind gusts to 75 mph and hail to 2 inches being the main risks. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not anticipated.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
526 PM CDT MON SEP 2 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0516 PM TSTM WND GST 1 N PILLSBURY 47.22N 97.80W
09/02/2019 M56 MPH Barnes ND MESONET
NDAWN STATION REPORTED 56 MPH WIND GUST AT 516 PM
&&
AMOOREPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
533 PM CDT MON SEP 2 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0526 PM TSTM WND DMG 7 N LUVERNE 47.35N 97.92W
09/02/2019 STEELE ND PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: 1-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
SHINGLES BLOWN OFF.
&&Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 551 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 MNZ001>003-NDZ030-039-022315- Clay MN-West Polk MN-Norman MN-Traill ND-Cass ND- 551 PM CDT Mon Sep 2 2019 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHWESTERN CLAY...WESTERN NORMAN...SOUTHERN POLK...NORTHEASTERN CASS AND EASTERN TRAILL COUNTIES UNTIL 615 PM CDT... At 551 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Cummings to near Kelso to near Hunter. Movement was southeast at 45 mph. Pea size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with these storms. Strong thunderstorms will be near... Kelso around 555 PM CDT. Grandin and Gardner around 600 PM CDT. Caledonia and Hendrum around 610 PM CDT. Perley, Halstad and Georgetown around 615 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by these storms include American Crystal Sugar. 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. && A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT for northwestern Minnesota...and southeastern North Dakota. LAT...LON 4726 9733 4760 9724 4747 9647 4694 9654 TIME...MOT...LOC 2251Z 310DEG 39KT 4755 9717 4732 9710 4718 9714 NC
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
608 PM CDT MON SEP 2 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0553 PM TSTM WND GST 2 W LISBON 46.44N 97.73W
09/02/2019 M59 MPH Ransom ND MESONET
WIND GUST MEASURED BY NDAWN STATION
&&
WASILEWSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
610 PM CDT MON SEP 2 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM TSTM WND DMG LISBON 46.44N 97.68W
09/02/2019 RANSOM ND TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TREES DOWN WITH SOME UP TO 2 FEET IN
DIAMETER
&&
WASILEWSKIPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
616 PM CDT MON SEP 2 2019
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0610 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 E WEST FARGO 46.87N 96.88W
09/02/2019 CASS ND PUBLIC
REPORT FROM MPING: 3-INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN;
POWER POLES BROKEN.
&&The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 86 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:17 UTC.
8 thunderstorm wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A personal weather station measured a 75 mph wind gust before it broke. The station was near Interstate 94 and 34th street.
A few trees were snapped or blown over.
The wind gust was measured by the Dilworth MNDOT RWIS sensor.
Numerous large branches were blown down between Cormorant Lake and Lake Maude. Shingles were torn off a roof and a boat launch was flipped.
The wind gust was measured by a MNDOT RWIS sensor.
Numerous large tree branches were blown down between Lake Lida and Otter Tail Lake.
The wind speeds were estimated.
The report was relayed through Spotter Network.
A wake low formed after the initial bowing thunderstorm had tracked through the Park Rapids area. This produced another damaging wind gust.
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, September 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: 843827, 843828, 843829, 843832, 843833, 843835, 843836, 843837, 843884.