Thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a cold front over western North Dakota, with one storm becoming severe producing one inch diameter hail to the east of Richardton in Stark County. In addition, a lighting fatality occurred with a thunderstorm that passed through the area ahead of the severe thunderstorm.
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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 BIS wrote it up.
Thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a cold front over western North Dakota, with one storm becoming severe producing one inch diameter hail to the east of Richardton in Stark County. In addition, a lighting fatality occurred with a thunderstorm that passed through the area ahead of the severe thunderstorm. A 32-year old male died when he was struck by lighting while working on a trail at the Schnell Recreation Area east of Richardton in Stark County. At the time of the strike, the victim was loading mowing equipment into the back of a pickup truck.
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 Aug 4, 6:53 AM MST, 1 hour 23 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 853 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 844 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 Made some changes to the severe weather threats today after examining the observed and forecast soundings at Bismarck. We upped the maximum hail size to baseball (3 in) based on the RAP model forecast CAPE of 3200 and shear of 48kts. Wind threat remains at 75 mph. There will be a slight tornado threat during the early evening hours as well. For the morning, the ongoing convection moving in from Montana will see the typical diurnal decrease in intensity as the surface low level jet gets disrupted by daytime heating. We expect a regeneration this afternoon along the cold frontal boundary as it slides southeast. Made some updates to the clouds early on where the cirrus shield covers most of southwest into central North Dakota. UPDATE Issued at 643 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 Overall, no many changes to the going forecast. Did add some patchy fog for portions of the north central. Also adjusted pops a bit in the west to account for the convection over southeast Montana, and the small area of convection moving into the northwest. UPDATE Issued at 516 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 Quick update to increase the coverage of patchy fog across south central ND. Area of fog working its way north along the Missouri and also spreading northward across the James River Valley. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 225 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 There is some potential for patchy fog again this morning, mainly south central early this morning. The main focus will be on the thunderstorm potential this afternoon and tonight. Currently, an upper level low is tracking through southern Canada, pushing a cold front into northwest North Dakota. Ahead of the front, a moist and unstable airmass remains situated over western and central North Dakota. The cold front will be a focus for thunderstorm development across mainly southwest and south central North Dakota this afternoon into this evening, as the front will have pushed through the northwest and a good portion of the north central before max heating this afternoon. There are some model differences with the GFS more of an outlier in regards to the position of the cold front this afternoon. It moves it through faster and dries things out from west to east quicker, resulting in overall less instability. Still strong shear, but things don't line up as well as say the NAM, and especially the RAP. Even the GFS low level flow indicates a moist southerly flow over the southwest through mid afternoon so will lean away from the GFS as a model of choice. This then leaves us with a quite unstable airmass over southwest and south central ND this afternoon. with a cold front for a focusing mechanism. There is some question as to the overall forced ascent, but it appears that in addition to increasing the overall bulk shear, the position of an upper level jet along the International Border should help the overall ascent as the right entrance region of the jet becomes positioned over the area this afternoon/early evening. The storm mode is a little muddled with SPC HREF updraft helicities showing a combination of short and long UH tracks. In general, think the shear is more parallel to the sagging front, but if storms can initiate just along or within the warm sector, the potential for discrete cells increases as bulk shear becomes more perpendicular to the boundary. In addition, deep moisture better directional shear increase south of the front. Thus the potential for a tornado does exist but will be dependent on if storms can develop within or just north of, or move into the warm sector. Shear is not lacking along and just north of the front, and overall, the greatest threats this afternoon and this evening will be large hail to 2 inches in diameter and damaging winds to 75 mph. PWATS remain high over southern ND with efficient warm rain processes in place. Training storms could lead to localized flooding. The severe threat is expected to end from northwest to southeast this evening, and should become minimal by midnight or shortly thereafter. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 225 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 Cooler and drier air moves over the forecast area on Monday with a northwest flow pattern setting up through most of the work week. The chance of thunderstorms will generally be spotty but we will monitor for the potential of stronger storms on Tuesday afternoon ahead of a cold front, mainly across the southern tier counties. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Monday morning) Issued at 643 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 Areas of fog again this morning playing havoc with the KBIS TAF. Less than quarter mile vsby at Mandan with latest satellite showing KBIS surrounded by fog/stratus. Yet KBIS is still clr with 5sm vsby. Last iteration of the RAP fcst sounding shows low level moisture at KBIS until around 15 UTC so we added a TEMPO for 300 ft cigs. Elsewhere, patchy fog around KJMS and KMOT but even more uncertainty at these sites so did not hit low stratus/fog as hard. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon/ evening over mainly central and southern ND. AT this time, with not much agreement in timing/placement with CAMS, continued with just a VCTS across southern TAF sites this afternoon/evening. Any storms at southern TAF sites this afternoon/evening would have the potential to be severe with large hail and damaging winds. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && UPDATE...WAA SHORT TERM...TWH LONG TERM...TWH AVIATION...TWH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 823 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 NDZ017>023-025-031>037-040>048-050-051-051330- McKenzie-Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster- Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Morton-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman- Slope-Hettinger-Grant-Bowman-Adams-Sioux-Emmons-Logan-La Moure- McIntosh-Dickey- 823 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 /723 AM MDT Sun Aug 4 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota, southeast North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible across southwest, south central, and southeast North Dakota this afternoon into tonight. The main hazards will be large hail up to the size of baseballs, and damaging wind gusts up to 75 mph. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. Very heavy rainfall is also possible with these storms, along with frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ001>005-009>013-051330- Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-Mountrail-Ward- McHenry-Pierce- 823 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central North Dakota and northwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated thunderstorms are possible across northwest and north central North Dakota today. The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. TJK
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Bismarck ND 528 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 NDZ019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-041230- Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Morton-Burleigh-Kidder- Stutsman-Grant-Sioux-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- Including the cities of Beulah, Hazen, Center, Garrison, Washburn, Underwood, Wilton, Turtle Lake, Mcclusky, Goodrich, Harvey, Fessenden, Carrington, Mandan, Bismarck, Steele, Tappen, Jamestown, Elgin, Carson, New Leipzig, Fort Yates, Selfridge, Solen, Linton, Strasburg, Napoleon, Gackle, Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm, Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, and Ellendale 528 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 /428 AM MDT Sun Aug 4 2019/ ...PATCHY DENSE FOG OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA... Patchy fog has developed across portions of south central North Dakota early this morning. The fog will be dense at times, with visibility reduced below one quarter mile, especially in low lying and protected areas. Locations impacted include Mandan, Selfridge, Linton, Wishek, Ashley, Jamestown and Oakes. If traveling this morning, be prepared for rapidly changing visibility. Slow down and use your low beam headlights in areas of dense fog. Be especially cautious at intersections and railroad crossings. The fog is expected to dissipate by 10 AM CDT.
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Bismarck ND 657 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 NDZ003-004-011-012-019>023-025-034>037-042-045>048-050-051-041400- Renville-Bottineau-Ward-McHenry-Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan- Wells-Foster-Morton-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Grant-Sioux-Emmons- Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- Including the cities of Mohall, Glenburn, Sherwood, Bottineau, Minot, Velva, Towner, Drake, Beulah, Hazen, Center, Garrison, Washburn, Underwood, Wilton, Turtle Lake, Mcclusky, Goodrich, Harvey, Fessenden, Carrington, Mandan, Bismarck, Steele, Tappen, Jamestown, Elgin, Carson, New Leipzig, Fort Yates, Selfridge, Solen, Linton, Strasburg, Napoleon, Gackle, Lamoure, Edgeley, Kulm, Wishek, Ashley, Oakes, and Ellendale 657 AM CDT Sun Aug 4 2019 /557 AM MDT Sun Aug 4 2019/ ...PATCHY DENSE FOG OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA... Patchy fog has developed across portions of central North Dakota early this morning. The fog will be dense at times, with visibility reduced below one quarter mile, especially in low lying and protected areas. If traveling this morning, be prepared for rapidly changing visibility. Slow down and use your low beam headlights in areas of dense fog. Be especially cautious at intersections and railroad crossings. The fog is expected to dissipate by 10 AM CDT.
The Bismarck radar (KBIS), 115 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:17 UTC.
1 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
A 32-year old male died when he was struck by lighting while working on a trail at the Schnell Recreation Area east of Richardton in Stark County. At the time of the strike the victim was loading mowing equipment into the back of a pickup truck.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning, Stark | 2019-08-04 | 32 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, August 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: 849047, 849046.