Strong northwest winds developed over much of western North Dakota in the wake of a cold front that passed through the region. The highest reported wind gust was 66 mph in Hettinger County.
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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.
Strong northwest winds developed over much of western North Dakota in the wake of a cold front that passed through the region. The highest reported wind gust was 66 mph in Hettinger County.
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 Apr 28, 9:40 AM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1040 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 .UPDATE... Issued at 1024 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 Main issue for the update will be winds and fire weather issues. We ended up upgrading a good portion of the west to a High Winds Warning today. Looking at RAP and NAM forecast soundings we are seeing winds of around 40 knots just off the surface, with winds at the top of the mixed layer topping out around 50 knots, but closer to 55 or 60 knots over the far southwest. The RAP is indicating that by around 18 UTC, cold advection and steep lapse rates develop over the west, continuing through 00Z and then diminishing from 00-02 UTC. To the east of the High Wind Warning, we did add Mercer, Oliver and Morton counties to the wind advisory, but winds here appear to be well in the advisory in the west, but below advisory criteria east. It does appear that the strong winds (but sub-advisory) do linger into the evening, here. Will still need to monitor fire weather as the humidities are forecast to not drop off as much, but the winds are stronger. Therefore we are riding the fence through the afternoon. But with the RH values higher we are leaning toward holding off on Red Flag warning. Will certainly keep the near critical wording going in the Fire weather forecast. UPDATE Issued at 641 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 The forecast remains in good shape. Tweaked rain chances and sky cover to better match current trends for this update. Radar shows scattered activity along the surface trough moving into central North Dakota, but not all of it is reaching the ground. Preliminary data from the 12Z radiosonde suggests it may not take much more forcing or moisture advection to begin saturating the column. && .SHORT TERM...(Today and tonight) Issued at 422 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 There are 3 concerns for the short term: 1) Strong northwest winds across western North Dakota, 2) scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, and 3) near critical fire weather conditions over southwest North Dakota. Two shortwaves are impacting the Northern Plains this morning, one over South Dakota and the other over southern Saskatchewan. Both waves have attendant surface low pressure systems immediately downstream. Scattered rain showers associated with the southern low continue to track east into the James River Valley early this morning. This system will clear the local area by the afternoon. A surface trough associated with the northern system has moved into western North Dakota, accompanied by isolated showers and an occasional thunderstorm. The northern shortwave will dig into western North Dakota through this afternoon as the surface low drifts into northeast North Dakota. Shower and thunderstorm activity is forecast to increase along the surface trough this morning as it moves into the eastern half of the state. Additional scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely this afternoon behind the leading surface trough, given a northwest/cyclonic flow regime, steep lapse rates, and possible assistance from left exit region jet dynamics. SBCAPE may reach 500- 1000 J/kg this afternoon, but deep layer shear remains weak. The strongest storms may be capable of very small hail given the colder thermal profile. Gusty winds beyond the synoptic background flow will be possible with any shower or storm. A very strong pressure gradient force will develop over western North Dakota this afternoon under a 40-50 kt northwesterly low level jet. Strong pressure rises, cold air advection, and steep low level lapse rates should promote efficient momentum transfer to bring these winds down to the surface. The Wind Advisory has been expanded to the north, where pressure rises are actually the greatest. Grant and Sioux Counties are also now included. Warning criteria wind speeds and gusts may be approached in the far southwest. The fire weather forecast for today is tricky. The 00Z suite of model guidance has come in with higher dewpoints across all of western North Dakota. A couple things may be at play here: 1) The position of the surface low/upper trough during the afternoon has shifted farther west in this set of guidance and/or 2) if a thicker cloud field develops it may limit boundary layer mixing potential to the point that critical RH thresholds are not reached. Because of the uncertainty and multiple factors at play, we have decided to cancel the Fire Weather Watch and not issue a Red Flag Warning. However, the strong winds and dry vegetation alone are enough to create near critical fire weather conditions across far west central and southwest North Dakota this afternoon and evening. If the forecast begins to trend in a direction with warmer temperatures, lower dewpoints, or less cloud cover later this morning, a Red Flag Warning may then need to be considered. All previously mentioned hazards should slowly dissipate this evening. Some isolated showers may linger over central and eastern North Dakota overnight. It will be cooler today, with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s. It could be chilly in the west tonight as skies clear and winds diminish. Some locations may see lows below freezing. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 422 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 Upper level ridging will begin to build over the Northern Plains Wednesday into Thursday, with southerly low level return flow setting up by Thursday. Expect a warming trend these two days, with highs possibly reaching the lower 80s in western North Dakota on Thursday. It will remain dry until a shortwave begins to approach the area late Thursday into Friday. This wave will bring chances for showers and thunderstorms and slightly cooler temperatures to the region. A quick glance at shear and instability shows there could be potential for a few stronger storms on Friday if those fields can overlap with each other favorably. A brief transition to quasi-zonal flow looks likely for the weekend, with near normal temperatures favored and low chances for rain. By late Sunday, a strong shortwave is forecast to eject off the Northern Rockies, bringing shower and thunderstorm chances back to the region early next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Wednesday afternoon) Issued at 1024 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible throughout this forecast period. The best chances will be this afternoon from central into eastern ND. Confidence in thunderstorm potential is high enough at KJMS to continue the VCTS mention there. Will keep KBIS and KMOT at VCSH for now, but they may need a TS mention added in future TAF issuances. MVFR ceilings are being observed at KJMS this morning. Satellite suggests these low clouds will move off to the east by 14Z. Otherwise, VFR conditions are generally expected through the afternoon, though a heavy shower or thunderstorm could produce a brief period of MVFR to IFR visibility or MVFR ceilings. There is a possibility MVFR ceilings will develop from central into eastern North Dakota this evening into tonight. Winds will become strong out of the northwest across western North Dakota today, with sustained winds of 25-30 kts and gusts approaching 40 kts at KDIK and KXWA during the afternoon. Northwest winds will be a bit weaker over central ND, but still sustained around 10-20 kts, gusting to 30 kts. Winds will begin to diminish this evening. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Wind Advisory until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ001- 019-020-034-042-045. High Wind Warning until 9 PM CDT /8 PM MDT/ this evening for NDZ009-017-018-031>033-040-041-043-044. && UPDATE...TWH SHORT TERM...Hollan LONG TERM...Hollan AVIATION...TWH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Bismarck ND 1048 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 NDZ031>033-040-041-043-044-291600- Golden Valley-Billings-Stark-Slope-Hettinger-Bowman-Adams- 948 AM MDT Tue Apr 28 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect late this morning through early evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. Near critical fire weather conditions are expected this afternoon and early evening. Isolated thunderstorms are possible today. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ009-017-018-291600- Williams-McKenzie-Dunn- 1048 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 /948 AM MDT Tue Apr 28 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota and southwest North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A High Wind Warning is in effect late this morning through early evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. Isolated thunderstorms are possible today. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ001-019-020-034-042-045-291600- Divide-Mercer-Oliver-Morton-Grant-Sioux- 1048 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 /948 AM MDT Tue Apr 28 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest North Dakota and south central North Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight A Wind Advisory is in effect late this morning through early evening. See weather.gov/bis for details. Isolated thunderstorms are possible today. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. NDZ002>005-010>013-021>023-025-035>037-046>048-050-051-291600- Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Mountrail-Ward-McHenry-Pierce- McLean-Sheridan-Wells-Foster-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Emmons- Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-Dickey- 1048 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2020 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...Today and Tonight Scattered thunderstorms are possible today. Severe weather is not expected. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
753 AM CDT TUE APR 28 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0752 AM HEAVY RAIN 5 N FORBES 46.01N 98.78W
04/28/2020 M0.90 INCH DICKEY ND EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER IN DICKEY COUNTY REPORTS
0.90 INCHES OF RAINFALL 4.5 MILES NORTH OF
FORBES.
&&
KSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BISMARCK ND
829 AM CDT TUE APR 28 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0824 AM HEAVY RAIN ELLENDALE 46.01N 98.53W
04/28/2020 M1.30 INCH DICKEY ND EMERGENCY MNGR
EMERGENCY MANAGER IN DICKEY COUNTY REPORTS
1.30 INCHES OF RAIN IN ELLENDALE MONDAY
NIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING.
&&
KSThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
10 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Dickinson ASOS reported a sustained wind of 41 mph.
Beach AWOS reported a sustained wind of 40 mph.
Fryburg NDDOT site reported a wind gust of 62 mph.
Sand Creek RAWS reported a wind gust of 59 mph.
Williams Lookout RAWS reported a wind gust of 66 mph.
Bowman AWOS reported a wind gust of 63 mph.
Hettinger ASOS reported a wind gust of 59 mph.
Tatanka Prairie RAWS reported a wind gust of 59 mph.
Dunn County has estimated wind gusts of 60 mph.
McKenzie County has estimated wind gusts of 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, April 2020
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: 880012, 880014, 880015, 880016, 880017, 880019, 880020, 880021, 880026, 880028.