Flash Flood and Flood in Minnesota, August 29, 2024

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Minnesota, August 29, 2024
Start: 2024-08-29T01:47
End: 2024-08-29T15:30
Location: Minnesota

August 29, 2024 · NWS FGF · 8 events in 1 county or zone

An 850mb jet aided in the development of thunderstorm clusters in the morning hours of August 29th. Wind was the main threat, with some reports of flash flooding from heavy rainfall.

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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $4,000
Crop damage: $1,000
Events: 8

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.

An 850mb jet aided in the development of thunderstorm clusters in the morning hours of August 29th. Wind was the main threat, with some reports of flash flooding from heavy rainfall.

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 Aug 28, 10:59 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather over parts of eastern North Dakota this evening and overnight, with the main hazards being hail up to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60 mph.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 28, 10:59 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1159 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather over parts
  of eastern North Dakota this evening and overnight, with the
  main hazards being hail up to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60
  mph.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 1159 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

Storms continue to push east from the Sheyenne into the Red
River Valley, with some cells still pushing severe criteria.
While this activity is expected to weaken as it moves into the
RRV, additional storms have already started to develop again
over central ND and will move east as the low level jet
transitions into our CWA after midnight. Still could see some
impacts from elevated hail and perhaps even some wind gusts
getting to the ground, but heavy rain may be the main problem
especially with additional cells expected to move over areas
that have already received heavy rain this evening.

UPDATE
Issued at 955 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

Thunderstorms from central ND starting to approach our western
counties. There has been an overall weakening trend as the cells
move into less instability. However, will continue to monitor a
storm in Stutsman county that has a history of nickel sized hail
and has shown a sharp cloud top cooling trend on IR satellite.
There is also the possibility of a second round of storms firing
along the nose of the low level jet, as the HRRR and several of
the other CAMs indicate. That does not occur until after 06Z but
should tap into some pretty rich moisture further south and
could still bring some strong to severe impacts after midnight.
Heavy rain will also be a problem with the slow movement of
storms, training cells, and PWATs over 1.7 inches moving east
into our area.

UPDATE
Issued at 637 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

Storms have developed along the Missouri River to our west, but
have been very slow to move east so far. CAMs like the HRRR that have
been doing best on initiation have the convection getting into
our western counties around 04 or 05Z, and given motion so far
on the storms, this seems fairly reasonable. Some cells are
trying to get going in northeastern ND, but pretty capped and
only 25 kts of shear. Will keep an eye on the lead activity as
it gets going.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 244 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

...Synopsis...
The main 500mb low continues to slowly spin over north central
Montana, which will keep the strongest upper level winds over
western North Dakota tonight. At the surface, there are two
lows, one over south central Saskatchewan and the other over
western South Dakota. In between these lows, there is a cold
front extending from north to south. Since there is not much to
push this front eastward tonight (the upper flow almost
parallels the front), it is only expected to reach eastern North
Dakota by sunrise Thursday. Strong to severe storms are
expected along this boundary (and the low level jet) by late
this evening into the overnight hours. This boundary may still
lie somewhere east of the Red River Valley on Thursday
afternoon, which could spawn another round of strong to severe
storms. After this, the weather turns quieter again.

...The severe weather threat tonight...

The best moisture surge so far today has been from eastern
South Dakota into south central North Dakota, where dewpoints
are in the mid 60s to low 70s and precipitable water values are
up to 1.3 inches. CAPE is building quite nicely across this same
area, but 700mb temperatures of +10 to +12C have created an
initial cap. The latest CAMs are showing storms breaking out
along the frontal boundary somewhere between Bismarck and Minot
in the 6 to 7 pm time frame, where they would initially be
supercells. For most of the CAMs, this activity would remain to
the west of this FA until 10 pm or so.

In the 10 pm to 1 am time frame, the low level jet kicks up to
the 50 to 60 knot range. Initially (around 10 pm), this jet is
more focused into an area just east of Bismarck. By 1 am it
focuses more into east central or northeast North Dakota, and by
4 am into northwest Minnesota. This would provide the best
support for keeping storms around during the late evening and
overnight time period, when the storms may be more multicellular
or linear. If this occurs, strong winds may be the main hazard,
with isolated hail as well. The high precipitable water values
are also a concern, but the storms do look to be progressive.
Therefore think heavy rain rates are likely, but unless storms
train over the same areas, flooding type rainfall is less
likely. Would expect some weaker storm activity to be lingering
on Thursday morning, which may play into the severe weather
potential for the afternoon. Right now, the SPC Day 2 severe
weather outlook highlights a marginal risk (level 1 out of 5)
mainly east of the Valley.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1159 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

First round of convection will be ongoing for the ND airports at
the start of the TAF period. A second round will move through
after the first round during the overnight period, with some
weakening as it moves east. TAF sites will see VCTS/VCSH or
prevailing thunder through most of the rest the night and into
tomorrow morning. Some MVFR ceilings will come along with the
thunderstorm activity, and some fog isn't completely out of the
question but will be mixed in with the thunderstorms and showers
and hard to pinpoint exactly where. Some improvement for most
sites by the end of the period. Winds will shift from the east
and southeast to the southwest, then west and northwest with
gusts to 25 kts by the end of the period.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.

&&

UPDATE...JR
DISCUSSION...Godon
AVIATION...JR

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 28, 8:30 PM CST, 5 hours 17 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
930 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

NDZ014-015-024-026-028-038-049-052-300230-
Benson-Ramsey-Eddy-Nelson-Griggs-Barnes-Ransom-Sargent-
930 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather over parts of
eastern North Dakota overnight, with the main hazards being hail
up to ping pong balls and wind gusts to 60 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Thursday...Strong Thunderstorm Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

MNZ001>005-007-008-013>015-022-027-029-NDZ006>008-016-027-029-030-
039-053-054-300230-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-West Marshall-East Marshall-
Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk-Mahnomen-West Becker-Wilkin-Towner-
Cavalier-Pembina-Eastern Walsh-Grand Forks-Steele-Traill-Cass-
Richland-Western Walsh-
930 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather over parts of
eastern North Dakota overnight, with the main hazards being hail
up to ping pong balls and wind gusts to 60 mph.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Thursday...Strong Thunderstorm Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

MNZ006-009-016-017-023-024-028-030>032-040-300230-
Lake Of The Woods-North Beltrami-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-
South Clearwater-Hubbard-East Becker-West Otter Tail-
East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-
930 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central
and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Scattered strong thunderstorms expected across the region. The
main hazard will be lightning.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday

Thursday...Level 2 out of 5 Severe Thunderstorm Risk.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated today.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 28, 9:08 PM CST, 4 hours 39 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1008 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

NDZ028-038-290415-
Griggs ND-Barnes ND-
1008 PM CDT Wed Aug 28 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN GRIGGS AND BARNES
COUNTIES THROUGH 1115 PM CDT...

At 1007 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Spiritwood Lake, or 12 miles northeast of
Jamestown, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Valley City, Wimbledon, Sanborn, Hannaford, Oriska, Dazey, and
Rogers.

This includes Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 272
and 303.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4733 9847 4735 9799 4733 9799 4732 9796
      4724 9796 4724 9784 4679 9774 4679 9844
      4698 9844 4698 9847
TIME...MOT...LOC 0307Z 257DEG 28KT 4703 9848

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH

JR

Special weather statement, Aug 28, 11:36 PM CST, 2 hours 11 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1236 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

NDZ006-007-014-015-290615-
Benson ND-Towner ND-Ramsey ND-Cavalier ND-
1236 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BENSON...SOUTHERN
TOWNER...SOUTHWESTERN CAVALIER AND NORTHWESTERN RAMSEY COUNTIES
THROUGH 115 AM CDT...

At 1235 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Leeds, or 25 miles northwest of Devils Lake, moving northeast at 40
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cando, Leeds, Bisbee, Starkweather, Brinsmade, Harlow, and Alsen.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4837 9952 4837 9949 4844 9949 4869 9938
      4864 9863 4811 9926 4816 9962
TIME...MOT...LOC 0535Z 211DEG 35KT 4828 9938

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Spender

Special weather statement, Aug 29, 12:15 AM CST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
115 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

NDZ006-007-290715-
Towner ND-Cavalier ND-
115 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT TOWNER AND WESTERN CAVALIER
COUNTIES THROUGH 215 AM CDT...

At 114 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 7 miles north of York to near Starkweather.
Movement was north at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cando, Munich, Bisbee, Rocklake, Clyde, Alsen, and Wales.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4900 9952 4900 9838 4854 9876 4854 9897
      4841 9897 4837 9949
TIME...MOT...LOC 0614Z 193DEG 33KT 4842 9958 4852 9888

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Spender

Special weather statement, Aug 29, 12:44 AM CST, 1 hour 3 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
144 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

NDZ038-039-290730-
Barnes ND-Cass ND-
144 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN CASS AND
NORTHEASTERN BARNES COUNTIES THROUGH 230 AM CDT...

At 143 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Tower City, or 16 miles east of Valley City, moving northeast at 25
mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Tower City, Page, Buffalo, Oriska, Erie, Wheatland, and Embden.

This includes Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 301
and 324.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4680 9740 4685 9786 4722 9774 4715 9720
TIME...MOT...LOC 0643Z 205DEG 24KT 4693 9766

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Spender

Special weather statement, Aug 29, 1:20 AM CST, 27 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
220 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

NDZ006-014-015-024-290800-
Eddy ND-Benson ND-Towner ND-Ramsey ND-
220 AM CDT Thu Aug 29 2024

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT BENSON...SOUTHERN TOWNER...
WESTERN RAMSEY AND NORTHWESTERN EDDY COUNTIES THROUGH 300 AM CDT...

At 220 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near York to near Emrick. Movement was east at
40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Cando, Leeds, Maddock, Fort Totten, Minnewaukan, Sheyenne, and
Oberon.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4837 9984 4837 9949 4846 9949 4857 9897
      4772 9897 4768 9930 4785 9930 4785 9981
TIME...MOT...LOC 0720Z 250DEG 35KT 4832 9963 4756 9963

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

Spender

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:45 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 1:47 AM CST to 1:52 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.93 mi W of Eldred
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.680, -96.820

Peak wind gust at 3 meters at the Eldred NDAWN.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 2:05 AM CST to 2:10 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.83 mi SE of Crookston Muni Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.820, -96.610

Peak wind gust at 3 meters at the Crookston NDAWN.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 2:06 AM CST to 2:11 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 3.73 mi SSE of Melvin
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.580, -96.370

Public reports tree falling and hitting house and damaging the side of the house in Melvin, MN.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 2:15 AM CST to 2:20 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.46 mi E of Crookston Muni Arpt
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 47.830, -96.610

Crookston airport AWOS peak wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 2:26 AM CST to 2:31 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 3.58 mi NNE of Freeman
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 47.870, -96.760

Davis Personal Weather Station peak wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: August 29, 3:50 AM CST to 3:55 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 0.69 mi S of Anglim
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.790, -96.600

Public reports trees down on the northeastern side of town via facebook.

Flash Flood, Polk

When: August 29, 6:12 AM CST to 10:12 AM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.17 mi SE of Anglim to 1.08 mi W of Burwell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $500
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 47.789, -96.581

Broadcast Media Reported roads flooded and drainage outlets overwhelmed on South Ash street in Crookston MN.

Flood, Polk

When: August 29, 10:01 AM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 1.39 mi ESE of Anglim to 1.12 mi W of Burwell
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $500
Crop damage: $500
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 47.791, -96.574

Public reported basement flooded and street drainage overwhelmed.

What these are

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.
Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 2024 Every state in 2024 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, August 2024

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: 1210774, 1210776, 1210770, 1210777, 1210779, 1210772, 1210764, 1210767.