Active spring pattern across the center of our nation with several episodes of severe weather and heavy rainfall expected into next week. The potential for very large hail, long track tornadoes, severe wind gusts, frequent cloud to ground lightning strikes and flash flooding are in the outlook. Furthermore, dangerous early season heat wave continues for the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Read More >
Overview
Severe thunderstorms developed across eastern ND and moved northeast across the region on June 17th. Strong winds from the storms resulted in damaged trees and structures across the region. This page will be updated as more information becomes available.
Storm Reports
W represents a wind report > 58 mph and H represents a hail report > 1".
The following is a list of highest measured wind gusts along with a summary of local storm reports (LSR):
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
922 AM CDT THU JUN 18 2020
...HIGHEST WIND REPORTS 9 AM JUN 17 2020 TO 9 AM JUN 18 2020...
LOCATION SPEED TIME/DATE PROVIDER
GRAND FORKS ND AFB 69 MPH 0725 PM 06/17 ASOS
DONALDSON MN 1 W 68 MPH 0820 PM 06/17 MNDOT
KARLSTAD MN 64 MPH 0906 PM 06/17 RAWS
GALESBURG ND 4 SW 62 MPH 0125 AM 06/18 NDAWN
CROOKSTON AP MN 62 MPH 0855 PM 06/17 AWOS
E GRAND FORKS MN 6 SE 60 MPH 0851 PM 06/17 MNDOT
GREENBUSH MN 7 W 59 MPH 0850 PM 06/17 NDAWN
KEMPTON ND 6 SE 58 MPH 0750 PM 06/17 NDAWN
HALLOCK AP MN 54 MPH 0745 PM 06/17 AWOS
BROOKS MN 3 S 54 MPH 1045 PM 06/17 MNDOT
ROSEAU MN 2 E 54 MPH 1008 PM 06/17 RAWS
GRAND FORKS AP ND 51 MPH 0750 PM 06/17 ASOS
FARGO AP ND 49 MPH 0339 PM 06/17 ASOS
FINGAL ND 4 W 47 MPH 0710 PM 06/17 NDAWN
WARROAD AP MN 47 MPH 1003 PM 06/17 AWOS
KENNEDY MN 6 W 46 MPH 0810 PM 06/17 NDAWN
ARGYLE MN 8 SW 46 MPH 0923 PM 06/17 CWOP
GRAFTON ND 10 E 45 MPH 0800 PM 06/17 NDAWN
MAYVILLE ND 2 E 45 MPH 0940 PM 06/17 NDAWN
TENNEY MN 2 W 45 MPH 0245 PM 06/17 MNDOT
THIS LIST INCLUDES THUNDERSTORM AND NON-THUNDERSTORM WIND GUSTS.
OBSERVATIONS ARE COLLECTED FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES WITH VARYING
EQUIPMENT AND EXPOSURES. WE THANK ALL VOLUNTEER WEATHER OBSERVERS
FOR THEIR DEDICATION. NOT ALL DATA LISTED ARE CONSIDERED OFFICIAL.
$$
https://nwschat.weather.gov/lsr/#FGF/202006172231/202006181154/0100
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
305 AM CDT THU JUN 18 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0635 PM HAIL 5 S ADAMS 48.35N 98.07W
06/17/2020 E1.50 INCH WALSH ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
0935 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 ESE MAYVILLE 47.47N 97.23W
06/17/2020 TRAILL ND PUBLIC
MPING REPORT WITH 3 INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN.
POWER POLES BROKEN.
0838 PM TSTM WND GST 4 SSE BUXTON 47.55N 97.07W
06/17/2020 M66 MPH TRAILL ND MESONET
0814 PM TSTM WND GST 4 W REYNOLDS 47.67N 97.19W
06/17/2020 M69 MPH TRAILL ND AMATEUR RADIO
0729 PM TSTM WND DMG GOLDEN LAKE 47.58N 97.64W
06/17/2020 STEELE ND TRAINED SPOTTER
MULITPLE BOATS FLIPPED ON GOLDEN LAKE.
0745 PM TSTM WND DMG LISBON 46.44N 97.68W
06/17/2020 RANSOM ND PUBLIC
TREE DAMAGED REPORTED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.
0620 PM HAIL 2 W BROCKET 48.21N 98.40W
06/17/2020 E2.00 INCH RAMSEY ND BROADCAST MEDIA
RELAYED PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
0644 PM TSTM WND GST 2 NE PEKIN 47.81N 98.30W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH NELSON ND MESONET
0643 PM HAIL 6 NNW MICHIGAN 48.11N 98.17W
06/17/2020 E1.75 INCH NELSON ND BROADCAST MEDIA
RELAYED PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
0648 PM HAIL HANNAFORD 47.31N 98.19W
06/17/2020 E1.50 INCH GRIGGS ND BROADCAST MEDIA
PICTURE OF HAIL STONE - TIME ESTIMATED BASED
ON RADAR.
0756 PM TSTM WND GST GRAND FORKS AFB 47.96N 97.38W
06/17/2020 M69 MPH GRAND FORKS ND AWOS
0746 PM TSTM WND GST 6 SE KEMPTON 47.76N 97.52W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH GRAND FORKS ND MESONET
0731 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW EMERADO 47.93N 97.40W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH GRAND FORKS ND MESONET
0124 AM TSTM WND GST 4 SSW GALESBURG 47.22N 97.44W
06/18/2020 M62 MPH CASS ND MESONET
0725 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S ORISKA 46.92N 97.79W
06/17/2020 BARNES ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEMI TRAILER BLOWN OFF I94 NEAR ORISKA. ALSO
REPORTED A BOAT BLOWING OFF TRAILER.
0947 PM TSTM WND DMG GREENBUSH 48.70N 96.18W
06/17/2020 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
TREE DAMAGE RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PHOTO.
0903 PM TSTM WND GST 4 NE FOX 48.88N 95.84W
06/17/2020 M66 MPH ROSEAU MN MESONET
0844 PM TSTM WND GST 7 W GREENBUSH 48.70N 96.34W
06/17/2020 M60 MPH ROSEAU MN MESONET
0531 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 S GREENBUSH 48.67N 96.18W
06/17/2020 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
REPORTED LOOKING TO THE SOUTHWEST FROM 2
SOUTH OF GREENBUSH.
0855 PM TSTM WND GST CROOKSTON 47.77N 96.61W
06/17/2020 M62 MPH POLK MN AWOS
0833 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 W ELDRED 47.68N 96.89W
06/17/2020 POLK MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
0820 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WSW DONALDSON 48.56N 96.94W
06/17/2020 M68 MPH KITTSON MN MESONET
0741 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NE ROBBIN 48.63N 97.05W
06/17/2020 KITTSON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
MUTLIPLE TREES UPROOTED.
0729 PM TSTM WND GST 6 W KENNEDY 48.64N 97.04W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH KITTSON MN MESONET
0531 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 S GREENBUSH 48.67N 96.18W
06/17/2020 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
REPORTED LOOKING TO THE SOUTHWEST FROM 2
SOUTH OF GREENBUSH.
0540 PM HAIL GREENBUSH 48.70N 96.18W
06/17/2020 E1.00 INCH ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
CORRECTS PREVIOUS HAIL REPORT FROM
GREENBUSH. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
0620 PM HAIL 2 W BROCKET 48.21N 98.40W
06/17/2020 E2.00 INCH RAMSEY ND BROADCAST MEDIA
RELAYED PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
0635 PM HAIL 5 S ADAMS 48.35N 98.07W
06/17/2020 E1.50 INCH WALSH ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
.
0643 PM HAIL 6 NNW MICHIGAN 48.11N 98.17W
06/17/2020 E1.75 INCH NELSON ND BROADCAST MEDIA
RELAYED PHOTO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
0644 PM TSTM WND GST 2 NE PEKIN 47.81N 98.30W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH NELSON ND MESONET
.
0648 PM HAIL HANNAFORD 47.31N 98.19W
06/17/2020 E1.50 INCH GRIGGS ND BROADCAST MEDIA
PICTURE OF HAIL STONE - TIME ESTIMATED BASED
ON RADAR.
0654 PM TSTM WND GST 3 W COOPERSTOWN 47.44N 98.19W
06/17/2020 M55 MPH GRIGGS ND MESONET
CORRECTS PREVIOUS TSTM WND GST REPORT FROM 3
W COOPERSTOWN. NDAWN SITE 3W COOPERSTOWN.
0725 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 S ORISKA 46.92N 97.79W
06/17/2020 BARNES ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
SEMI TRAILER BLOWN OFF I94 NEAR ORISKA. ALSO
REPORTED A BOAT BLOWING OFF TRAILER.
0729 PM TSTM WND GST 6 W KENNEDY 48.64N 97.04W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH KITTSON MN MESONET
0731 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WNW EMERADO 47.93N 97.40W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH GRAND FORKS ND MESONET
.
0735 PM TSTM WND DMG TOWER CITY 46.93N 97.68W
06/17/2020 CASS ND PUBLIC
A COUPLE TREES DOWN IN TOWN - TIME ESTIMATED
BY RADAR.
0741 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NE ROBBIN 48.63N 97.05W
06/17/2020 KITTSON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
MUTLIPLE TREES UPROOTED.
0745 PM TSTM WND DMG LISBON 46.44N 97.68W
06/17/2020 RANSOM ND PUBLIC
TREE DAMAGED REPORTED FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.
0746 PM TSTM WND GST 6 SE KEMPTON 47.76N 97.52W
06/17/2020 M58 MPH GRAND FORKS ND MESONET
0814 PM TSTM WND GST 4 W REYNOLDS 47.67N 97.19W
06/17/2020 M69 MPH TRAILL ND AMATEUR RADIO
0820 PM TSTM WND GST 2 WSW DONALDSON 48.56N 96.94W
06/17/2020 M68 MPH KITTSON MN MESONET
0833 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 5 W ELDRED 47.68N 96.89W
06/17/2020 POLK MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
.
0838 PM TSTM WND GST 4 SSE BUXTON 47.55N 97.07W
06/17/2020 M66 MPH TRAILL ND MESONET
0844 PM TSTM WND GST 7 W GREENBUSH 48.70N 96.34W
06/17/2020 M60 MPH ROSEAU MN MESONET
0854 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 NE HATTON 47.70N 97.37W
06/17/2020 GRAND FORKS ND PUBLIC
DAMAGE TO SHELTER BELT - TIME ESTIMATED BY
RADAR.
0855 PM TSTM WND GST CROOKSTON 47.77N 96.61W
06/17/2020 M62 MPH POLK MN AWOS
0905 PM TSTM WND DMG 1 NW GALESBURG 47.28N 97.42W
06/17/2020 TRAILL ND PUBLIC
SEVERAL ROUNDS OF STORMS WENT THROUGH THIS
AREA DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT
PERIOD. THE STORM THAT WENT THROUGH THIS
AREA AT AROUND 1:30AM WAS THE STRONGEST AND
CAUSED THE MOST TREE BRANCHES TO FALL.
HOWEVER, THE STORM AROUND 9PM CAUSED A FEW
TREE BRANCHES AT LEAST 3-4 INCHES IN
DIAMETER TO FALL AS WELL.
0920 PM TSTM WND DMG STRATHCONA 48.55N 96.17W
06/17/2020 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
A COUPLE TREES DOWN IN TOWN.
0935 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 ESE MAYVILLE 47.47N 97.23W
06/17/2020 TRAILL ND PUBLIC
MPING REPORT WITH 3 INCH TREE LIMBS BROKEN.
POWER POLES BROKEN.
0947 PM TSTM WND DMG GREENBUSH 48.70N 96.18W
06/17/2020 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AROUND THE TOWN OF
GREENBUSH. TRAMPOLINES BLOWN AROUND,
MULTIPLE TREES DOWN, A FEW SHINGLES ON THE
GROUND, SOME GARAGE ROOFS DAMAGED, AND GRAIN
BINS DAMAGED.
1015 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 N LANCASTER 48.93N 96.80W
06/17/2020 KITTSON MN PUBLIC
DECENT SIZE TREE BRANCES DOWN (AT LEAST 3-4
INCHES IN DIAMETER). PUBLIC REPORTER THOUGHT
WINDS THAT CAUSED DAMAGE WAS A BIT AFTER
10:15PM, AND THIS MORE OR LESS MATCHES
RADAR.
1035 PM TSTM WND DMG HILLSBORO 47.40N 97.06W
06/17/2020 TRAILL ND PUBLIC
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTED SOME DAMAGE TO THE
CANOPY AT CASEY'S IN HILLSBORO, IT IS NOW
LEANING. A COUPLE ROUNDS OF STRONGER WINDS
WENT THROUGH THIS AREA, FROM RADAR ANALYSIS
THIS IS THE MOST LIKELY TIME OF DAMAGE.
0124 AM TSTM WND GST 4 SSW GALESBURG 47.22N 97.44W
06/18/2020 M62 MPH CASS ND MESONET
.
0654 AM TSTM WND GST 3 W COOPERSTOWN 47.44N 98.19W
06/18/2020 M55 MPH GRIGGS ND MESONET
NDAWN SITE 3W COOPERSTOWN.
&&
$$
Photos
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| Scattered tree debris within a yard near Pine Creek, MN. Courtesy of Rebekah Dunton. | A large tree limb snapped at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND. Courtesy of Nicole Knutson. | Significantly large hail (estimated 2 inches) near Brockett, ND. Courtesy of Breanna Haugland via WDAY. | Tree down over a driveway in Greenbush, MN. Courtesy of Aaron Lefor. |
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| Wind Damage from farm north of Tower City, ND. Courtesy of Kathy Walburn. | Debris hanging from power lines in Kennedy, MN. Courtesy of Erin Langen. | Giant root ball from uprooted tree at Golden Lake, ND. Courtesy of Jace Pederson. | Overland flooding of pasture and cropland near Badger, MN. Courtesy of LynDele Becker Hamann. |
Radar Loop
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| 4pm to 10pm | 10pm - 4am | 4am to 10am |
Rain Reports
Excessive rainfall occurred over portions of the Red River Valley into Minnesota, particularly in northwest Minnesota near western Roseau County where over 4 inches fell. This was due to the slow movement of a front where training storms utilized anomalously high moisture content and available instability.
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| Estimated event total rainfall. | Flooding in Greenbush, MN. Courtesy Aaron Lefor. | Hydrograph of Two Rivers River at Hallock showing sharp rise in river levels following excessive rainfall. |
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND 114 PM CDT THU JUN 18 2020 ...24 HR PRECIPITATION REPORTS... LOCATION AMOUNT TIME/DATE PROVIDER GREENBUSH MN 4.14 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COOP KARLSTAD MN 0.2 SSW 3.62 IN 0640 AM 06/18 COCORAHS KARLSTAD MN 3.53 IN 1106 AM 06/18 RAWS LAKE PARK MN 7.9 S 2.67 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COCORAHS LAKE BRONSON MN 2.57 IN 0815 AM 06/18 HADS LAKE BRONSON MN 2 SE 2.50 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COOP LAKE PARK MN 9.9 S 2.35 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COCORAHS PELICAN RAPIDS MN 6.3 NNW 2.26 IN 0602 AM 06/18 COCORAHS ROSEAU MN 0.1 SSW 2.07 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COCORAHS LAKE ITASCA MN 2 SE 1.95 IN 1107 AM 06/18 RAWS NEW YORK MILLS MN 1.86 IN 0730 AM 06/18 COOP OTTERTAIL MN 1.5 NNW 1.82 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS LAPORTE MN 1.9 N 1.80 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS PARK RAPIDS MN 15.3 NW 1.79 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COCORAHS MENTOR MN 3 NW 1.77 IN 1132 AM 06/18 RAWS TURTLE RIVER MN 3.6 E 1.74 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS PELICAN RAPIDS MN 1.4 W 1.74 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BAGLEY MN 1.72 IN 0105 PM 06/18 AWS HUNTERSVILLE MN 3 WNW 1.67 IN 1145 AM 06/18 HADS BEMIDJI MN 4.8 NNE 1.66 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BEMIDJI MN 5 NE DNR 1.65 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COOP BEMIDJI MN 7.8 ENE 1.65 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BEMIDJI MN 9.3 ESE 1.55 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS OTTERTAIL MN 1.55 IN 0545 AM 06/18 COOP FLORIAN MN 1 S 1.53 IN 0645 AM 06/18 HADS MENTOR MN 2 SW 1.49 IN 0103 PM 06/18 CWOP PERHAM MN 5.7 E 1.49 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS SOLWAY MN 2.1 S 1.48 IN 0800 AM 06/18 COCORAHS ROSEAU MN 2 E 1.48 IN 1108 AM 06/18 RAWS DETROIT LAKES MN 1 N 1.47 IN 1220 PM 06/18 RAWS VERN MN 2 W 1.40 IN 1115 AM 06/18 HADS PARK RAPIDS AP MN 1.39 IN 1253 PM 06/18 ASOS BEMIDJI MN 2 WNW 1.38 IN 1106 AM 06/18 RAWS HATTON ND 9.1 WSW 1.38 IN 0635 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BROOKS MN 3 WNW 1.36 IN 1100 AM 06/18 HADS STEPHEN MN 5 NW 1.32 IN 1145 AM 06/18 HADS RED LAKE MN 1.31 IN 1145 AM 06/18 HADS PONSFORD MN 10 N 1.30 IN 0103 PM 06/18 CWOP MENTOR MN 2.5 SSW 1.29 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BEMIDJI AP MN 1.27 IN 1255 PM 06/18 AWOS BEMIDJI MN 3.5 WSW 1.26 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BEMIDJI MN 8 N 1.24 IN 0104 PM 06/18 CWOP PELICAN RAPIDS MN 6 E 1.23 IN 1115 AM 06/18 HADS BADOURA MN 2 E 1.22 IN 1106 AM 06/18 RAWS BEMIDJI MN 1.20 IN 0105 PM 06/18 AWS RED LAKE MN 1.20 IN 1109 AM 06/18 RAWS KELLIHER MN 1 W 1.18 IN 1107 AM 06/18 RAWS MENTOR MN 9 W 1.17 IN 1115 AM 06/18 HADS BEMIDJI MN 5 N 1.16 IN 0105 PM 06/18 AWS CLITHERALL MN 1.1 WSW 1.14 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BADOURA MN 1 SE 1.12 IN 1015 AM 06/18 HADS FERGUS FALLS MN 0.5 E 1.12 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS ROSEAU MN 7.8 SE 1.10 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BAGLEY MN 16.6 SSE 1.07 IN 0830 AM 06/18 COCORAHS RICHVILLE MN 5.8 SSW 1.04 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS DEER CREEK MN 2.0 WSW 1.04 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS RED LAKE MN 1.03 IN 0104 PM 06/18 AWS FERGUS FALLS MN 5.6 NNE 1.02 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS BLACKDUCK MN 1.01 IN 1259 PM 06/18 RAWS LANCASTER MN 1.00 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COOP VALLEY CITY ND 2.0 NW 1.00 IN 0700 AM 06/18 COCORAHS
Environment
At 7 PM on the 17th, an upper level trough existed over the northern Rockies with southwest flow aloft and falling geopotential heights. At 850 mb, a low level jet existed over the upper Midwest, extending into MN and western Ontario. At the surface, a cold front extended from near Winnipeg, MB south-southeast through eastern ND and into north-central SD.
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| Figure 1: 7 PM Surface Analysis | Figure 2: 7 PM 850 mb Analysis | Figure 3: 7 PM 500 mb Analysis |
At 7 PM, the mixed layer convective available potential energy (ML CAPE) was between 2500 and 3500 J/kg across much of eastern ND,indicating there was plenty of instability for severe storms. The effective bulk shear was between 25 and 45 kts, indicating that the best deep shear was in northern Red River Valley and to the west across central ND. The significant tornado parameter was between 1 and 3 across far northwestern MN and extended southeast towards the Devils Lake area.
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| Figure 4: 7 PM ML CAPE/CIN | Figure 5: 7 PM Effective Bulk Shear | Figure 6: 7 PM Significant Tornado Parameter |
Also at 7 PM, the Supercell Composite Parameter (SCP) was as high as 12 across parts of the region. The precipitable water ranged between 1.5 and 1.9 inches. And the downdraft CAPE (DCAPE) ranged from 1000 to 1600 J/kg across the region.
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| Figure 7: 7PM Supercell Composite Parameter | Figure 8: 7 PM Precipitable Water | Figure 9: 7PM Downdraft CAPE |
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