Bismarck, ND

Weather Forecast Office

Heavy Rain and Flooding on July 8-9, 2019

Overview

Widespread heavy rain occurred across western and central North Dakota on July 8th through July 9th, 2019 as a slow moving low pressure system moved through the area. Heavy rain was mainly the result of thunderstorms with very high rain rates, training over the same areas for several hours. Flash flooding occurred in areas where the heaviest rainfall amounts were observed within the shortest period of time, mainly across Sioux and Emmons counties. In fact, some areas in Emmons County measured over 6 inches of rain on the 8th. Amounts were similar in portions of Sioux County, where radar estimated rainfall amounts as high as 8 inches were observed. This is more than half of the average annual rainfall in these areas. It is also worth noting that this same area received several inches of rain about one week prior, on July 3rd.

High soil moisture and additional heavy rain on the 8th led to flash flooding in these areas, which contributed to a very deep road washout on Route 1806 south of Fort Yates in Sioux County. Unfortunately, this created a dangerous situation for people driving along this road, and sadly led to two fatalities and two injuries. These are the first ever documented fatalities associated with flash flooding in Sioux County.

The city of Bismarck also experienced flash flooding on July 8th as approximately 1.5 to 2.0 inches of rain fell within a mere 30 minutes across portions of the metro area. Although this amount of rain wasn't nearly as much as what fell further south, this was enough to cause flash flooding in an urban area and led to dangerous driving conditions.

Flooding was also reported in the Southern James River Valley and portions of northwest and north central North Dakota on July 9, 2019. These areas received impressive rainfall reports as well, mainly between 2 and 6 inches. This rain fell over a longer duration compared to the rain that fell over Sioux and Emmons counties on July 8th.

Estimated Rainfall Totals from Reports Received

Radar
Photos & Video
Storm Reports

Radar


Radar Loop for July 8th-July 9th, 2019 showing widespread heavy rain.	Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) CREST Max Unit Streamflow Loop. Yellow, orange, and red colors highlight areas that experienced the most significant flash flooding.	Dual-Pol Storm Total Rainfall Estimate. Notice values over parts of Sioux and Emmons counties exceed 6 inches.	MRMS Storm Total Rainfall Estimate. Notice values approaching 8 inches across portions of Sioux and Emmons counties.

Photos & Video

Header


Courtesy of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This photo shows the washout that occurred on Route 1806 south of Fort Yates in Sioux County.	Courtesy of KX News. Vehicle and camper in flood waters downstream from the washout that occurred on Route 1806.	Courtesy of KX News. This is a side view of the washout that occurred on Route 1806.	Courtesy of Alan Aamold, showing street flooding within the Bismarck metro area after storms ended.

Storm Reports

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0345 PM Heavy Rain ANAMOOSE 47.89N 100.24W
07/08/2019 M2.30 inch McHenry ND Public

.

0418 PM Heavy Rain UNDERWOOD 47.46N 101.14W
07/08/2019 M3.10 inch McLean ND Public

.

0530 PM Flash Flood 1 WNW BISMARCK 46.81N 100.80W
07/08/2019 Burleigh ND NWS Employee

WATER WAS BEGINNING TO OVERFLOW THE CURBS
ALONG AVENUE C NEAR DOWNTOWN BISMARCK.

0602 PM Flash Flood 1 SW BISMARCK 46.80N 100.80W
07/08/2019 Burleigh ND Public

            PICTURE POSTED ON FACEBOOK OF FLASH FLOODING
            ON INDIANA AVE WEST OF WASHINGTON STREET IN
            BISMARCK. WATER IS FLOWING OVER THE CURBS ON
            BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.

0607 PM Heavy Rain 5 NNE Saint Anthony 46.68N 100.89W
07/08/2019 M3.85 inch Morton ND Trained Spotter

            3.85 inches of rain in one hour. The Little
            Heart River is flowing backwards due to the
            heavy rainfall. Pea to quarter size hail
            also reported.

0618 PM Heavy Rain 4 WSW LINCOLN 46.74N 100.78W
07/08/2019 M2.80 inch Burleigh ND Public

BROADCAST MEDIA PARTNER RELAYED RAINFALL
REPORT.

0647 PM Heavy Rain 7 S SAINT ANTHONY 46.52N 100.91W
07/08/2019 M2.25 inch Morton ND Public

.

0700 PM Heavy Rain 3 SSE BISMARCK 46.77N 100.76W
07/08/2019 E1.55 inch Burleigh ND NWS Employee

RAIN HAD ENDED AT THE TIME OF OBSERVATION.

0746 PM Heavy Rain 3 SSE TEMVIK 46.34N 100.23W
07/08/2019 M3.03 inch Emmons ND Public

.

1034 PM Flood FULLERTON 46.17N 98.43W
07/08/2019 Dickey ND Public

            4-FOOT DITCH OVERFLOWING INTO THE STREET AND
            DRIVEWAYS. RELAYED VIA PICTURE ON SOCIAL
            MEDIA. STILL RAINING AS OF THIS REPORT.

1100 PM Flash Flood 4 SE Strasburg 46.09N 100.11W
07/08/2019 Emmons ND Law Enforcement

            Water over U.S. Highway 83, about 5 miles
            south of Strasburg, between mile markers 10
            and 11. At the time of the report the
            Highway was not closed, but officials were
            on site to alert motorists.

1100 PM Flash Flood 4 NE HULL 46.06N 100.07W
07/08/2019 Emmons ND Law Enforcement

            LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORTED WATER RISING OVER
            HIGHWAY 83 ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTH OF STRASBURG.
            DELAYED LSR.

1200 AM Flash Flood 9 S FORT YATES 45.96N 100.63W
07/09/2019 Sioux ND Emergency Mngr

            *** 2 FATAL *** EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
            REPORTED THAT FLASH FLOODING RESULTED IN A
            SECTION OF HIGHWAY 1806 BEING WASHED OUT
            WHERE JOE BUSH CREEK CROSSES THE HIGHWAY.
            THE TIME OF THIS FLASH FLOODING IS ESTIMATED
            BASED ON RADAR DATA. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
            OFFICIALS FURTHER REPORTED THAT THREE TO
            FOUR VEHICLES WENT INTO THE WASHOUT. TWO
            FATALITIES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AS A RESULT.
            TIME OF THE FATALITIES IS UNKNOWN.

0101 AM Heavy Rain 3 SSE Temvik 46.34N 100.24W
07/09/2019 M4.49 inch Emmons ND Mesonet

            Corrects previous heavy rain report from
            Linton. North Dakota Agricultural Weather
            Network (NDAWN) station 5N Linton measured
            rainfall for 7-8-19. Still raining.

0101 AM Heavy Rain LINTON 46.27N 100.23W
07/09/2019 M4.49 inch Emmons ND Mesonet

            NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL WEATHER NETWORK
            (NDAWN) STATION 5N LINTON MEASURED RAINFALL
            FOR 7-8-19. STILL RAINING.

0116 AM Heavy Rain LINTON 46.27N 100.23W
07/09/2019 M5.50 inch Emmons ND Public

PUBLIC REPORT IN LINTON OF HEAVY RAINFALL.
STILL RAINING.

0530 AM Heavy Rain 4 ESE La Moure 46.34N 98.20W
07/09/2019 M2.40 inch LaMoure ND Cocorahs

Cocorahs station ND-LM-4 La Moure 4.6 ESE.

0600 AM Flash Flood 9 S Fort Yates 45.96N 100.63W
07/09/2019 Sioux ND Emergency Mngr

            A 50 feet wide by 50 feet deep part of 1806
            south of Fort Yates on the Kenel Road was
            washed away. Estimated time was early this
            morning.

0600 AM Heavy Rain Glen Ullin 46.82N 101.83W
07/09/2019 M1.62 inch Morton ND Public

0629 AM Heavy Rain ANAMOOSE 47.88N 100.24W
07/09/2019 M2.50 inch McHenry ND Public

RAINFALL FROM MONDAY, JULY 8TH 2019.

0630 AM Heavy Rain CHASELEY 47.45N 99.82W
07/09/2019 M2.10 inch Wells ND Public

RAINFALL FROM MONDAY, JULY 8TH 2019.

0634 AM Heavy Rain 2 W Fort Yates 46.09N 100.67W
07/09/2019 M4.69 inch Sioux ND Mesonet

            Corrects previous heavy rain report from 2 W
            Fort Yates. Rainfall from Monday, July 8th
            through Tuesday July 9th. North Dakota
            Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN)
            station.

0636 AM Heavy Rain 5 W WISHEK 46.26N 99.66W
07/09/2019 M2.90 inch McIntosh ND Mesonet

            RAINFALL FROM MONDAY JULY 8TH THROUGH
            TUESDAY JULY 9TH. NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL
            WEATHER NETWORK (NDAWN) STATION. STILL
            RAINING.

0700 AM Heavy Rain 3 WSW Lincoln 46.74N 100.76W
07/09/2019 M2.84 inch Burleigh ND Cocorahs

Cocorahs station ND-BH-3 Bismarck 4.8 S.

0700 AM Heavy Rain 4 NW MONANGO 46.21N 98.64W
07/09/2019 M2.44 inch Dickey ND Cocorahs

COCORAHS STATION ND-DC-7 MONANGO 3.6 NW.

0700 AM Heavy Rain 7 NW ELLENDALE 46.07N 98.64W
07/09/2019 M2.37 inch Dickey ND Cocorahs

COCORAHS STATION ND-DC-13 ELLENDALE 7.3 NW.

0700 AM Heavy Rain VERONA 46.36N 98.07W
07/09/2019 M2.22 inch LaMoure ND Cocorahs

COCORAHS STATION ND-LM-11 VERONA 0.2 SSE.

0722 AM Heavy Rain Strasburg 46.14N 100.16W
07/09/2019 E5.00 inch Emmons ND Public

Relayed through broadcast media. 24 hour
total.

0810 AM Heavy Rain 13 SW Merricourt 46.10N 98.97W
07/09/2019 M2.41 inch Dickey ND Cocorahs

Cocorahs station ND-DC-4 Merricourt 12.6 SW.

0820 AM Heavy Rain 9 E Napoleon 46.51N 99.58W
07/09/2019 M2.24 inch Logan ND Public

ARB observer 397. Rain fell Monday evening
July 8.

1000 AM Heavy Rain 3 W WESTFIELD 46.03N 100.26W
07/09/2019 M5.26 inch Emmons ND Public

TOTAL FROM JULY 8TH EVENING AND OVERNIGHT.
RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

1001 AM Heavy Rain Gackle 46.63N 99.14W
07/09/2019 M2.28 inch Logan ND Public

24 hour total. ARB 4085.

0200 PM Heavy Rain 2 SE ARNEGARD 47.79N 103.41W
07/09/2019 M2.20 inch McKenzie ND Public

VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0231 PM Heavy Rain STRASBURG 46.14N 100.16W
07/09/2019 M6.14 inch Emmons ND Trained Spotter

ND ARB OBSERVER. TOTAL FROM JULY 8TH EVENING
AND OVERNIGHT.

0352 PM Heavy Rain 1 NNW WILLISTON 48.17N 103.63W
07/09/2019 M2.62 inch Williams ND ASOS

ASOS STATION KISN WILLISTON AIRPORT. STILL
RAINING AT TIME OF REPORT.

0512 PM Heavy Rain CARTWRIGHT 47.86N 103.93W
07/09/2019 M2.90 inch McKenzie ND Public

RELAYED BY BROADCAST MEDIA. STILL RAINING AT
TIME OF OBSERVATION.

0530 PM Heavy Rain 1 SE ARNEGARD 47.79N 103.42W
07/09/2019 M3.70 inch McKenzie ND Public

RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

0542 PM Heavy Rain 2 SSE KEENE 47.90N 102.92W
07/09/2019 M4.65 inch McKenzie ND CO-OP Observer

STILL RAINING AT OBSERVATION.

0554 PM Heavy Rain 5 SSE PLAZA 47.97N 101.92W
07/09/2019 M5.00 inch Mountrail ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA.

0600 PM Heavy Rain 3 W AMBROSE 48.95N 103.55W
07/09/2019 M2.70 inch Divide ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA. STILL RAINING
AT OBSERVATION.

0613 PM Heavy Rain BEACH 46.92N 104.00W
07/09/2019 M2.20 inch Golden Valley ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA.

0621 PM Heavy Rain 3 WNW MINOT 48.25N 101.36W
07/09/2019 M2.40 inch Ward ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA. STILL RAINING
AT TIME OF OBSERVATION.

0710 PM Heavy Rain WESTHOPE 48.91N 101.02W
07/09/2019 M3.60 inch Bottineau ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA. STILL RAINING
AT TIME OF OBSERVATION.

0914 PM Heavy Rain 7 SE MARION 46.54N 98.23W
07/09/2019 M5.15 inch LaMoure ND Public

RELAYED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.

0935 PM Heavy Rain DAWSON 46.87N 99.75W
07/09/2019 M3.00 inch Kidder ND Public

RELAYED VIA BROADCAST MEDIA.

1000 PM Heavy Rain CROSBY 48.91N 103.29W
07/09/2019 M1.98 inch Divide ND CO-OP Observer

CO-OP OBSERVER STATION CBYN8 CROSBY. 24 HOUR
TOTAL.

1022 PM Heavy Rain 2 W YPSILANTI 46.78N 98.61W
07/09/2019 M3.50 inch Stutsman ND Public

TOTAL FROM AFTERNOON OF JULY 8 THROUGH JULY
9. RELAYED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.

1216 AM Heavy Rain 9 SE LAKE ISABEL 46.72N 99.64W
07/10/2019 M3.90 inch Kidder ND Public