Overview
A strong upper level low pushing east along the Canadian border helped set the environment for severe weather on Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016. Thunderstorms produced tornadoes, damaging winds, baseball size hail, as well as flash flooding across parts of eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. The tabs on this page contain information regarding this event.
Tornadoes: (Updated information below - 8/9/16)
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Tornado - Bisbee, ND
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT - 8/4/16
...NWS Damage Survey for 08/03/16 Towner County Tornado Event... .OVERVIEW...A National Weather Service Storm Damage Assessment Team has reviewed damage across portions of southeast Rolette County and westcentral Towner County... resulting from storms on the late afternoon and early evening of August 3rd. There were no injuries and no fatalities from this tornado. Based on video and photographic evidence... plus multiple eyewitness accounts... it is clear that a very large multi-vortex tornado tracked from southeast Rolette County...south of Milo...into westcentral Towner County...passing north of Bisbee...between about 530 and 625 pm cdt. With additional downburst wind damage extending eastward across central Towner County. Storm damage at two farmsteads in Rolette County and at least two farmsteads in Towner County had tree and building damage consistent with and EF2 rating on the Enhanced Fujita scale...with maximum winds to 120 mph. Also in Towner County...multiple stretches of wooden power poles had numerous crack and or snapped poles. A multi-vortex tornado is a large tornado...often more than a half mile in diameter...with multiple smaller tornado vortices all rotating around the common mesocyclone center. In this case multiple storm spotters reported seeing two or more vortices extending from the larger common center... though at a distance only one large wedge shaped tornado was apparent. For the Towner County ND portion of this tornado track... Rating: EF-2 Estimated peak wind: 120 mph Path length /Statute/: More than 12 miles Path width /Maximum/: 1200 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries:0 Start date: Aug 3 2016 Start time: 545 PM CDT Start location: 5 miles west of Bisbee, North Dakota Start lat/lon: 48.63 / -99.49 End date: Aug 3 2016 End time: 625 PM CDT End location: 4 miles north northeast Arndt, North Dakota End lat/lon: 48.68 / -99.20 Due to the complex nature and large size of this multi-vortex tornado...additional analysis is still being completed and a more thorough report will be forthcoming. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies Tornadoes into the following categories. EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ NWS Storm Damage Assessment Team
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT - 8/9/16
...NWS Damage Survey for 08/03/16 Ramsey and Eddy County Tornado Events... .OVERVIEW...A National Weather Service Storm Damage Assessment Team has reviewed damage from two tornadoes which occurred across portions of central Ramsey County and one tornado which occurred across central Eddy County... resulting from storms in the early evening of August 3rd. There were no injuries and no fatalities from these tornadoes. Based on video and photographic evidence... plus multiple eyewitness accounts... it is clear that two separate and distinct but weak tornadoes occurred about the same time and in close proximity near the Sweetwater Lake area north of Devils Lake. No significant damage was detected by a storm survey team to the area. South of Devils Lake...in Eddy County...multiple brief funnels clouds and at least one strong tornado occurred shortly after the Sweetwater Lakes events. The strong tornado cross the sheyenne river valley in far southeastern Hillsdale Township...in central Eddy County...snapping and uprooting numerous oak and pine trees across the Sheyenne River Valley and into one farmstead location. Photos show that at this farmstead... several farm outbuildings, sheds, and barns were completely destroyed with debris spread over a quarter mile. A newly remodeled farm house had its roof and upper half story completely removed by the storm and was shifted off its foundation. .TORNADO #1... Rating: EF-0 Estimated peak wind: 75 mph Path length /Statute/: 1.1 miles Path width /Maximum/: 40 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries:0 Start date: Aug 3 2016 Start time: 840 PM cdt CDT Start location: 9 miles NNE of Devils Lake, North Dakota Start lat/lon: 48.23 / -99.80 End date: Aug 3 2016 End time: 843 PM CDT End location: 10 miles NNE of Devils Lake, North Dakota End lat/lon: 48.23 / -99.79 This tornado touched down northeast of Sweetwater Lake and tracked eastward over mainly open fields and marsh land. .TORNADO #2... Rating: EF-0 Estimated peak wind: 75 mph Path length /Statute/: 0.8 miles Path width /Maximum/: 40 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries:0 Start date: Aug 3 2016 Start time: 841 PM cdt CDT Start location: 6 miles N of Devils Lake, North Dakota Start lat/lon: 48.20 / -99.84 End date: Aug 3 2016 End time: 843 PM CDT End location: 6.5 miles NNE of Devils Lake, North Dakota End lat/lon: 48.19 / -99.83 This tornado touched down southwest of Sweetwater Lake and tracked southeastward over mainly open fields and marsh land. .TORNADO #3... Rating: EF-2 Estimated peak wind: 135 mph Path length /Statute/: 3.0 miles Path width /Maximum/: 300 yards Fatalities: 0 Injuries:0 Start date: Aug 3 2016 Start time: 910 PM cdt CDT Start location: 9 miles SW of Warwick, North Dakota Start lat/lon: 47.76 / -99.85 End date: Aug 3 2016 End time: 920 PM CDT End location: 6.5 miles SSW of Warwick, North Dakota End lat/lon: 47.78 / -98.79 This tornado produced widespread tree damage across the Sheyenne River Valley and largely demolished one farmstead. EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale Classifies Tornadoes into the following categories. EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph EF4...Violent...166 To 200 mph EF5...Violent...>200 mph NOTE: The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS Storm Data. $$ NWS Storm Damage Assessment Team
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
| EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Photos & Video:
Below are a few photos from the event (click to enlarge).
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| Storm near Wolford/BIsbee, ND (Courtesy of Brandon Copic/Alex Haworth) |
Storm near Wolford/BIsbee, ND (Courtesy of Brandon Copic/Alex Haworth) |
Tree damage northeast of Bisbee, ND (NWS Survey) |
Radar:
Below is a radar reflectivity loop valid from 315 PM on August 3rd to 345 AM on August 4th.
Storm Reports
Below is a storm report map as well as the local storm report summary text product for this event.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
1246 PM CDT THU AUG 04 2016
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0545 PM TORNADO 6 S PERTH 48.63N 99.46W
08/03/2016 TOWNER ND STORM CHASER
WIDE TORNADO OBSERVED TRACKING ACROSS THE ROLETTE-TOWNER
COUNTY LINE NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF AGATE. TIME AND
LOCATION BASED ON STREAMING VIDEO AND SOCIAL MEDIA
REPORT.
0555 PM TSTM WND DMG 4 W BISBEE 48.63N 99.47W
08/03/2016 TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
TRANSFORMER LINES AND POWER POLES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED.
0559 PM TORNADO 1 N BISBEE 48.64N 99.38W
08/03/2016 TOWNER ND STORM CHASER
INTERMITTENT TOUCHDOWNS REPORTED AND FILMED ACROSS
SOUTHERN GRAINFIELD TOWNSHIP.
0623 PM TSTM WND DMG 6 ENE BISBEE 48.66N 99.26W
08/03/2016 TOWNER ND STORM CHASER
POWER LINES DOWN AND LOWER POLE SNAPPED ALONG HWY 281...
1 TO 2 MILES NORTH OF INTERSECTION WITH HWY 66. VIDEO AND
REPORTS POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0645 PM HAIL 4 W BISBEE 48.63N 99.47W
08/03/2016 E2.75 INCH TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
LARGE HAIL ALONG HIGHWAY 66.
0655 PM TSTM WND GST 4 N CANDO 48.55N 99.20W
08/03/2016 M60.00 MPH TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
MEASURED BY MOBILE EQUIPMENT.
0657 PM HEAVY RAIN 3 W BISBEE 48.63N 99.44W
08/03/2016 U0.00 INCH TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
DITCHES FLOWING FULL WITH WATER BEGINNING TO RUN UP ON
HIGHWAY 66.
0705 PM HEAVY RAIN ROCKLAKE 48.79N 99.25W
08/03/2016 U0.00 INCH TOWNER ND BROADCAST MEDIA
HEAVY RAIN AND STREET FLOODING REPORTED.
0720 PM TSTM WND GST 1 WNW HAMPDEN 48.54N 98.67W
08/03/2016 M61.00 MPH CAVALIER ND MESONET
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE HAMPDEN RAWS STATION. TIME
ESTIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
0723 PM HAIL CANDO 48.49N 99.20W
08/03/2016 E1.00 INCH TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAIN.
0726 PM HAIL CANDO 48.49N 99.20W
08/03/2016 M1.50 INCH TOWNER ND PUBLIC
REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0730 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 W BISBEE 48.63N 99.44W
08/03/2016 TOWNER ND LAW ENFORCEMENT
HIGHWAY 66 CLOSED DUE TO WATER FLOWING ACROSS. AREA
FIELDS AND DITCHES FLOODING TGROUHGOUT GRAINFIELD...
SORENSON....NEW CITY AND GERRARD TOWNSHIPS.
0731 PM TSTM WND DMG LANGDON 48.76N 98.37W
08/03/2016 CAVALIER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
A FEW LARGE TREE BRANCHES AND LIMBS BROKEN DOWN AROUND
TOWN. AT LEAST ON 12 INCH DIAMETER TREE SNAPPED NEAR THE
GROUND.
0733 PM TSTM WND GST 1 E LANGDON 48.76N 98.35W
08/03/2016 M58.00 MPH CAVALIER ND MESONET
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT A PERSONAL WEATHER STATION.
0738 PM HAIL 10 W MINNEWAUKAN 48.07N 99.47W
08/03/2016 E1.00 INCH BENSON ND TRAINED SPOTTER
QUARTER SIZED HAIL AND SMALLER WITH HEAVY RAIN
0740 PM HAIL 4 W MAZA 48.39N 99.29W
08/03/2016 M2.00 INCH TOWNER ND TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0828 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 W NEW ROCKFORD 47.68N 99.20W
08/03/2016 EDDY ND TRAINED SPOTTER
BRIEF FUNNEL CLOUD LOWERINGS VIEWED WEST OF TOWN.
0829 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 3 NW DEVILS LAKE 48.14N 98.92W
08/03/2016 RAMSEY ND TRAINED SPOTTER
PERSISTENT WALL CLOUD WITH BRIEF FUNNELS EVIDENT. LOCATED
JUST A MILE OR 2 NORTHWEST OF THE CITY LIMITS.
0835 PM HAIL 1 N DEVILS LAKE 48.13N 98.87W
08/03/2016 E0.88 INCH RAMSEY ND TRAINED SPOTTER
0838 PM FUNNEL CLOUD 2 SSE SHEYENNE 47.80N 99.10W
08/03/2016 EDDY ND STORM CHASER
PERSISTENT WALL CLOUD WITH FUNNEL CLOUD VIEWED AND
PHOTOGRAPHED. REPORT AND PHOTO POSTED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
0841 PM TORNADO 2 ENE DEVILS LAKE 48.12N 98.83W
08/03/2016 RAMSEY ND TRAINED SPOTTER
TWIN TORNADO VORTICES VIEWED...AND FILMED JUST NORTH TO
NORTHEAST OF DEVILS LAKE. MULTIPLE REPORTS RECEIVED FROM
CHASERS AND SPOTTERS. TORNADOES LASTED FOR 2 TO THREE
MINUTES.
0900 PM TSTM WND GST 7 WNW FOREST RIVER 48.26N 97.61W
08/03/2016 M57.00 MPH WALSH ND MESONET
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE NDAWN STATION.
0916 PM TORNADO 10 WSW HAMAR 47.79N 98.77W
08/03/2016 EDDY ND TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO TRACKING INTO FAR SOUTHWEST EDDY TOWNSHIP...
ABOUT 6 SSW OF WARWICK.
1028 PM TSTM WND GST 5 WNW GRAND FORKS 47.94N 97.17W
08/03/2016 M59.00 MPH GRAND FORKS ND ASOS
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE GRAND FORKS INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
1042 PM TSTM WND GST GRAND FORKS AFB 47.96N 97.38W
08/03/2016 M62.00 MPH GRAND FORKS ND OTHER FEDERAL
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE GFAFB.
1049 PM HEAVY RAIN GRAND FORKS 47.92N 97.07W
08/03/2016 E0.00 INCH GRAND FORKS ND AMATEUR RADIO
STREET FLOODING AND MINOR UNDERPASS FLOODING REPORTED.
1110 PM TSTM WND GST 4 N MCLEOD 46.45N 97.30W
08/03/2016 M69.00 MPH RANSOM ND MESONET
PEAK WIND MEASURED AT THE RAWS STATION. TIME ESTIMATED
BASED ON RADAR.
1140 PM FLASH FLOOD GRAND FORKS 47.92N 97.07W
08/03/2016 GRAND FORKS ND NWS EMPLOYEE
AREAS OF UNIVERSITY AND DEMERS AVENUES...AND NEARBY
PORTIONS OF WASHINGTON STREET WERE FLOODED AND
IMPASSABLE. UNDERPASS FLOODED AND BLOCKED TO TRAFFIC.
OUTLYING AREAS ON 42ND STREET WERE ALSO FLOODED.
1143 PM TSTM WND DMG 5 SW LISBON 46.39N 97.76W
08/03/2016 RANSOM ND PUBLIC
LOCALIZED AREA OF DAMAGE. PARTIAL ROOF DAMAGE TO HOME AND
TWO LARGE TREES DOWN. TIME APPROXIMATED BASED ON RADAR.
1145 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 ENE EAST GRAND FORKS 47.94N 96.98W
08/03/2016 POLK MN NWS STORM SURVEY
FIELD AND FARM ACCESS ROADS FLOODED NEAR CR17 AND HIGHWAY
2.
1201 AM TSTM WND GST 1 NW GWINNER 46.23N 97.67W
08/04/2016 E60.00 MPH SARGENT ND TRAINED SPOTTER
REPORT POSTED ONLINE.
0145 AM TSTM WND DMG 7 NNE DETROIT LAKES 46.91N 95.79W
08/04/2016 BECKER MN PUBLIC
ALONG HWY 113 BETWEEN RICHWOOD AND DETROIT LAKES THERE
WAS AN AREA OF WIND DAMAGE. TWO SEMI-TRUCKS WERE
OVERTURNED ALONG WITH DAMAGE TO GRAIN BINS. THIS
INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND MAY BE UPDATED PENDING
STORM SURVEY.
0211 AM TSTM WND GST PARK RAPIDS 46.92N 95.06W
08/04/2016 M58.00 MPH HUBBARD MN ASOS
PEAK GUST AT PARK RAPIDS AIRPORT ASOS
0226 AM TSTM WND DMG MENAHGA 46.75N 95.10W
08/04/2016 WADENA MN TRAINED SPOTTER
ROOF BLOWN OFF BUILDING...ESTIMATED 70MPH.
0230 AM TSTM WND DMG 10 SE PARK RAPIDS 46.82N 94.91W
08/04/2016 HUBBARD MN PUBLIC
NUMEROUS LARGE TREES DOWN AT DUCK LAKE, BLOCKING ROADS.
TIME APPROXIMATE FROM RADAR. FACEBOOK INFO FROM DUCK LAKE
PAGE.
Rain Reports
Below is a radar estimated rainfall graphic for Wednesday's event valid from 5:00 AM on 8/3 to 5:00 AM on 8/4.
...Rainfall Reports... The following are rainfall reports from thunderstorms that occurred Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rainfall amounts of 0.25 inch or more are listed below. Location Amount Goodridge MN 12 NNW 4.33 in Fertile MN 3.75 in Wilton MN 3 SE 2.61 in Brooks MN 3 WNW (Lost R) 2.60 in Laporte MN 2 WNW 2.40 in Itasca MN (DNR) 2.32 in Thief River Falls MN 2.30 in Waskish MN 4 NE (Tamarac R) 2.26 in Thorhult MN 2.25 in Mahnomen MN (AP) 2.19 in Thief River Falls MN (Red Lk 2.17 in Mavie MN 2 S (NDAWN) 2.16 in Fosston MN (AP) 2.13 in Warren MN 3 ENE (Morkassel) 2.11 in Holt MN 6 E (Thief River) 2.02 in Warren MN 3 SW (NDAWN) 1.99 in Mavie MN 5 SSE 1.96 in Poland ND 1 E 1.96 in Grand Forks ND (NWS) 1.95 in Red Lake Falls MN 1.89 in Bagley MN 23 S (Long Lost Lk 1.87 in Alvarado MN (Snake R) 1.82 in Mahnomen MN 1 SE (Wild Rice 1.82 in Bemidji MN (State Park) 1.80 in Wilton MN 6 NE 1.79 in Crookston MN 1.76 in Grand Forks ND (AFB) 1.75 in Saum MN 3 WSW (Battle R) 1.75 in Thief River Falls MN 5 N (Th 1.73 in Lancaster MN 1.72 in Hallock MN (Two Rivers) 1.70 in Kelliher MN (DNR) 1.70 in Ponsford MN 10 N 1.65 in St. Thomas ND (NDAWN) 1.62 in Gatzke MN 9 SW (DNR) 1.60 in Grygla MN 6 WNW (Mud R) 1.54 in Hampden ND 1.52 in Grand Forks ND (AP) 1.50 in Florian MN (Tamarac R) 1.50 in Tamarac Wildlife Refuge MN 1.50 in Hallock MN (AP) 1.49 in Humboldt MN (NDAWN) 1.49 in Kennedy MN 6 W (NDAWN) 1.41 in Cavalier ND 7 NW 1.40 in Pembina ND 1.40 in Greenbush MN (NDAWN) 1.35 in Karlstad MN (DNR) 1.34 in Osnabrock ND 3 SW 1.34 in Greenbush MN 1.33 in Grand Forks ND 2 SSE 1.33 in Kennedy MN 6 WNW (Kittson CD 1.32 in Backoo ND 3 WNW 1.31 in Newfolden MN 1.30 in Park Rapids MN (AP) 1.30 in Langdon ND 1.29 in Waskish MN (AP) 1.22 in Cando ND (NDAWN) 1.19 in Pennington MN 2 S (Knutson D 1.15 in Forest River ND (NDAWN) 1.12 in Twin Valley MN 1.11 in Baudette MN 12 S (Rapid R) 1.09 in Grand Forks ND 5 WSW 1.06 in Turtle River MN 1.06 in Roseau MN 1.05 in Lankin ND 6 E 1.00 in Badoura MN (DNR) 0.98 in Caribou MN (Roseau R) 0.96 in Ada MN 0.91 in Roseau MN (Roseau R) 0.90 in Malung MN (Roseau R) 0.88 in Bemidji MN (AP) 0.87 in Roseau MN (DNR) 0.81 in Grand Forks ND 4 SSW 0.80 in Menahga MN 1 W 0.78 in Eldred MN (NDAWN) 0.76 in Baudette MN 3 S (DNR) 0.69 in Lisbon ND 2 W (NDAWN) 0.61 in Michigan ND 2 W (NDAWN) 0.60 in Hoffman MN 3 S 0.60 in Galesburg ND (NDAWN) 0.59 in Wyndmere ND 10 ESE (NDAWN) 0.58 in Baudette MN (AP) 0.55 in Mcleod ND 3 N 0.55 in Lisbon ND 0.53 in Wadena MN 13 E (Leaf R) 0.52 in Warroad MN (AP) 0.52 in Campbell MN 4 W (Rabbitt R) 0.51 in Roseau MN 3 W 0.50 in Lidgerwood ND 0.50 in Roseau MN (AP) 0.50 in Detroit Lakes MN (DNR) 0.48 in Clementson MN (Rapid R) 0.47 in Elbow Lake MN (AP) 0.46 in Perley MN (NDAWN) 0.42 in Kempton ND 2 NE 0.41 in Cormorant MN 5 NW 0.40 in Dalton MN 4 WNW 0.39 in Richville MN 1 NW 0.38 in Fergus Falls MN (AP) 0.37 in Fergus Falls MN 3 W (Pelican 0.36 in Campbell MN (Rabitt R) 0.34 in Havana ND 0.34 in Leonard ND (NDAWN) 0.33 in Mayville ND (NDAWN) 0.32 in Elizabeth MN 6 E (Ottertail 0.30 in Deer Creek MN 1 W 0.30 in Barrie ND 2 WSW (Ekre NDAWN) 0.29 in Felton MN 6 ENE (SB Wild Ric 0.29 in Detroit Lakes MN (AP) 0.28 in Fargo ND (AP) 0.28 in Inkster ND 3 WNW (NDAWN) 0.28 in Dunvilla MN 4 W 0.28 in Fort Totten ND 0.27 in Mayville ND 0.27 in Breckenridge MN (Ottertail R 0.26 in Clitherall MN 1 WSW 0.26 in New York Mills MN 0.26 in Battle Lake MN 2 S 0.25 in Observations are collected from a variety of sources with varying equipment and exposures. Not all data listed are considered official.
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