Heavy Rains and Severe Weather Over Kittson County
July 2-3, 2005
Very strong thunderstorms hugged the Minnesota/Canadian border on Saturday, July 2nd.
The heaviest rain was reported in north-central Kittson County in the tiny towns of
Orleans and Humboldt. These rains fell upon already saturated soils from rainfall earlier
in the week. Railroad tracks were washed out near Orleans and there was water four feet
deep flowing across County Road 6 near the intersection of County Road 1. The most
rainfall reported with these thunderstorms was one mile west of Humboldt with 5.51 inches.
Not only did torrential rains plaque Kittson County, but tornadoes danced across
the countryside as well causing tree and farm equipment damage. High winds knocked
out power to Hallock, Lancaster and Lake Bronson.
Listed below are National Weather Service Statements about the storms
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA/GRAND FORKS ND
715 PM CDT SUN JUL 3 2005
...PRELIMINARY STORM DAMAGE AND FLOOD ASSESSMENT FOR KITTSON COUNTY
MINNESOTA...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS CONDUCTED A
PRELIMINARY STORM DAMAGE AND FLOOD ASSESSMENT OF KITTSON COUNTY...
FOLLOWING THE JULY 2ND STORMS. THE STORM DAMAGE TEAM HAS VERIFIED
THAT MULTIPLE TORNADOES, EXTREME DOWNBURST WINDS AND EXCESSIVE HEAVY
RAINS AFFECTED MAINLY NORTHERN KITTSON COUNTY. OVERLAND FLOODING
CAUSED BY THE HEAVY RAINS IS CURRENTLY AFFECTING TRAVEL OVER MUCH OF
THIS AREA THUS THE SURVEY IS INCOMPLETE.
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND
RESIDENTS OF KITTSON COUNTY HAVE HELPED IDENTIFY FOUR LOCATIONS
WHERE TORNADO DAMAGE OCCURRED...MAINLY NEAR HUMBOLDT...NORTHCOTE AND
ORLEANS. AT LEAST THREE TO FOUR DISTINCT TORNADOES OCCURRED IN THESE
AREAS DURING THE SIX HOUR PERIOD...BETWEEN 630 PM AND 1230 PM...IN
WHICH SEVERE STORMS IMPACTED KITTSON COUNTY. TORNADOES APPEARED TO
BE SLOW MOVING OR NEARLY STATIONARY AT TIMES AND PRODUCED DAMAGE
MAINLY IN THE F1 TO F2 RANGE...WITH TOP WINDS SPEEDS ESTIMATED AT UP
TO 130 MILES AN HOUR.
LARGER SCALE WET DOWNBURST WINDS PRODUCED OTHER ERRATIC WINDS DURING
THE PROLONGED STORMY PERIOD. COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE STILL COLLECTING
DAMAGE REPORTS FROM CITIZENS...MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN WITHOUT POWER
THROUGH DAY DUE TO POWER LINE AND POWER POLE DAMAGE.
AFTER MIDNIGHT...A LARGE SCALE DOWNBURST PROGRESSED FROM NORTHWEST
KITTSON COUNTY INTO EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE COUNTY. THIS DOWNBURST
GENERATED WIDESPREAD EXTREME TREE DAMAGE IN LANCASTER...WHERE PEAK
WIND SPEEDS LIKELY RANGED FORM 80 TO 100 MILES AND HOUR.
OVERLAND FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS MUCH OF NORTERN KITTSON COPUNTY
THIS EVENING. MOST OF CLOW, RICHARDVILLE, AND ST. JOSEPH TOWNSHIPS
IN THE FAR NORTHCENTRAL PORTION OF KITTSON COUNTY (AGAINST THE
CANADIAN BORDER) WERE INACCESSIBLE TO OUTSIDE TRAVEL DUE TO WATER
OVERTOPPING THE GRAVEL ROADS. WATER FLOWING WESTWARD FROM ST JOSEPH
TWSP INTO THE LITTLE JOE RIVER FROM 4 TO 8 MILES NORTH OF LANCASTER
WAS RIGHT AGAINST THE EAST EDGE OF OF U.S. HWY 59 IN SEVERAL SPOTS.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OVERLAND FLOWS APPEARED TO HAVE PUSHED ACROSS
NORTHERN AND CENTRAL RICHARDVILLE TWSP OVERNIGHT SATURDAY NIGHT AND
WERE ACTUALLY (SLOWLY) SUBSIDING A BIT SUNDAY AFTERNOON...THOUGH
STILL OVERTOPPING SEVERAL STRETCHES OF COUNTY ROADS. MOST
SIGNIFICANT OVERLAND FLOWS APPEAR TO HAVE PROGRESSED TO THE
SOUTHWEST CORNER RICHARDVILLE TWSP AND INTO THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF
HAMPDEN AND GRANVILLE TWSPS...MAINLY ALONG THE LITTLE JOE RIVER AND
COUNTY DITCH NUMBER 22...WITH NEAR CONTINUOUS OVERLAND SPILLOUT
ACROSS THOSE TWSP AREAS. WATERS WERE STILL OVERTOPPING PORTIONS OF
COUNTY 1, NEAR ORLEANS AND 1 SOUTH OF ORLEANS. DIAGONAL COUNTY 6
FROM LANCASTER TO ORLEANS TO HUMBOLDT HAS SIGNIFICANT OVERLAND FLOWS
ALONG ITS LENGTH FROM 3NW OF LANCASTER THROUGH ORLEANS TO 2 WEST OF
HUMBOLDT. MOST OF THIS FLOW IS STILL WORKING TOWARDS THE CONFLUENCE
2 ENE OF NORTHCOTE ON THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE TWO RIVERS.
HUMBOLDT APPEARS TO HAVE HAD ITS PEAK FLOODING IN THE CITY LAST
NIGHT AND WATERS HAVE NOW BACKED OUT OF THE TOWN ITSELF...LARGELY
FEEDING INTO SALT COULEE.
SALT COULEE NEAR HUMBOLDT IS DRAWING SIGNIFICANT OVERLAND FLOWS AND
IS NEARLY OVERTOPPING U.S. HWY 75 AT 1 NW OF HUMBOLDT. OVERLAND FLOW
FROM CLOW TWSP IS ALSO FEEDING INTO THE JOE RIVER...WHICH WILL
LIKELY COMBINE WITH THE SALT COULEE FLOW IN THE NORTHERN PART OF ST.
VINCENT TWSP...BEFORE MOVING INTO MANITOBA SOUTH OF EMERSON.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
437 PM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 AM HAIL 2 SE FRONTIER 46.78N 96.80W
07/02/2005 0.88 INCH CASS ND FIRE DEPT/RESCUE
0615 AM HAIL 5 N RUSTAD 46.81N 96.74W
07/02/2005 0.75 INCH CLAY MN PUBLIC
0820 PM HAIL 4 WNW PEMBINA 48.99N 97.33W
07/02/2005 0.75 INCH PEMBINA ND PUBLIC
1000 PM HAIL 5 NW BISBEE 48.68N 99.46W
07/02/2005 0.88 INCH TOWNER ND CO-OP OBSERVER
1025 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 N CALVIN 49.00N 98.94W
07/02/2005 CAVALIER ND CO-OP OBSERVER
COTTONWOOD TREES UPROOTED ON FARMSTEAD
1135 PM TSTM WND DMG LAKE BRONSON 48.73N 96.66W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN PARK/FOREST SRVC
2-4 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
1145 PM TSTM WND DMG 10 NW HAUG 48.92N 96.34W
07/02/2005 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
4-6 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
1245 AM TSTM WND DMG 4 NW WARROAD 48.95N 95.38W
07/03/2005 ROSEAU MN PUBLIC
2-4 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
0200 AM TSTM WND DMG ECKELSON 46.94N 98.33W
07/03/2005 BARNES ND PUBLIC
2 FOOT DIAMTER COTTONWOOD TREES UPROOTED. TOPS OF SEVERAL
OTHER TREES SHEARED OFF.
0230 AM HAIL 4 WNW FORDVILLE 48.24N 97.87W
07/03/2005 0.75 INCH WALSH ND PUBLIC
0345 AM HAIL 2 S DOROTHY 47.90N 96.45W
07/03/2005 0.75 INCH RED LAKE MN PUBLIC
0400 AM HAIL 7 SSW THIEF RIVER FALLS 48.02N 96.23W
07/03/2005 0.75 INCH PENNINGTON MN PUBLIC
0415 AM HAIL 5 S NEWFOLDEN 48.28N 96.33W
07/03/2005 0.88 INCH MARSHALL MN PUBLIC
0445 AM HAIL 2 NE FOURTOWN 48.30N 95.30W
07/03/2005 0.88 INCH BELTRAMI MN TRAINED SPOTTER
0530 AM TSTM WND DMG 3 E CARP 48.51N 94.58W
07/03/2005 LAKE OF THE WOODS MN PUBLIC
2-4 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1008 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1004 PM FLASH FLOOD HUMBOLDT 48.92N 97.09W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN EMERGENCY MNGR
SEVERAL COUNTY ROADS WASHED OUT. 4 HOMES FLOODED IN
HUMBOLDT, ORLENES AND RICHARDSON TOWNSHIP. MAINLY WATER
IN BASEMENT WITH WATER ON FIRST FLOOR IN ONE HOME.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
750 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0945 PM TORNADO 5 W NORTHCOTE 48.85N 97.11W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN PUBLIC
NORTHCOTE 1S 5W GRAIN DRYER FELL ON SEMI TRUCK, ANTENNA
AND SATELLITE DISH BLOWN OFF HOUSE, GRAIN ELEVATOR TORN
APART, HUGE TREES UPROOTED
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
747 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0915 PM TORNADO 1 W ORLEANS 48.93N 96.96W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
TWO FUNNELS MERGED NEAR ORLEANS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
702 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 AM FLASH FLOOD ORLEANS 48.93N 96.94W
07/03/2005 KITTSON MN COUNTY OFFICIAL
NUMEROUS COUNTY AND TOWNSHIP ROADS IMPASSABLE DUE TO
OVERLAND FLOODING OVER NORTHERN HALF OF COUNTY. WATER 4
FEET DEEP FLOWING ACROSS COUNTY 6 NEAR INTERSECTION WITH
COUNTY 1.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
620 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 AM HAIL EAST GRAND FORKS 47.93N 97.02W
07/03/2005 1.00 INCH POLK MN NWS EMPLOYEE
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
108 AM CDT SUN JUL 03 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1245 AM TORNADO 1 W ROSEAU 48.85N 95.78W
07/03/2005 ROSEAU MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
2 TORNADOES REPORTED TO BE MOVING TO THE SOUTH.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1158 PM CDT SAT JUL 02 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1145 PM FLASH FLOOD ORLEANS 48.93N 96.94W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
RAILROAD TRACKS WASHED OUT NEAR ORLEANS. WIDESPREAD
OVERLAND FLOODING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
1145 PM TSTM WND DMG HALLOCK 48.77N 96.94W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN LAW ENFORCEMENT
LARGE TREES DOWN ACROSS THE COUNTY...POWER OUT IN
HALLOCK...LANCASTER AND LAKE BRONSON.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
814 PM CDT SAT JUL 02 2005
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0757 PM TORNADO NORTHCOTE 48.85N 97.00W
07/02/2005 KITTSON MN TRAINED SPOTTER
TORNADO OF 15 MINUTE DURATION JUST WEST OF NORTHCOTE. ON
GROUND FOR 15 MINUTES.
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URL: http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/severe0050702.htm
Last modified: July 5, 2005
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