In an occurrence one major outlet labeled as “bizarre,” North and South Dakota were slammed by a rash of tornadoes on Sunday.
Typically, North Dakota has averaged around 29 tornadoes per year since 1995, with South Dakota checking in at 26 annually. However, as of Monday morning, 19 tornadoes had been reported across North Dakota alone, according to KTNews.
“This was a unique environment where the instability didn’t really favor much in the way of hail or strong winds, but the low-level shear right near the low pressure system and warm front lifting through N.D. was intense,” said NWS-Bismarck science and operations officer Chauncy Schultz.
South Dakota was also affected by the onslaught of storms, writes Weather.com’s Jonathan Erdman, who called the phenomenon “bizarre.”
“It began early Sunday afternoon with a confirmed tornado east of Mobridge, South Dakota, which downed power lines, rolled a semi truck, flipped an SUV and caused some damage to a farm,” Erdman said. “No injuries occurred, according to Walworth County Emergency Management.”
Bismarck particularly hit hard
Bismarck experienced torrential and record-setting rain throughout the day, with 2.44 inches of water falling on North Dakota’s capital city. That shattered the previous mark for Sept. 14 of 1.50 inches, set in 1900.
As a result, flooding hit the area, causing property damage and shutting down roads.
“The Weather Service posted a flood advisory for a large area of central North Dakota between Bismarck and Minot until late Sunday, cautioning of the potential for water over roadways,” said the Bismarck Tribune. “There was a flash flood warning extending from Bismarck south to the South Dakota border.”
A tornado watch continued into Sunday evening for some counties, and the National Weather Service will be able to determine just how many there were after conducting damage surveys.
