A sign of things to come?

Hopefully...!

We received our first SVR of the season this evening:

  
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1016 PM CDT FRI APR 20 2007

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAND FORKS HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
EASTERN GRAND FORKS COUNTY IN NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA...
THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF GRAND FORKS...
NORTHWESTERN POLK COUNTY IN NORTHWEST MINNESOTA...

* UNTIL 1115 PM CDT

* AT 1011 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR
INDICATED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF
PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL...AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF
60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING
FROM 6 MILES SOUTHEAST OF EMERADO TO 7 MILES SOUTH OF
CARPENTERS CORNER...MOVING TO THE NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE ABOUT...
9 MILES SOUTHEAST OF MEKINOCK AT 1020 PM CDT...
TABOR AND ANGUS AT 1030 PM CDT...
MANVEL AT 1040 PM CDT...

REMEMBER SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAN AND OCCASIONALLY DO
PRODUCE TORNADOES WITH LITTLE OR NO ADVANCE WARNING.
Unfortunately things moved through fairly quickly and while it was dark. No structure or anything would have been visible, even if I had made any attempt at taking a gander. I was at a friend's place visiting, when the warning came over the wire and didn't even know anything about it until after-the-fact. Interestingly, the city of Grand Forks decided to activate their sirens for the high winds associated with the storms. According to an SVS at 10:50pm, a gust of 57mph was recorded at the NWS office here in town. No lightning to speak of, so am still awaiting that proverbial "first clap" of thunder for the year...

Maybe this will be a preview of what is to come this convective season up here in the Northern Plains! We will see...

apparently, it's still winter

It may officially be spring, but here in the northern plains, it doesn't appear so. Another winter storm socked the region overnight last night and is continuing over northeastern Minnesota early this evening. Here are some totals as of early this afternoon:


PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND FORKS ND
223 PM CDT TUE APR 3 2007

...SNOWFALL REPORTS FROM AROUND THE AREA...

THE FOLLOWING REPRESENT SNOWFALL TOTALS AS OF 100 PM
CDT.

NORTH DAKOTA

CASSELTON.................................4.0 INCHES
FARGO KFGO................................6.0 INCHES
GRAND FORKS NWS...........................2.0 INCHES


MINNESOTA

ADA 10 NE.................................3.0 INCHES
BATTLE LAKE 7 SW..........................9.0 INCHES
BAGLEY....................................3.5 INCHES
BEMIDJI...................................3.0 INCHES
DETROIT LAKES 2 NE........................5.5 INCHES
ELBOW LAKE................................5.0 INCHES
FERTILE...................................4.0 INCHES
FOSTON....................................3.0 INCHES
GLYNDON 5 E...............................6.0 INCHES
HAWLEY....................................3.0 INCHES
HENNING...................................6.0 INCHES
MAHNOMEN..................................5.5 INCHES
MOOREHEAD.................................5.2 INCHES
NEW YORK MILLS............................6.0 INCHES
NORCROSS.................................10.0 INCHES
PONSFORD 1 E..............................7.0 INCHES
RED LAKE..................................1.5 INCHES
ROTHSAY...................................5.0 INCHES
THIEF RIVER FALLS.........................1.5 INCHES
ULLEN.....................................5.0 INCHES
WADENA....................................7.0 INCHES
WENDELL...................................7.0 INCHES
ZERKEL 2 W................................4.5 INCHES