Flood — La Moure, North Dakota

2009-03-06 to 2009-03-31 · near Alfred, La Moure, North Dakota

Event narrative

The James River did major flood damage. Overland flooding damaged state, county and township roads. Two hundred and thirty homes were flooded, five were complete losses. Flooding continued into April.

Wider weather episode

This devastating flooding continued into April, and in some cases worsened.

Western and central North Dakota experienced a snowy winter of 2008-2009. Bismarck, for example, had the snowiest December on record, which was also the snowiest month ever on record, with 33.3 inches of snow in December 2008. March 2009 was the fifth snowiest month on record with 29.7 inches. For the entire season Bismarck ended up the second snowiest on record with 100.3 inches. A similar scenario played out all across the west and central parts of North Dakota with locations receiving two to three times the normal snowfall. This set the stage for devastating flooding.

A warm up over the southwest early in March resulted in flooding there. Much more significant and widespread warming came toward the middle of March. It occurred ahead of a storm that brought thunderstorms and heavy rain that resulted in rapid snow melt and ice jams, followed by heavy snow and a blizzard.

For most areas the flooding, some of it river and stream related and some overland flooding away from rivers and streams, was the worst in a dozen years, rivaling and in some cases surpassing that following the winter of 1996-1997. For a few places it was the worst flooding ever. Ice jams, which occur most springs in North Dakota, were more numerous and severe than what would be considered normal.

Losses were tremendous with hundreds of homes flooded, some completely destroyed, and many roads and some bridges washed out. County and township roads, already damaged by the winter plowing of snow, suffered more damage by the flooding. Sections of major state highways were closed due to flooding, including interstate 94.

Agriculture was hard hit. It has been estimated by the Farm Services Agency that because of the flooding over west and central North Dakota, around 1.7 million acres would not be planted in 2009. Using an average value of $300 an acre, that amounts to a potential loss through non planting of around $490 million.

The ranching industry was also hard hit. It has been estimated by the Farm Services Administration that the harsh winter, including blizzards, and the flooding, resulted in 78,000 calves being killed, along with 19,100 cows, 180 horses, and 3,000 other farm and ranch animals. It was estimated that this number of beef cows, had they lived to slaughter, could have fed 800,000 people for one year. The cost loss would be around $50 million. Economic impact to society, impact on communities, uses a multiplier of four to seven times the loss, so $200 million to $350 million.

See entries for the month of April as well.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (46.6200, -99.0200)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 161307. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.