Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 32, NWS Bismarck, ND

August 5, 2025Dickey County, North Dakota

NWS Bismarck, ND issued this tornado warning at Aug 5, 2025, 6:23 PM CDT for Dickey County, North Dakota. It was in force for 24 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued.

The facts

Issued: Aug 5, 2025, 6:23 PM CDT (23:23 UTC)
Expired: Aug 5, 2025, 6:47 PM CDT
In force: 24 min
Issued by: NWS Bismarck, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

County Dickey County, ND

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 72 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:22 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

Did it verify

Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this tornado warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Aug 5, 4:03 PM CDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	8 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), launched 12:00Z, 11.4 hours before the alert went out and 132 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 497 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -170 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 680 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 39 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 91 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 1.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

390 
WFUS53 KBIS 052323
TORBIS
NDC021-060000-
/O.NEW.KBIS.TO.W.0032.250805T2323Z-250806T0000Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
623 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

The National Weather Service in Bismarck has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Dickey County in southeastern North Dakota...

* Until 700 PM CDT.

* At 623 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located 8 miles south of Merricourt City, or 12 miles northwest
  of Ellendale, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
  southwestern Dickey County.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4601 9886 4611 9887 4618 9853 4602 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2323Z 255DEG 23KT 4608 9875 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

TELKEN

2 follow-up statements

673 
WWUS53 KBIS 052333
SVSBIS

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
633 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDC021-060000-
/O.CON.KBIS.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-250806T0000Z/
Dickey ND-
633 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL DICKEY COUNTY...

At 633 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located 8 miles northwest of Ellendale, moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Ellendale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

Heavy rainfall may hide this tornado. Do not wait to see or hear the
tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4601 9878 4613 9877 4618 9853 4602 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2333Z 255DEG 23KT 4610 9866 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

TELKEN

945 
WWUS53 KBIS 052347
SVSBIS

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
647 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDC021-052357-
/O.CAN.KBIS.TO.W.0032.000000T0000Z-250806T0000Z/
Dickey ND-
647 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL DICKEY COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been 
cancelled. However, heavy rain, large hail and damaging winds remain 
likely and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the 
area.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southeastern
North Dakota.

&&

LAT...LON 4601 9878 4613 9877 4618 9853 4602 9850
TIME...MOT...LOC 2343Z 255DEG 23KT 4612 9854 

$$

TELKEN

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Aug 5, 2:21 PM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today.
Severe weather is possible again on Thursday, possibly lingering into eastern portions of the area into Friday.
Quieter and seasonably cool weather expected for the upcoming weekend.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 5, 2:21 PM CDT, 4 hours 2 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
221 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today.

- Severe weather is possible again on Thursday, possibly
  lingering into eastern portions of the area into Friday.

- Quieter and seasonably cool weather expected for the upcoming
  weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 221 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

Showers continue over parts of northwestern and north central North
Dakota, while scattered sub-severe (though strong at times)
thunderstorms continue to develop in south central ND. The big
question remains as to what exactly will happen this afternoon.
The RAP suggests plenty of instability at around 2000 to 3000
J/kg of MUCAPE near the ND/SD border with little CIN by mid-
afternoon. However, with convection that passed through this
morning, and continues at this time, stratus still covers much
of the forecast area. So there definitely remains some question
as to how much the environment can recover this afternoon, and
just how widespread the severe weather threat will be.

Based on current satellite imagery and forecast models, there
seem to be two areas most likely to see more organized
thunderstorm development today. The first is in northwestern
ND, where skies have mostly cleared and isolated strong to
severe thunderstorms are possible. The second, and probably the
most favorable area for severe weather, is the south central,
especially along and south of I94. The south central is where
both skies have begun to clear and elevated mixed layer
dewpoints at around 65 degrees are present. That said,
definitely can't rule out development in the southwest either,
or a few storms north of I94 becoming severe.

Should additional organized thunderstorms develop this
afternoon in the south central, adequate shear is progged with
around 30 to 40 kts of 0 to 6 km bulk shear. Overall storm mode
is favored to be more clustered, though a few discrete cells
may develop during the afternoon. Combined with more than
adequate shear and the potential for a few discrete cells, along
with aforementioned 2000 to 3000 J/kg of MUCAPE, golf ball size
hail, winds up to 70 mph, and a tornado or two remain the
biggest threats.

Once any thunderstorms clear out late this afternoon or evening,
expect mostly dry conditions for the remainder of the night
through Wednesday. There are low chances for shower and
thunderstorm development in southwestern ND Wednesday evening,
but severe weather seems unlikely at this time. Beyond
Wednesday, severe thunderstorm potential returns both Thursday
and Friday. On Thursday, elevated instability and increasing
shear are progged in some model output. This could result in
scattered severe thunderstorm development anywhere in the CWA.
Models then agree that upper low pressure moves from west to
east across south central Canada to end the week. A stronger
trough off this low could produce additional severe weather on
Friday, especially in southeastern parts of the forecast area.

A gradual warming trend is expected through Thursday with highs
forecast to reach the low 80s to low 90s. A cooldown is then
favored to finish out the week with highs in the 70s possibly
returning for much of the state. Lows will also return to the
50s for much of the area.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1256 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected
this afternoon and evening before ending from west to east
tonight. Central and eastern parts of the state are those most
likely to be impacted, with the southwest the least likely.
Still, storms could develop anywhere in the state today. Large
hail, erratic winds, and MVFR/IFR ceilings are possible with any
storms that develop, especially in the south central. Further
MVFR/IFR ceilings are currently present mainly in northern ND
right now, with additional low ceilings expected later
tonight over much of the eastern half of the state.

&&

.BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
None.

&&

DISCUSSION...Telken
AVIATION...Telken

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 5, 2:22 PM CDT, 4 hours 1 minute before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
222 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDZ010>013-018>023-025-032>037-040>048-050-051-061930-
Mountrail-Ward-McHenry-Pierce-Dunn-Mercer-Oliver-McLean-Sheridan-
Wells-Foster-Billings-Stark-Morton-Burleigh-Kidder-Stutsman-Slope-
Hettinger-Grant-Bowman-Adams-Sioux-Emmons-Logan-La Moure-McIntosh-
Dickey-
222 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 /122 PM MDT Tue Aug 5 2025/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, south central North Dakota,
southeast North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible today. The primary
threats are golf ball size hail, 70 mph wind gusts, and a tornado
or two possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Severe thunderstorms will be possible again on Thursday into
Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

NDZ001>005-009-017-031-061930-
Divide-Burke-Renville-Bottineau-Rolette-Williams-McKenzie-
Golden Valley-
222 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 /122 PM MDT Tue Aug 5 2025/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
North Dakota, northwest North Dakota, and southwest North Dakota.

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight

Isolated severe thunderstorms are possible today. The primary
threats are quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Severe thunderstorms will be possible again on Thursday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed this afternoon and evening.

Telken

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 1:25 PM CDT, 4 hours 58 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
125 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDZ020-021-035-051900-
Oliver ND-McLean ND-Burleigh ND-
125 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN MCLEAN...WEST
CENTRAL BURLEIGH AND EASTERN OLIVER COUNTIES THROUGH 200 PM CDT...

At 125 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles east of Center, or 22 miles northwest of Mandan, moving
northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Washburn, Sanger, Hensler, Cross Ranch State Park, Price, and Nelson
Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4700 10113 4708 10123 4717 10121 4729 10107
      4729 10089 4717 10081 4707 10091
TIME...MOT...LOC 1825Z 224DEG 16KT 4711 10114

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

HAMILTON

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 3:24 PM CDT, 2 hours 59 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
324 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDZ021-022-052100-
McLean ND-Sheridan ND-
324 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN SHERIDAN AND EAST
CENTRAL MCLEAN COUNTIES THROUGH 400 PM CDT...

At 323 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Mercer, or 38 miles east of Garrison, moving north
at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Mcclusky, Mercer, and Hoffer Lake.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 4737 10063 4742 10082 4763 10081 4764 10056
      4756 10028
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 193DEG 19KT 4747 10065

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

HAMILTON

Local storm report, Aug 5, 3:36 PM CDT, 2 hours 47 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
336 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0308 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 SSE Mercer            47.42N 100.67W
08/05/2025  M60 MPH          Sheridan           ND   Mesonet

            NDAWN 10 meter wind gust to 60 mph.

&&

twh

Local storm report, Aug 5, 5:37 PM CDT, 46 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
537 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0536 PM     Hail             5 NE Ashley             46.08N 99.29W
08/05/2025  E0.50 Inch       McIntosh           ND   Trained Spotter

            A lot of half inch hail. Rainfall of 1.75
            inches so far.

&&

JAA

Special weather statement, Aug 5, 5:58 PM CDT, 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Bismarck ND
558 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

NDZ037-052330-
Stutsman ND-
558 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHERN STUTSMAN COUNTY THROUGH
630 PM CDT...

At 558 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10
miles southeast of Woodworth, or 22 miles northwest of Jamestown,
moving east at 25 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Buchanan and Pingree.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for southeastern
North Dakota.

&&

LAT...LON 4700 9919 4713 9926 4729 9876 4719 9862
      4697 9866
TIME...MOT...LOC 2258Z 254DEG 21KT 4707 9912

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

HEINERT

The office that day

Everything else NWS Bismarck, ND issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 4, 7:10 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Emmons	35 min
Aug 5, 3:35 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Adams	25 min
Aug 5, 3:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Hettinger	31 min
Aug 5, 4:49 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Hettinger	26 min
Aug 5, 5:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Hettinger	31 min
Aug 5, 5:33 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Sioux	27 min
Aug 5, 5:39 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Hettinger, Stark	51 min
Aug 5, 6:32 AM CDT	Areal Flood Advisory	BIS	Stark	3 hr
Aug 5, 6:38 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Dunn	37 min
Aug 5, 7:00 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Morton	30 min
Aug 5, 7:17 AM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Grant, Mercer, Morton, Oliver	45 min
Aug 5, 8:18 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Morton, Sioux	27 min
Aug 5, 8:44 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Emmons, Morton, Sioux	31 min
Aug 5, 9:14 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Burleigh	31 min
Aug 5, 9:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Emmons	30 min
Aug 5, 9:59 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Emmons	31 min
Aug 5, 11:30 AM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Emmons	30 min
Aug 5, 1:25 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Oliver	35 min
Aug 5, 3:24 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Sheridan	36 min
Aug 5, 3:56 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Kidder	49 min
Aug 5, 4:02 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Sheridan	46 min
Aug 5, 4:25 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh	65 min
Aug 5, 4:39 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure, McIntosh	51 min
Aug 5, 4:44 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Kidder, Stutsman	61 min
Aug 5, 4:46 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey	59 min
Aug 5, 5:34 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh	41 min
Aug 5, 5:43 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Dickey, McIntosh	32 min
Aug 5, 5:58 PM CDT	Special Weather Statement	BIS	Stutsman	32 min
Aug 5, 6:02 PM CDT	Tornado Warning	BIS	Dickey, McIntosh	28 min
Aug 5, 6:12 PM CDT	Flash Flood Warning	BIS	Dickey, McIntosh	6 hr
Aug 5, 6:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	BIS	Dickey, McIntosh	63 min
Aug 5, 6:38 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	BIS	Dickey	67 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 2025 Every tornado warning in 2025 Tornadoes in 2025

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.