Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2025

Tornado Warning 13, NWS Grand Forks, ND

June 20, 2025Barnes County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jun 20, 2025, 9:21 PM CDT for Barnes County, North Dakota. It was in force for 39 min. 3 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
Jun 20, 2025, 9:21 PM CDT (02:21 UTC)
Expired
Jun 20, 2025, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
39 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Hail
1.5 in

County Barnes County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 91 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:23 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.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
Jun 20, 9:21 PM CDTTORNADO2 S Sanborn, NDA tornado was reported just SW of the Sandborn exit.
Jun 20, 9:25 PM CDTTORNADO2 S Sanborn, NDA funnel cloud was observed just south of Sandborn.
Jun 20, 9:58 PM CDTTORNADO2 W Valley City, NDA tornado was reported 2 miles west of Valley City.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

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

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jun 20, 7:54 PM CDTTornado WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.4 hours before the alert went out and 194 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-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2025-06-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1726 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Bismarck Municip, ND at 00:00Z on 2025-06-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 180 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
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
1726 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-39 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1897 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
52 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
180 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
480 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.5
Supercell composite
26.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

692 
WFUS53 KFGF 210221
TORFGF
NDC003-210300-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0013.250621T0221Z-250621T0300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
921 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Central Barnes County in southeastern North Dakota...

* Until 1000 PM CDT.

* At 920 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Sanborn, or 11 
  miles west of Valley City, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

  SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

  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...
  Valley City, Sanborn, Eckelson, and Bald Hill Dam.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 276 and 298.
 Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 276 and 298.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 4685 9835 4705 9835 4709 9786 4681 9787
TIME...MOT...LOC 0220Z 254DEG 18KT 4696 9824 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

CJ
2 follow-up statements
398 
WWUS53 KFGF 210243
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
943 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025

NDC003-210300-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250621T0300Z/
Barnes ND-
943 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
BARNES COUNTY...

At 942 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located southwest of Valley 
City near Highway 1 south of Interstate 94, or near Valley City, 
moving east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

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...
Valley City and Bald Hill Dam.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 283 and 298.
 Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 283 and 298.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4684 9821 4706 9822 4709 9786 4681 9787
TIME...MOT...LOC 0242Z 254DEG 18KT 4699 9808 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

CJ
651 
WWUS53 KFGF 210249 CCA
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
949 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025

NDC003-210300-
/O.COR.KFGF.TO.W.0013.000000T0000Z-250621T0300Z/
Barnes ND-
949 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT FOR CENTRAL
BARNES COUNTY...

At 942 PM CDT, a large and extremely dangerous tornado was reported 
southwest of Valley City near Highway 1 south of Interstate 94, or 
near Valley City, moving east at 20 mph.

This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail.

SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.

IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may 
         be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes 
         will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, 
         businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction 
         is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Valley City and Bald Hill Dam.

This includes the following highways...
 Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 283 and 298.
 Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 283 and 298.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, 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!

Tornadoes are extremely difficult to see and confirm at night. Do not
wait to see or hear the tornado. TAKE COVER NOW!

&&

LAT...LON 4684 9821 4706 9822 4709 9786 4681 9787
TIME...MOT...LOC 0242Z 254DEG 18KT 4699 9808 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN

$$

CJ

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jun 20, 7:15 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFCavalier15 min
Jun 20, 8:33 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBarnes27 min
Jun 20, 8:56 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFGFBarnes34 min
Jun 20, 9:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFSteele, Traill54 min
Jun 20, 9:25 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBarnes, Ransom35 min
Jun 20, 9:56 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass49 min
Jun 20, 9:58 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBarnes, Ransom47 min
Jun 20, 10:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFTraill59 min
Jun 20, 10:33 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBenson, Eddy, Griggs, Nelson, Steele57 min
Jun 20, 10:37 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Griggs, Steele53 min
Jun 20, 10:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Ransom64 min
Jun 20, 10:42 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBarnes, Cass, Ransom48 min
Jun 20, 10:47 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedFGFEddy, Griggs, Nelson28 min
Jun 20, 11:04 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBenson, Grand Forks, Nelson, Ramsey, Walsh56 min
Jun 20, 11:13 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFEddy, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson, Steele32 min
Jun 20, 11:17 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Nelson, Steele, Traill43 min
Jun 20, 11:20 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBarnes, Cass25 min
Jun 20, 11:24 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Ransom, Richland36 min
Jun 20, 11:25 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFCass, Ransom, Richland35 min
Jun 20, 11:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFBarnes, Benson, Eddy, Griggs, Nelson, Steele61 min
Jun 20, 11:48 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFCavalier, Grand Forks, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Walsh57 min
Jun 20, 11:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFCass, Grand Forks, Traill56 min
Jun 20, 11:49 PM CDTTornado Warning Tornado observedConsiderable damage threatFGFCass, Richland11 min
Jun 20, 11:52 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFCass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent53 min
Jun 21, 12:16 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Griggs, Steele59 min
Jun 21, 12:32 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningFGFCass3 hr
Jun 21, 12:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFRichland60 min
Jun 21, 12:51 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFCass, Grand Forks, Steele, Traill54 min
Jun 21, 1:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Ransom53 min
Jun 21, 1:12 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Griggs, Steele, Traill48 min
Jun 21, 1:43 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Griggs, Steele, Traill62 min
Jun 21, 1:56 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFBarnes, Cass34 min
Jun 21, 2:07 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threatFGFTraill53 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 2025Every tornado warning in 2025Tornadoes 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.