Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 113, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 17, 2026Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 17, 2026, 3:53 AM CDT for Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. It was in force for 67 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
Jul 17, 2026, 3:53 AM CDT (08:53 UTC)
Expired
Jul 17, 2026, 5:00 AM CDT
In force
67 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

County Lake of the Woods County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 223 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 08:55 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 severe thunderstorm 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 nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 00:00Z, 8.9 hours before the alert went out and 101 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, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-17Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, International Fa, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-17The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 121 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1756 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
121 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
265 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

438 
WUUS53 KFGF 170853
SVRFGF
MNC077-171000-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0113.260717T0853Z-260717T1000Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
353 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Southeastern Lake of the Woods County in north central Minnesota...

* Until 500 AM CDT.

* At 352 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Carp, or 55
  miles southeast of Roseau, moving east at 25 mph.

  HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated.

  IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage 
           to roofs, siding, and trees.

* Locations impacted include...
  Carp.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4837 9481 4851 9482 4858 9443 4837 9443
TIME...MOT...LOC 0852Z 269DEG 24KT 4843 9471 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Rafferty
2 follow-up statements
713 
WWUS53 KFGF 170924
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
424 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

MNC077-171000-
/O.CON.KFGF.SV.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260717T1000Z/
Lake of the Woods MN-
424 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT
FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAKE OF THE WOODS COUNTY...

At 423 AM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over mainly rural 
areas of east central Lake of the Woods County, moving southeast at 
45 mph. 

HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to 
         roofs, siding, and trees.

Locations impacted include...
Carp.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

&&

LAT...LON 4851 9482 4851 9481 4858 9443 4837 9443
      4837 9464 4843 9478 4845 9482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0923Z 308DEG 40KT 4852 9462 

HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH

$$

Rafferty
181 
WWUS53 KFGF 170950 RRA
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
450 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

MNC077-171000-
/O.EXP.KFGF.SV.W.0113.000000T0000Z-260717T1000Z/
Lake of the Woods MN-
450 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN LAKE OF THE WOODS
COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 500 AM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

&&

LAT...LON 4851 9482 4851 9481 4858 9443 4837 9443
      4837 9464 4843 9478 4845 9482
TIME...MOT...LOC 0950Z 269DEG 24KT 4852 9437 

$$

Rafferty

What forecasters said that day

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

NWS Grand Forks, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Jul 16, 11:19 PM CDT, 4 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 11:19 PM CDT, 4 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1119 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 238 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026

...Synopsis...

The upper level ridging has flattened/weakened a bit, but
additional upper waves are rounding the upper ridge. Ensemble
guidance agrees that through the weekend and into early next
week the upper ridge axis will be west of the region and then
flatten early next week as a stronger system propagates through
Canada, bringing cooler temperatures to the northern plains.
There does not appear to be any stronger synoptic signals for
rainfall/storms given the anticipated pattern, although
mesoscale forcing could provide scattered storms here or there.

...Severe Risk This Evening...

Interesting set up is developing for severe potential this
evening, with what appears to be a triple point across
northcentral North Dakota. MLCAPE near 3000 J/KG and effective
bulk shear 30-35 knots will lead to organized storms. Storm
mode expected to be discrete given lack of strong synoptic
forcing and limited threat area. CAM guidance indicates
convective initiation 5-7p. Initial development will likely be
supercellular along with all associated supercell hazards
(hail, wind gusts, tornado). Regarding tornado potential, the
triple point plus any storm that anchors to the warm front
should experience increased SRH favorable for tornado
development. Uncertainty increases with how the event will
evolve after initial development, although in these situations
storm tipsily attempt to work into the stronger instability
meaning the threat area for the surfaced based severe potential
will remain across northeast North Dakota - and be mainly
diurnally driven with weakening toward 11p or so. The 1 of 5
risk from SPC is based on anticipated coverage.

Later into the night, an area of strong synoptic forming/warm
air advection will bring an elevated severe hail threat to
northwest Minnesota (likely after midnight).

...Heat Impacts...

Frontal boundary has set up from west to east across the region,
with temperatures low-mid 70s to the north of the boundary and
low 90s to the south of the boundary. With dew points around 70F
south of the boundary, heat impacts will continue into the
evening. After today, temperatures will be a bit cooler
(although limited heat impacts will remain for sensitive
groups).

...Air Quality...

As winds become southerly and then westerly overnight, smoke
should move out of the area. That said, forecasting where
wildfire smoke will go is pretty difficult, and as the flow
turns from the north tomorrow, smoke could return, although not
sure how impactful it would be if it does.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 1118 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026

Overall, the main aviation impacts will be between the 08z-15z
timeframe wherein lower cloud bases between 1500-4000 ft may
arise in eastern North Dakota. Cloud coverage may be enough to
create MVFR ceilings at DVL and this has been a persistent
signal so it was added to this routine TAF issuance. Conditions
improve through the day after sunrise, eventually becoming VFR
with mostly northwesterly winds as a front sweeps through the
region. Gusts will peak around 20-30 knots in the afternoon,
diminishing close to sunset late in the TAF period.

&&

.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...None.
MN...None.

&&

DISCUSSION...TG
AVIATION...Perroux
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 2:28 AM CDT, 1 hour 25 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
228 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

MNZ001>004-007-014-015-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-180730-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-West Marshall-Red Lake-East Polk-
Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-
West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier-
Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-
Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
Western Walsh-
228 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated today.

MNZ005-006-008-009-013-016-017-180730-
Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-
North Clearwater-South Beltrami-
228 AM CDT Fri Jul 17 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of northwest
Minnesota.

.DAY ONE...Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms expected across the region. The main
hazard will be lightning, with some of the stronger storms
producing small hail.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated today.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 17, 3:45 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods, Roseau43 min
Jul 17, 4:14 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods36 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

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.