Severe Thunderstorm Warning 185, NWS Grand Forks, ND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Rapid City SD
620 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe storms continues through
  early evening.

- Additional chances for strong to severe thunderstorms exist
  Saturday and Sunday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 241 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...Synopsis...

Southwesterly flow aloft with a lead shortwave lifting from near
the MT border through the Northern Plains. Storms have been
ongoing in northeastern ND into far northwestern MN, and will
continue to push eastward along the warm front/theta-e gradient
that is between the Highway 2 and Highway 200 corridors. The
shortwave will move northeast overnight, and upper ridging will
begin to amplify over the Plains tomorrow. Upper ridging
continues to build over the region into the weekend, with
several weak embedded shortwaves possible. By early next week,
the upper ridge starts to flatten and move east, with continued
active weather under southwesterly flow aloft. A trough moving
through Manitoba and Ontario on Wednesday will push east
Thursday and leave the region in northwesterly flow.

...Convective trends and severe threat this evening...

Complex of thunderstorms in northeastern ND is currently
crossing into northwestern MN. Most of the instability seems to
be elevated, with SPC mesoanalysis still showing a good amount
of CIN on surface based and mixed layer CAPE, but there has been
enough mixing to get a few 60 and even 70 mph reports to the
surface. The shear at 0-3km is favorable for brief tornado spin
ups along some kinks in the line, but would need to get some
better low level CAPE developing before that could happen. Think
that this will be the case eventually with sunshine over the
southern forecast area. Even if we don't get a fully mixed
boundary layer, with continued lift, good deep layer shear
around 50 kts, and dew points in the upper 60s to near 70
feeding into the complex, expect some re-intensification of
storms and a continued threat of large hail and winds up to 70
mph.

...Storm chances Saturday and Sunday...

After a break tomorrow, additional weak embedded shortwaves
under the building ridge will bring some rounds of showers and
thunderstorms. Temperatures will be well above average for early
September and there should be good instability to work with. The
deep layer shear is not as strong this weekend as today, but at
30 kts could still be adequate for strong to severe storms.
Machine learning has some low probabilities for severe impacts
for the weekend time period, mainly in the 5 to 15 percent
range. Still some uncertainty, but will have to watch for some
active convective days this holiday weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 610 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

Isolated/scattered shra/TS will slide through the forecast area
this evening with local IFR conditions, but precipitation should
stay north of KFAR and wane by 04/04z. Rather widespread
MVFR/IFR CIGS will slide south into the region after 04/04z,
likely reaching all terminals for at least a few hours into
Friday morning. Improvement will occur by 04/18z from KDVL-KFAR,
but MVFR/local IFR conditions should linger for KGFK/KBJI/KTVF
into the early afternoon. Have left out visibility restrictions
for now, but there is a signal for some fog. Later updates can
address.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...JR
AVIATION...NWS UNR

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
545 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-041045-
West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-
West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-
East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-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-
545 AM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this
afternoon and evening for much of eastern North Dakota and
northwest and west central Minnesota. The main hazards will be
large hail to golf balls, 60 mph wind gusts. There is a chance for
a isolated tornado.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
336 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0327 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 SE Mcintosh           47.61N 95.83W
09/03/2026                   Polk               MN   NWS Employee

            Off duty NWS employee reported branches up
            to 4 inches in diameter being knocked down,
            on and off pea to half inch hail for last 5
            minutes. Location estimated 3 SE of
            Mcintosh.

&&

CJ

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
345 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0325 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 SE Fosston            47.52N 95.66W
09/03/2026                   Polk               MN   Public

            Large oak tree downed. Report received via
            Facebook. Time estimated from radar.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
353 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0340 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 E Gatzke              48.43N 95.73W
09/03/2026  M62 MPH          Marshall           MN   Dept of Highways

            MNDOT RWIS near Gatzke reported 40 mph
            sustained, gusting 62 mph at 1540 CDT. This
            site reported higher gust of 77 mph at 1530
            CDT as thunderstorm was moving through,
            however this observation was deemed
            erroneous due to sustained wind less than 18
            mph, along with suspicious gusts prior to
            thunderstorms.

&&

CJ

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
604 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0423 PM     Hail             3 WNW Elbow Lake        46.01N 96.04W
09/03/2026  M2.30 Inch       Grant              MN   Broadcast Media

            Broadcast media shared photo of hail stone
            estimated to be 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter
            near Tulaby Lake MN. Time estimated from
            radar.

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
605 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

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

0250 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     2 N Beltrami            47.57N 96.53W
09/03/2026  M57 MPH          Polk               MN   Mesonet

            Mesonet station MN114 Beltrami MN DOT.

&&