Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 4, NWS Grand Forks, ND

May 26, 2026Clay County, Norman County, Minnesota; Cass County, Traill County, North Dakota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at May 26, 2026, 4:02 PM CDT for Clay County, Norman County, Minnesota; Cass County, Traill County, North Dakota. It was in force for 29 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
May 26, 2026, 4:02 PM CDT (21:02 UTC)
Expired
May 26, 2026, 4:31 PM CDT
In force
29 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Hail
1.0 in
Wind
60.0 mph

Counties Clay County, MN, Norman County, MN, Cass County, ND, Traill County, ND

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 51 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:01 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 12:00Z, 9.0 hours before the alert went out and 303 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 12:00Z on 2026-05-26Temperature 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 12:00Z on 2026-05-26The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -18 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
2677 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
29 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-18 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

922 
WUUS53 KFGF 262102
SVRFGF
MNC027-107-NDC017-097-262200-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0004.260526T2102Z-260526T2200Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
402 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
  Northwestern Clay County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Southwestern Norman County in northwestern Minnesota...
  Northeastern Cass County in southeastern North Dakota...
  Southeastern Traill County in southeastern North Dakota...

* Until 500 PM CDT.

* At 402 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Perley, or 22
  miles north of Fargo, and is nearly stationary.

  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...
  Halstad, Hendrum, Grandin, Georgetown, Perley, Gardner, and Kelso.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

&&

LAT...LON 4710 9699 4724 9707 4736 9704 4740 9680
      4730 9658 4724 9659 4711 9666 4708 9677
TIME...MOT...LOC 2102Z 114DEG 1KT 4719 9675 

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

$$

CJ
1 follow-up statement
805 
WWUS53 KFGF 262131
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
431 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNC027-107-NDC017-097-262141-
/O.CAN.KFGF.SV.W.0004.000000T0000Z-260526T2200Z/
Clay MN-Norman MN-Cass ND-Traill ND-
431 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTHWESTERN CLAY...
SOUTHWESTERN NORMAN...NORTHEASTERN CASS AND SOUTHEASTERN TRAILL
COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer poses an immediate threat to life or property.
Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Grand Forks.

&&

LAT...LON 4710 9699 4724 9707 4736 9704 4740 9680
      4730 9658 4724 9659 4711 9666 4708 9677
TIME...MOT...LOC 2127Z 114DEG 1KT 4719 9676 

$$

CJ

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 May 26, 3:35 PM CDT, 27 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop late this afternoon into the evening over portions of eastern North Dakota into west central Minnesota. Hail to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60 mph are the primary threats.
  • Near critical fire weather conditions are ongoing across northwest Minnesota through early evening. Near critical to critical fire weather conditions are expected over parts of the region each day through early next week.
  • Well above normal temperatures are expected through early next week, with near record highs into the weekend.
Area forecast discussion, May 26, 3:35 PM CDT, 27 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
335 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Isolated severe thunderstorms may develop late this afternoon
  into the evening over portions of eastern North Dakota into
  west central Minnesota. Hail to 1 inch and wind gusts to 60
  mph are the primary threats.

- Near critical fire weather conditions are ongoing across
  northwest Minnesota through early evening. Near critical to
  critical fire weather conditions are expected over parts of
  the region each day through early next week.

- Well above normal temperatures are expected through early next
  week, with near record highs into the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 335 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

...Synopsis...

A large scale blocking ridge will be the dominant feature across
the Northern Plains and our local area at least into this
weekend, with an eventual weakening or breakdown of the ridge
within our region early next week. As that occurs ensembles show
an increase in spread with clusters congregating towards a
scenario with westerly flow (generally drier) or southwesterly
flow (better potential for precipitation or thunderstorms).
Model consensus after today's thunderstorm chances show very low
chances for measurable precipitation and no signal for
organized convection. Main weather impacts in the next 7 days
(besides the thunderstorm today) will be the extended period of
well above average temperatures and daily fire weather concerns.

...Isolated severe thunderstorms through this evening...

A frontal zone stretching from near Devils Lake to Hillsboro to
Park Rapids is the focus for thunderstorm initiation, with
MLCAPE and DCAPE exceeding 1000 J/KG on the moist side of of the
main front (SB CAPE exceeding 2000 J/KG). Deep layer/effective
shear should generally remain below 30kt and 0-3km shear under
20kt along and south of this from, though it will tend to
increase across the north later this evening (as instability
decreases). This favors pulse/air mass type thunderstorms with
hail and wind threats generally on the lower end of severe
impact ranges (1"/60 mph) through sunset. As would be expected
CAMs shows cellular convection eventually merging into less
organized cells this evening along the frontal zone with a
transition to showers/embedded weaker convection after sunset.

...Fire weather concerns through this weekend...

Recent rains continued to rapid green-up, however as multiple
dry/hot days have occurred there could be curing underway and
considering there is still some dead grass/fuel loading we may see
increasingly dry/critical fuels region-wide daily. As anomalously
high temperatures continue daily at least parts of the region will
continue to see daily RH values around or less than 25%, with NBM
(and it's high bias) already showing values in the 20-25% range late
week into this weekend. Due to the ridge axis aloft, winds aloft
will be weaker in general, so this creates much more variable
surface winds/gusts during periods of peak mixing reducing the
predictability of RFW conditions. At the very least near
critical fire weather conditions can be anticipated over at
least parts of (if not much of the region) particularly late
this week into the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 1254 PM CDT Tue May 26 2026

VFR conditions should prevail for most locations across eastern
ND and northwest MN through the TAF period. The exception will
be where thunderstorms develop late this afternoon and evening
where visibilities could be reduced to MVFR or even IFR.
Coverage along the frontal zone will tend to be scattered in
relation to shower/thunderstorm coverage, with severe
thunderstorm potential in southeast ND and west central MN
isolated in nature. The highest probability for any
thunderstorms to impact terminals (30-50%) would be at KFAR and
KDVL during the evening and early overnight hours. Winds are
generally from the east-southeast 10-15kt with periodic gusts
around 20kt.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...DJR
AVIATION...DJR
Hazardous weather outlook, May 26, 5:44 AM CDT, 10 hours 18 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
544 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

MNZ003-027>032-040-NDZ006-014-015-024-026-028-029-038-039-049-052-
053-271045-
Clay-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Benson-Ramsey-Eddy-Nelson-
Griggs-Steele-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
544 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms late
this afternoon and evening. The main hazards will be hail to 1
inch, 60 mph wind gusts and lightning. Coverage of severe storms
will be isolated.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

MNZ001-002-004>009-013>017-022>024-NDZ007-008-016-027-030-054-
271045-
West Polk-Norman-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-
Cavalier-Pembina-Eastern Walsh-Grand Forks-Traill-Western Walsh-
544 AM CDT Tue May 26 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Near critical fire weather conditions this afternoon and early
evening due to low relative humidity.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

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
May 26, 3:06 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Mahnomen, Norman39 min

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in North Dakota, 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.