Alert archive / Minnesota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 83, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 6, 2026Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Jul 6, 2026, 4:11 PM CDT for Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. It was in force for 64 min. 2 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
Jul 6, 2026, 4:11 PM CDT (21:11 UTC)
Expired
Jul 6, 2026, 5:15 PM CDT
In force
64 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), 237 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:11 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
Jul 6, 4:16 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 578.1 N Graceton, MNPWS reports 57 mph gust.
Jul 6, 4:29 PM CDTTSTM WND DMG7 Nne Graceton, MNTall pine tree uprooted at resort. Additional various photos of trees snapped and branches snapped.

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

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 18 minutes after it went out.

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.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 6, 1:40 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC7 hr

The nearest sounding before it

International Fa, MN (KINL), launched 12:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 113 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 2026-07-06Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-07-06The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 5 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
1156 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
28 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
5 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
21 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

123 
WUUS53 KFGF 062111
SVRFGF
MNC077-062215-
/O.NEW.KFGF.SV.W.0083.260706T2111Z-260706T2215Z/

BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
411 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

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

* Until 515 PM CDT.

* At 410 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Zippel Bay,
  or 37 miles east 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...
  Wheelers Point, Williams, Birch Beach, and Zippel Bay.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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

Continuous cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. 
Move indoors immediately. Lightning is one of nature's leading 
killers. Remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to 
be struck by lightning.

If on or near Lake of the Woods, get away from the water and move 
indoors or inside a vehicle. Remember, lightning can strike out to 
15 miles from the parent thunderstorm. If you can hear thunder, you 
are close enough to be struck by lightning. Move to safe shelter 
now!  Do not be caught on the water in a thunderstorm.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4878 9509 4893 9509 4899 9471 4888 9468
      4887 9469 4884 9470 4883 9471 4878 9469
      4875 9465 4874 9463
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 261DEG 20KT 4887 9494 

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

$$

CJ
1 follow-up statement
950 
WWUS53 KFGF 062206
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
506 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

MNC077-062216-
/O.EXP.KFGF.SV.W.0083.000000T0000Z-260706T2215Z/
Lake of the Woods MN-
506 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR CENTRAL LAKE OF THE WOODS
COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 515 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and has exited the warned area. Therefore, the warning will
be allowed to expire.  However, small hail, gusty winds and heavy
rain are still possible with this thunderstorm.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM CDT for
north central Minnesota.

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

&&

LAT...LON 4878 9509 4893 9509 4899 9471 4888 9468
      4887 9469 4884 9470 4883 9471 4878 9469
      4875 9465 4874 9463
TIME...MOT...LOC 2206Z 261DEG 20KT 4892 9448 

$$

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 Jul 6, 2:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Level 2 out of 5 severe risk this afternoon into early evening with a primary risk for large hail along with secondary risk for winds to 70 mph, brief tornadoes, and flash flooding.
  • Level 2 out of 5 severe risk late Tuesday for hail and damaging wind gusts along and south of I-94/HWY 10.
  • There is a level 2 of 4 risk for flash flooding across southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota Tuesday night into Wednesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 2:42 PM CDT, 1 hour 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
242 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Level 2 out of 5 severe risk this afternoon into early evening
  with a primary risk for large hail along with secondary risk
  for winds to 70 mph, brief tornadoes, and flash flooding.

- Level 2 out of 5 severe risk late Tuesday for hail and
  damaging wind gusts along and south of I-94/HWY 10.

- There is a level 2 of 4 risk for flash flooding across
  southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota Tuesday
  night into Wednesday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 104 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...Synopsis...

This week, flow aloft will be generally zonal as upper ridging
in the central CONUS is influenced by at least a couple of
shortwave troughs moving through the crest of the ridge. These
shortwave troughs and attendant surface frontal features will
provide forcing for ascent to drive thunderstorms, including
potential for severe storms capable of all hazards, as well as
flash flooding (more info on these below).

This afternoon's temperatures into the upper 80s and low 90s
coupled with high dew points in the 70s are pushing heat indices
into the 90s, including near 100 in southeast ND and west-
central MN. This combined with mostly sunny skies in some areas,
as well as relatively light winds under 20 mph are pushing wet-
bulb globe temperatures into the low 80s. These factors
introduce potential for minor heat-related impacts this
afternoon, particularly in southeast ND and west-central MN.

Getting into late this week into early next week, ensemble
guidance strong favors anomalously strong upper ridging to
build within the Southwest and Four Corners region, eventually
eastward into the Central and Northern Plains, including our
area. This strongly favors above to well above average
temperatures this weekend into next week.

With early/mid July nearing our climatological peak for hottest
temperatures, this lends confidence toward our area seeing
potential heat-related issues. Despite this increased confidence
several days away, it remains unclear to the magnitude and
exact duration of potential impacts.

The strong upper ridge building into the Northern Plains also
brings increasingly suppressive influence in terms of upper
forcing for ascent/precipitation. However, in these regimes,
mesoscale influences can dominate - thus, confidence in these
details is virtually nill. Should thunderstorms develop within
the strongly heated air mass, it is reasonable to think they
could be strong to severe.

...Severe potential this afternoon/early evening...

A northeast/southwest cold front is working its way eastward
across our area this afternoon into evening, as influenced by a
stout shortwave trough traveling eastward across southern MB
into ON. This cold front will be the focus for initiating
severe storms this afternoon. Ahead of the front is rich
moisture and strong instability.

With flow aloft generally zonal, and weak southerly flow in the
low levels, this presents a generally unidirectionally sheared
regime for storm organization. Bulk shear vectors perpendicular
to the cold front will favor initially discrete modes, with
supercells likely. With supercells as expected initial storm
mode amid strong instability and unidirectional shear, large to
very large hail (potentially 2-3 inches) is brought to the
forefront of hazards. Supercells amid strong instability and
rich moisture also introduces potential for brief tornadoes,
although a lack of stronger low level shear limits expected
upper end strength (not likely to exceed EF-2). Additionally,
ambient vorticity near the cold front also introduces a source
for low level spin should a storm anchor itself on the front. AI-
based guidance like Nadocast and StormNet continue to keep
tornadic potential in the cards as well, increasing confidence
in this continuing to be a potential hazard.

While initial mode is expected to feature supercells, frontal
forcing and marginal anvil-layer storm relative winds will
promote clustering of storms. These clusters then shift hazard
potential away from very large hail to more of a strong
wind/hail threat. Gusty winds to 70 mph can be anticipated,
potentially introducing wind-driven hail.

The transition of initially discrete/semi discrete supercells to
more clusters is anticipated to occur by late afternoon moving
into the early evening hours.

Overall timeframe for severe storms is 3 PM to 11 PM.

Lastly, there is potential for isolated flash flooding with
storms this afternoon into early evening. This is driven by rich
boundary layer and total atmospheric moisture combined with
very high freezing level, strong instability, and potential for
training storms/clusters. Some guidance suggests 2-3 inches per
hour, which would be enough to create minor flash flooding
impacts, especially if this occurs over urban landscape (e.g.
Fargo-Moorhead, Bemidji, Detroit Lakes, etc).

...Severe storm potential late Tuesday...

Today's cold front stalls within SD and central or southern MN
by Tuesday. Another shortwave trough moves eastward through the
zonal flow across the Dakotas, sparking thunderstorms near the
stalled front. This front, and instability near it, is expected
to be close enough to our area to allow for potential strong to
severe storms to spread eastward within southeast ND and west-
central MN. Main hazards with this activity will be hail to the
size of quarters and gusty winds to 60 mph, although should the
front be placed deeper into our area, hail to the size of golf
balls and 70 mph may ensue.

Perhaps more at the forefront of hazards is potential for flash
flooding in these areas. This is driven by strong forcing
combined with very rich moisture overrunning the front, of which
instability will also be present. Rainfall totals of 1-2
inches, perhaps up to 4 inches, is reasonable expectation.
Should this fall on areas that receive high rain today,
excessive rainfall leading to flooding would be increased.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/...
Issued at 104 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

While VFR conditions are forecast, there is potential for
impacts from thunderstorms at KGFK, KFAR, KTVF, and KBJI this
afternoon into early evening. Storms may be strong to severe
holding large to very large hail, gusty erratic wind in excess
of 40 kt, and excessive lightning. This is due to a cold front
sweeping through the region. This cold front will shift winds
from southerly ahead of it to northerly behind it. Overall winds
will be 7-15kt both ahead and behind the front, with gusts to
around 20 kt.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...CJ
AVIATION...CJ
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 4:28 AM CDT, 11 hours 43 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
428 AM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

NDZ006-007-014-015-024-070930-
Towner-Cavalier-Benson-Ramsey-Eddy-
428 AM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North
Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not anticipated today.

MNZ001-002-004>009-013>017-022-023-NDZ008-016-026>030-054-070930-
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-Pembina-
Eastern Walsh-Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-
Western Walsh-
428 AM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a level 2 out of 5 severe risk this afternoon with a
primary risk for large hail along with secondary risk for strong
winds and a tornado or two.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

MNZ003-024-027>032-040-NDZ038-039-049-052-053-070930-
Clay-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin-West Otter Tail-
East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland-
428 AM CDT Mon Jul 6 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 severe risk this afternoon with a
primary risk for large hail along with secondary risk for strong
winds and a tornado or two.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

There is a level 2 out of 5 severe risk Tuesday for large hail
and damaging wind gusts along and south of I-94/HWY 10.

There is a level 2 of 4 risk for flash flooding across southeast
North Dakota and west central Minnesota Tuesday and Wednesday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be required today.

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 2:19 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods56 min
Jul 6, 2:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFKittson, Roseau65 min
Jul 6, 3:13 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFLake of the Woods, Roseau62 min
Jul 6, 3:56 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMarshall, Roseau42 min
Jul 6, 4:23 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFPolk67 min
Jul 6, 5:08 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFMahnomen, Polk39 min
Jul 6, 5:11 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFMarshall, Pennington37 min
Jul 6, 6:01 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFMahnomen, Norman59 min
Jul 6, 6:15 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryFGFClearwater, Mahnomen, Norman, Polk3 hr
Jul 6, 6:19 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFMahnomen, Norman41 min
Jul 6, 6:49 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman56 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.