Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 15, NWS Grand Forks, ND

July 6, 2026Becker County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 6, 2026, 8:01 PM CDT for Becker County, Minnesota. It was in force for 44 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 6, 2026, 8:01 PM CDT (01:01 UTC)
Expired
Jul 6, 2026, 8:45 PM CDT
In force
44 min
Issued by
NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Observed
Damage threat
Considerable
Hail
0.75 in

County Becker County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 161 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:01 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 tornado 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 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

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 1.0 hours before the alert went out and 263 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1196 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, Minneapolis, MN at 00:00Z on 2026-07-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -23 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
1196 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-27 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1437 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-23 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
114 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

925 
WFUS53 KFGF 070101
TORFGF
MNC005-070145-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0015.260707T0101Z-260707T0145Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
801 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southeastern Becker County in northwestern Minnesota...

* Until 845 PM CDT.

* At 801 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado
  was located over Rochert, or near Detroit Lakes, moving east at 40
  mph.

  This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!

  HAZARD...Damaging tornado.

  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...
  Toad Lake, Height Of Land Lake, Osage, Wolf Lake, Rochert,
  Evergreen, and Midway.

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4672 9525 4672 9552 4686 9585 4697 9580
      4692 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0101Z 288DEG 33KT 4687 9572 

TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN

$$

Thomas
3 follow-up statements
847 
WWUS53 KFGF 070112
SVSFGF

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

MNC005-070145-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-260707T0145Z/
Becker MN-
812 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BECKER COUNTY...

At 812 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Height Of Land Lake, or 13 miles east of Detroit
Lakes, moving east at 35 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and golf ball size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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...
Toad Lake, Height Of Land Lake, Osage, Wolf Lake, Rochert, Midway,
and Snellman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4672 9525 4686 9571 4696 9567 4692 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0112Z 274DEG 31KT 4689 9557 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN

$$

Thomas
179 
WWUS53 KFGF 070122
SVSFGF

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

MNC005-070145-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-260707T0145Z/
Becker MN-
822 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 845 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHEASTERN BECKER COUNTY...

At 822 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Snellman, or 19 miles east of Detroit Lakes, moving
east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

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...
Toad Lake, Osage, Wolf Lake, Midway, and Snellman.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

LAT...LON 4672 9525 4684 9559 4695 9554 4692 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0122Z 288DEG 33KT 4686 9543 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Thomas
083 
WWUS53 KFGF 070135
SVSFGF

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

MNC005-070145-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0015.000000T0000Z-260707T0145Z/
Becker MN-
835 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN BECKER COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT
845 PM CDT...

The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe
limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado.
Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 200 AM CDT for
northwestern Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4672 9525 4684 9559 4695 9554 4692 9518
TIME...MOT...LOC 0135Z 288DEG 33KT 4683 9528 

$$

Thomas

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado 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 tornado warning went out at Jul 6, 7:08 PM CDT, 53 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, 7:08 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
708 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.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 708 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

Cold front has pushed south and east, with winds shifting to the
northwest at Valley City, Grand Forks, Roseau, and other sites
along the northern and western edge of the severe thunderstorm
watch. Convection has stayed out ahead of the cold front, and
although dew points are still quite moist right behind the
boundary, drier air is slowly moving in. Let the watch go for
our east central ND and northwestern MN counties. As for the
convection, will have to watch the intersection of the cold
front and a few pre-frontal troughs across the southern Red
River Valley and west central MN. There seems to be a transition
to more clustering/linear type threat, although can't rule out a
brief weak tornado in a few spots.

&&

.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 /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/...
Issued at 640 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

A cold front is moving southeast through the region this
evening. A line of showers and storms is filling in along this
cold front and will push through the eastern and southern TAF
sites this evening. Once the cold front passes, winds will shift
from the northwest and remain steady around 8-13kts for a few
hours. In the early morning hours on Tuesday, northerly winds
will become light and we will see some SCT-BKN high clouds. Some
light fog is possible, this has been mentioned at DVL and BJI.
We will remain VFR through most of the day on Tuesday. Rain will
move in from the west in the late afternoon and into the evening
hours.

&&

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

&&

UPDATE...JR
DISCUSSION...CJ/Lynch
AVIATION...FGF
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 4:28 AM CDT, 15 hours 33 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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 6, 5:50 PM CDT, 2 hours 11 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
550 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0545 PM     Hail             Winger                  47.54N 95.99W
07/06/2026  M0.88 Inch       Polk               MN   Broadcast Media

            Relayed via broadcast media.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 6, 6:18 PM CDT, 1 hour 43 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
618 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0416 PM     Funnel Cloud     Karlstad                48.58N 96.52W
07/06/2026                   Kittson            MN   Broadcast Media

            Video sent to broadcast media shows funnel
            just south of Karlstad.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 6, 7:26 PM CDT, 35 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
726 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0715 PM     Funnel Cloud     2 SE Hitterdal          46.96N 96.23W
07/06/2026                   Clay               MN   Public

&&
Local storm report, Jul 6, 7:36 PM CDT, 25 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
736 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0700 PM     Funnel Cloud     Bejou                   47.44N 95.97W
07/06/2026                   Mahnomen           MN   Broadcast Media

            Relayed via broadcast media. Funnel was east
            of Bejou by a few miles.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 6, 7:52 PM CDT, 9 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
752 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0750 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     3 WNW Westbury          46.93N 95.96W
07/06/2026                   Becker             MN   Storm Chaser

            Report of power poles knocked over and power
            flashes.

&&
Local storm report, Jul 6, 8:01 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
801 PM CDT Mon Jul 6 2026

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

0800 PM     Tornado          3.5 NW Detroit Lakes    46.85N 95.89W
07/06/2026                   Becker             MN   Trained Spotter

            Roof off building.

&&

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 6, 7:22 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen53 min
Jul 6, 7:26 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker64 min
Jul 6, 7:31 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Mahnomen14 min
Jul 6, 7:45 PM CDTTornado WarningFGFBecker30 min
Jul 6, 8:05 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFHubbard55 min
Jul 6, 8:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threatFGFBecker, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena, Wilkin65 min
Jul 6, 8:39 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFBecker, Grant, Hubbard, Otter Tail, Wadena, Wilkin81 min
Jul 6, 9:08 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Wilkin52 min
Jul 6, 9:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFGFGrant, Otter Tail36 min
Jul 7, 12:33 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementFGFGrant42 min
Jul 7, 1:30 PM CDTFlood WatchFGFGrant, Otter Tail, Wadena, Wilkin13 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Minnesota, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.