Alert archive / North Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 19, NWS Grand Forks, ND
NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Jul 16, 2026, 9:12 PM CDT for Benson County, North Dakota. It was in force for 33 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 16, 2026, 9:12 PM CDT (02:12 UTC)
- Expired
- Jul 16, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Grand Forks, ND
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.75 in
County Benson County, ND
The radar
The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 116 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 02:14 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.
| Issued | Product | Office | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 6:20 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Watch | SPC | 6 hr |
The nearest sounding before it
Bismarck Municip, ND (KBIS), launched 00:00Z, 2.2 hours before the alert went out and 162 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1440 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 2657 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 22 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 19 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 87 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 2.1
The text
As transmitted.
756
WFUS53 KFGF 170212
TORFGF
NDC005-170245-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0019.260717T0212Z-260717T0245Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
912 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Benson County in northeastern North Dakota...
* Until 945 PM CDT.
* At 912 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Maddock, or 19
miles northeast of Harvey, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and golf ball size hail.
SOURCE...Law enforcement confirmed tornado.
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...
Maddock and Flora.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. 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 4804 9937 4785 9917 4785 9965 4801 9966
TIME...MOT...LOC 0212Z 321DEG 19KT 4791 9957
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.75 IN
$$
TG2 follow-up statements
742
WWUS53 KFGF 170227
SVSFGF
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
927 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
NDC005-170245-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260717T0245Z/
Benson ND-
927 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN BENSON COUNTY...
At 927 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Hamberg, or 20 miles east of Harvey, moving
southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
Locations impacted include...
Maddock and Flora.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4804 9937 4785 9917 4785 9965 4795 9956
TIME...MOT...LOC 0227Z 321DEG 19KT 4785 9950
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
TG483 WWUS53 KFGF 170238 SVSFGF Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 938 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 NDC005-170248- /O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0019.000000T0000Z-260717T0245Z/ Benson ND- 938 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN BENSON COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 945 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has moved out of the area. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until midnight CDT for northeastern North Dakota. && LAT...LON 4804 9937 4785 9917 4785 9965 4795 9956 TIME...MOT...LOC 0238Z 321DEG 19KT 4781 9946 $$ TG
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 16, 6:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- There is a 1 of 5 risk for severe storms this evening and overnight across northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
- Heat impacts continue across portions of the area through today.
- Wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 6:27 PM CDT, 2 hours 45 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
627 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
.KEY MESSAGES...
- There is a 1 of 5 risk for severe storms this evening and
overnight across northeast North Dakota and northwest
Minnesota.
- Heat impacts continue across portions of the area through
today.
- 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 /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY/...
Issued at 625 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
The main aviation impact this evening will be a complex of
showers and thunderstorms developing around or near MOT and
progressing east-southeastward. The greatest chances for
terminal impacts will be at DVL, with potential continued
impacts to GFK/TVF/BJI depending on how far east they get before
diminishing.
Thereafter, winds will shift to northwesterly with the potential
for MVFR ceilings to arise at DVL. This should improve after
sunrise as mixing increases, giving way to VFR conditions and
persistent northwesterly winds through the end of the TAF
period.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Heat Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for NDZ024-026>030-
038-039-049-052-053.
MN...Heat Advisory until 10 PM CDT this evening for MNZ001>003-029.
&&
DISCUSSION...TG
AVIATION...PerrouxHazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 12:55 PM CDT, 8 hours 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 1255 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 MNZ022>024-027-028-030>032-040-171800- Mahnomen-South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker- West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant- 1255 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Wildfire smoke will lead to poor air quality. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation not needed today. MNZ002-003-029-NDZ028>030-038-039-049-052-053-171800- Norman-Clay-Wilkin-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom- Sargent-Richland- 1255 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Heat will continue to bring impacts today, with heat indices up to 100 degrees. In addition, wildfire smoke may lead to poor air quality. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today. MNZ001-004>009-013>017-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026-027-054-171800- West Polk-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-West Marshall- East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake-East Polk- North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson- Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Western Walsh- 1255 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms late afternoon into the evening. The main hazards will be hail up to the size of golf balls, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday The probability for widespread hazardous weather is low. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today.
In the hours before
Local storm report, Jul 16, 8:19 PM CDT, 53 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
819 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0809 PM Tornado 1 NW Knox 48.35N 99.70W
07/16/2026 Benson ND Trained Spotter
Multiple reports of thin tornado in open
field.
&&Local storm report, Jul 16, 9:12 PM CDT, 0 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
912 PM CDT Thu Jul 16 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0910 PM Tornado 4 W Maddock 47.96N 99.62W
07/16/2026 Benson ND Fire Dept/Rescue
Tornado in progress 3.5 miles west of
Maddock.
&&The office that day
Everything else NWS Grand Forks, ND issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 8:10 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Benson | 50 min |
| Jul 16, 8:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Benson | 52 min |
| Jul 16, 8:24 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FGF | Benson | 51 min |
| Jul 16, 8:35 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Benson | 40 min |
| Jul 16, 10:21 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FGF | Eddy | 39 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in North Dakota, 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.