Alert archive / Minnesota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 29, NWS Grand Forks, ND

September 3, 2026Grant County, Otter Tail County, Minnesota

NWS Grand Forks, ND issued this tornado warning at Sep 3, 2026, 7:38 PM CDT for Grant County, Otter Tail County, Minnesota. It was in force for 52 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: Sep 3, 2026, 7:38 PM CDT (00:38 UTC)
Expired: Sep 3, 2026, 8:30 PM CDT
In force: 52 min
Issued by: NWS Grand Forks, ND
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 2.0 in

Counties Grant County, MN, Otter Tail County, MN

The radar

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 187 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 00:42 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
Sep 3, 12:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Watch	SPC	11 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 00:00Z, 0.6 hours before the alert went out and 231 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-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

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: 2812 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -98 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1076 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 41 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 116 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 233 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 2.0
Supercell composite: 8.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

558 
WFUS53 KFGF 040038
TORFGF
MNC051-111-040130-
/O.NEW.KFGF.TO.W.0029.260904T0038Z-260904T0130Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
738 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Southwestern Otter Tail County in west central Minnesota...
  Northeastern Grant County in west central Minnesota...

* Until 830 PM CDT.

* At 737 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Fergus Falls, moving east at 20 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and hail up to two inches in diameter.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. Spotter reported funnel. 

  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...
  Fergus Falls, Ashby, and Dalton.

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 54 and
75.
 
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 4618 9622 4632 9611 4624 9564 4611 9573
      4611 9577 4604 9577 4603 9578
TIME...MOT...LOC 0037Z 289DEG 19KT 4620 9604 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Rafferty

3 follow-up statements

540 
WWUS53 KFGF 040046
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
746 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

MNC051-111-040130-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260904T0130Z/
Otter Tail MN-Grant MN-
746 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN OTTER TAIL AND NORTHEASTERN GRANT COUNTIES...

At 746 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Dalton, or 8 miles southeast of Fergus Falls, moving
east at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Fergus Falls, Ashby, Underwood, and Dalton.

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 58 and
75.
 
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 4617 9615 4631 9603 4624 9564 4611 9573
      4611 9577 4604 9577 4603 9578
TIME...MOT...LOC 0046Z 289DEG 19KT 4618 9598 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Rafferty

745 
WWUS53 KFGF 040104
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
804 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

MNC051-111-040130-
/O.CON.KFGF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260904T0130Z/
Otter Tail MN-Grant MN-
804 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND NORTHEASTERN GRANT COUNTIES...

At 804 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Dalton, or 13 miles southeast of Fergus Falls,
moving southeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and two inch 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...
Ashby, Underwood, and Dalton.

This includes Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 63 and
72.
 
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 4617 9604 4629 9590 4624 9564 4611 9573
      4611 9577 4604 9577 4603 9578
TIME...MOT...LOC 0104Z 300DEG 17KT 4615 9586 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...2.00 IN

$$

Rafferty

731 
WWUS53 KFGF 040123
SVSFGF

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
823 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

MNC051-111-040133-
/O.EXP.KFGF.TO.W.0029.000000T0000Z-260904T0130Z/
Otter Tail MN-Grant MN-
823 PM CDT Thu Sep 3 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OTTER TAIL AND NORTHEASTERN
GRANT COUNTIES WILL EXPIRE AT 830 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 1000 PM CDT for
west central Minnesota.

&&

LAT...LON 4617 9604 4629 9590 4624 9564 4611 9573
      4611 9577 4604 9577 4603 9578
TIME...MOT...LOC 0123Z 289DEG 19KT 4612 9574 

$$

Rafferty

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 Sep 3, 6:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes earlier. Its 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.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 3, 6:20 PM CDT, 1 hour 18 minutes before

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, Sep 3, 5:45 AM CDT, 13 hours 53 minutes before

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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 3, 6:04 PM CDT, 1 hour 34 minutes before

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.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 6:05 PM CDT, 1 hour 33 minutes before

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.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 6:42 PM CDT, 56 minutes before

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

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

0423 PM     Hail             6 S Naytahwaush         47.18N 95.63W
09/03/2026  M2.30 Inch       Mahnomen           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.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 6:46 PM CDT, 52 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
646 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  E0.00 Inch       Grant              MN   Broadcast Media

            Corrects previous hail report from 3 WNW
            Elbow Lake. This location is incorrect. This
            occurred near Elbow Lake in far northern
            Becker County, not in Grant County.
            Previous: 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.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:33 PM CDT, 5 minutes before

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

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

0706 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 WNW Tabor             48.11N 96.96W
09/03/2026  M61 MPH          Polk               MN   Public

            Personal weather station recorded sustained
            45 mph gusting 61 mph.

0712 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     6 SW Warren             48.13N 96.86W
09/03/2026  M75 MPH          Polk               MN   Mesonet

            NDAWN 3 meter wind gust.

&&

Local storm report, Sep 3, 7:38 PM CDT, 0 minutes before

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

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

0735 PM     Hail             Fergus Falls            46.28N 96.07W
09/03/2026  M1.00 Inch       Otter Tail         MN   Trained Spotter

&&

The office that day

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

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Sep 3, 7:11 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	FGF	Otter Tail, Wilkin	64 min
Sep 3, 7:19 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	FGF	Marshall, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake	56 min
Sep 3, 8:09 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Beltrami, Clearwater, Marshall, Pennington, Red Lake	66 min
Sep 3, 8:12 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Clearwater, Polk, Red Lake	63 min
Sep 3, 8:16 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	FGF	Otter Tail	59 min
Sep 3, 9:10 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	FGF	Clearwater, Mahnomen, Polk	65 min
Sep 3, 10:00 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Mahnomen	28 min
Sep 3, 10:03 PM CDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	FGF	Hubbard	57 min
Sep 4, 3:51 AM CDT	Dense Fog Advisory	FGF	Kittson, Marshall, Roseau	6 hr

Nearby

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