Tornado Watch 511

Issued

Jul 24, 2026, 3:34 PM CDT (20:34 UTC)

Expired

Jul 25, 2026, 1:00 AM CDT

In force

9 hr

Issued by

the Storm Prediction Center

Largest hail expected

3.5 in

Strongest gust expected

70 kt

The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 178 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:35 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.

Two or more tornadoes

40%

One or more EF2 to EF5 tornadoes

20%

Ten or more severe wind reports

60%

One or more gusts of 65 knots or more

60%

Ten or more severe hail reports

60%

One or more hailstones of 2 inches or more

60%

Six or more combined severe hail and wind reports

95%

• Mesoscale Discussion 1722 Severe potential...watch possibleJul 24, 2:36 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 1724 Tornado watch 511Jul 24, 5:32 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 1727 Tornado watch 511Jul 24, 7:35 PM CDT
• Mesoscale Discussion 1728 Tornado watch 511Jul 24, 9:43 PM CDT

239 
WWUS20 KWNS 242030
SEL1  
SPC WW 242030
MNZ000-NDZ000-250400-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 511
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
330 PM CDT Fri Jul 24 2026

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of 
  Northern Minnesota
  Eastern North Dakota

* Effective this Friday afternoon and evening from 330 PM until
  1100 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include...
  A couple tornadoes possible
  Scattered damaging winds and isolated significant gusts to 80
    mph likely
  Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3.5
    inches in diameter likely

SUMMARY...Scattered severe thunderstorms are forecast to develop and
intensify this afternoon into the evening across the Watch area.  A
few of the more intense storms will likely become supercellular and
have an accompanying risk for very large hail, severe gusts, and
pose a threat for a couple of tornadoes.  A severe cluster of
thunderstorms may eventually evolve later this evening with a
continued risk for large hail and severe gusts with this activity.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 105 statute miles
east and west of a line from 10 miles west northwest of Warroad MN
to 15 miles east of Detroit Lakes MN. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU1).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

REMEMBER...A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

AVIATION...Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 70 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 30045.

...Smith

Tornado Watches in Minnesota, 2026Tornado Watches in North Dakota, 2026Every tornado watch in 2026

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.