Tornadoes and Hail in North Dakota, July 1 to 25, 1997

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in North Dakota, July 1 to 25, 1997
Start: 1997-07-01T00:00
End: 1997-07-25T14:41
Location: North Dakota

July 1 to 25, 1997 · NWS BIS · 74 events in 22 counties and zones

30 hail, 29 thunderstorm wind, 10 tornado, 4 lightning, 1 high wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 74

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

30 hail, 29 thunderstorm wind, 10 tornado, 4 lightning, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Lightning, Hettinger

When: July 1, 12:00 AM MST
Where: Hettinger County, Regent
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 46.433, -102.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

lightning struck a barn causing it to catch fire. A nearby farm caught fire as well. Both barns were destroyed.

Hail, Burleigh

When: July 1, 2:50 AM CST
Where: Burleigh County, 5 mi E of Bismarck
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 46.800, -100.670

Hail fell 5 E of Bismarck

High Wind, Mercer

When: July 2, 12:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Measured: 45 kt (52 mph)
Coordinates: 47.309, -101.831 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

With the extremely high water level behind Garrison Dam, 40 mph winds on the 2nd caused water to wash over the main spillway. This was the first time since 1975 that this occurred.

Hail, Golden Valley

When: July 10, 3:09 PM MST
Where: Golden Valley County, 9 mi E of Beach
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 46.920, -103.820

Hail fell 9 E Beach

Hail, Billings

When: July 10, 3:38 PM MST
Where: Billings County, Medora
Measured: 2 in hail
Coordinates: 46.920, -103.530

Hail, Slope

When: July 10, 4:20 PM MST
Where: Slope County, 9 mi W of Amidon
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 46.480, -103.500

Hail fell 9 W of Amidon

Thunderstorm Wind, Billings

When: July 10, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Billings County, Fairfield
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph)
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 47.180, -103.220

Strong winds tore the roof off of a cattle barn. Damage amounts estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer

When: July 10, 6:38 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, 7 mi S of Beulah
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 47.170, -101.780

occurred 7 S of Beulah

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 10, 5:40 PM MST
Where: Dunn County, 4 mi NE of Dodge
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 47.330, -102.130

Strong winds occurred 4 NE of Dodge. The wind tore the tin off of a pole barn, then blew the tin 400 yds away.

Thunderstorm Wind, McLean

When: July 10, 6:45 PM CST
Where: McLean County, Falkirk
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 47.370, -101.100

Strong winds toppled numerous trees in the city.

Hail, Mercer

When: July 10, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, Zap
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 47.280, -101.920

Tornado, Mercer

When: July 10, 7:00 PM CST to 7:02 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, Golden Vly to 2 mi NE of Golden Vly
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $35,000
Coordinates: 47.320, -102.070

Tornado touched down 2 N of Golden Valley and moved to the north before dissipating. Tornado destroyed a pole barn and an airplane hanger. Strangely the airplane in the hanger only received a few scratches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mercer

When: July 10, 7:02 PM CST
Where: Mercer County, 7 mi S of Beulah
Measured: 75 kt (86 mph)
Coordinates: 47.170, -101.780

Wind occurred 7 S Beulah

Hail, Ward

When: July 10, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Ward County, (Mib)minot Afb
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 48.430, -101.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 10, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Morton County, 5 mi NE of Hebron
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 46.950, -101.970

Wind occurred at ranch 5 NE Hebron. Numerous trees downed at ranch.

Tornado, Ward

When: July 10, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 5 mi N of Minot
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 48.300, -101.280

Brief touchdown 5 N Minot

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 10, 8:25 PM CST
Where: Morton County, Mandan
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 46.830, -100.900

Tree fell on house, causing considerable roof and siding damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Renville

When: July 10, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Glenburn
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 48.520, -101.220

Numerous trees and outbuilding toppled. Also a grain bin was knocked over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bottineau

When: July 10, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Lansford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 48.630, -101.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Ward

When: July 10, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Ward County, (Mib)minot Afb
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 48.430, -101.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Renville

When: July 10, 8:45 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Tolley
Measured: 85 kt (98 mph)
Property damage: $700,000
Coordinates: 48.730, -101.820

Strong winds toppled 85 thousand bushel grain bin. The bin had 4 thousand bushel in it at the time. Another grain bin with more grain in it was severely dented toward the top of the bin.

Thunderstorm Wind, McLean

When: July 10, 9:30 PM CST
Where: McLean County, 5 mi N of Turtle Lake
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 47.580, -100.900

Strong winds destroyed a pole barn and garage 5 N Turtle Lake

Thunderstorm Wind, McHenry

When: July 10, 9:40 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Anamoose
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 47.880, -100.230

20 foot tree crashed through a house

Thunderstorm Wind, Pierce

When: July 10, 10:22 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, Rugby
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 48.370, -99.980

Hail, Ward

When: July 11, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Foxholm
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.370, -101.570

Hail, Renville

When: July 11, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Loraine
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.870, -101.550

Hail, McHenry

When: July 11, 7:37 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Deering
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.400, -101.050

Thunderstorm Wind, McHenry

When: July 11, 7:47 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, 6 mi NW of Upham
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 48.650, -100.820

Strong winds occurred 6 NW of Upham

Thunderstorm Wind, Bottineau

When: July 11, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Gardena
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 48.700, -100.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Bottineau

When: July 11, 8:10 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Bottineau
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 48.830, -100.430

Tornado, Bottineau

When: July 11, 8:30 PM CST to 8:35 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, 6 mi NW of Kramer
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 48.770, -100.800

brief tornado touchdown 6 NW of Kramer. a few power poles and trees were snapped.

Thunderstorm Wind, Rolette

When: July 11, 9:00 PM CST
Where: Rolette County, 9 mi NE of Dunseith
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 48.920, -99.920

Winds occurred 9 N of Dunseith near the port of entry. Numerous trees downed.

Hail, McLean

When: July 13, 12:55 PM CST
Where: McLean County, 2 mi NE of Riverdale
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 47.520, -101.330

hail occurred 2 NE of Riverdale

Thunderstorm Wind, Dunn

When: July 13, 12:15 PM MST to 12:30 PM MST
Where: Dunn County, 1 mi W of Halliday
Measured: 100 kt (115 mph)
Property damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 47.350, -102.350

report came from a woman that had a digital wind recorder on her farm 1 W of Halliday. Numerous trees downed as fell as extensive damage to farm and out buildings. A tractor-trailer was blown through a fence.

Hail, Golden Valley

When: July 17, 10:35 PM MST
Where: Golden Valley County, Beach
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 46.920, -104.000

60 mph winds also occurred

Thunderstorm Wind, Billings

When: July 17, 11:05 PM MST
Where: Billings County, 3 mi E of Medora
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 46.920, -103.470

winds occurred 3 E Medora

Hail, Hettinger

When: July 18, 12:45 AM MST
Where: Hettinger County, New England
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 46.530, -102.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Hettinger

When: July 18, 1:10 AM MST
Where: Hettinger County, Mott
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 46.380, -102.320

tree blown down on top of house

Thunderstorm Wind, Stark

When: July 18, 1:15 AM MST
Where: Stark County, 2 mi NW of Gladstone
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 46.880, -102.580

strong winds blew a pickup camper shell through a garage door. winds occurred 2 NW Gladstone.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morton

When: July 18, 3:35 AM CST
Where: Morton County, Glen Ullin
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 46.820, -101.830

trees toppled in Glen Ullin

Thunderstorm Wind, Burleigh

When: July 18, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Burleigh County, Bismarck
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 46.800, -100.770

strong winds blew a 10" diameter branch down onto a Jeep. Power was also lost to 500 homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, La Moure

When: July 18, 4:30 PM CST
Where: La Moure County, La Moure
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 46.350, -98.300

numerous trees down in the city

Lightning, Logan

When: July 19, 11:50 AM CST
Where: Logan County, Gackle
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 46.457, -99.477 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

lightning struck the house at 1150 in the morning...causing the insulation to smolder until 1130 pm in the evening when the fire finally broke out. The house and all contents inside were completely destroyed.

Tornado, McIntosh

When: July 19, 1:50 PM CST to 1:55 PM CST
Where: McIntosh County, Zeeland to 4 mi NE of Zeeland
Rating: F0
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Coordinates: 46.000, -99.770

tornado touched down 4 NE of Zeeland and then moved northeast

Hail, Renville

When: July 23, 6:05 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Sherwood
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.970, -101.620

Tornado, Renville

When: July 23, 6:26 PM CST
Where: Renville County, 12 mi S of Greene
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $46,000
Coordinates: 48.500, -101.700

A tornado touched down 12 miles south of Greene or 7 N of Carpio. The tornado touched down directly on a farmhouse. The house was blown off of the foundation, then blown apart. A 70 yr. old man was blown out of the house, while a 1 month old infant was trapped in the debris. A 73 yr old woman was also trapped under the debris. She was alive when found but passed away at the hospital from her injuries.

Hail, Renville

When: July 23, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Glenburn
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.520, -101.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Ward

When: July 23, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Minot Afb
Measured: 103 kt (119 mph)
Coordinates: 48.430, -101.370

Hail, Ward

When: July 23, 7:24 PM CST to 7:26 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Burlington
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.280, -101.420

hail also accompanied by 60 mph winds

Hail, Mountrail

When: July 23, 7:33 PM CST
Where: Mountrail County, New Town
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 47.980, -102.480

hail occurred 3 E New Town

Hail, McHenry

When: July 23, 7:45 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Deering
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.400, -101.050

hail also accompanied by 60 mph winds.

Hail, Mountrail

When: July 23, 7:55 PM CST
Where: Mountrail County, Parshall
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 47.970, -102.130

Hail, McHenry

When: July 23, 8:00 PM CST to 8:33 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Granville
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 48.270, -100.830

hail also accompanied by 70-90 mph winds

Hail, Pierce

When: July 23, 9:25 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 5 mi W of Rugby
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.370, -100.100

hail fell 5 W Rugby

Thunderstorm Wind, McKenzie

When: July 24, 3:20 AM CST
Where: McKenzie County, Watford City
Measured: 72 kt (83 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 47.800, -103.280

tree fell on car

Hail, Bottineau

When: July 24, 5:15 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Souris
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.920, -100.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Bottineau

When: July 24, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Lansford
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 48.630, -101.370

thunderstorm winds tore roof off of dairy barn. The winds also moved a trailer house 3 feet off of its foundation.

Hail, Stark

When: July 24, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Stark County, 5 mi NW of Dickinson
Measured: 2 in hail
Coordinates: 46.930, -102.850

hail fell 5 NW Dickinson

Hail, Stark

When: July 24, 5:53 PM MST to 7:53 PM MST
Where: Stark County, South Heart
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 46.870, -103.000

Hail, Rolette

When: July 24, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Rolette County, 10 mi N of Dunseith
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.970, -100.050

hail fell 10 N Dunsieth

Lightning, Bottineau

When: July 24, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, 2 mi E of Newburg
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 48.792, -100.833 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

lightning struck an oil tank 2 E of Newburg. The tank burned to the ground

Tornado, Pierce

When: July 24, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 3 mi NW of Barton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 48.530, -100.220

brief tornado touchdown 3 nw Barton

Hail, Bottineau

When: July 24, 7:12 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, Willow City
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.600, -100.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Stark

When: July 24, 6:15 PM MST
Where: Stark County, Dickinson to 5 mi NW of Dickinson
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 46.930, -102.720

wind occurred 5 NW Dickinson

Lightning, Pierce

When: July 24, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 5 mi N of Rugby
Property damage: $12,000
Coordinates: 48.250, -99.972 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

lightning struck 5 N of Rugby. 19 head of cattle took shelter from the storm under a tree. The tree got struck by lightning, killing all cattle huddled under the tree

Hail, McHenry

When: July 24, 7:57 PM CST
Where: McHenry County, Towner
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.350, -100.400

Hail, Pierce

When: July 24, 7:57 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 7 mi NW of Rugby
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.430, -100.080

hail fell 7 NW Rugby

Hail, McLean

When: July 24, 7:57 PM CST
Where: McLean County, 12 mi N of Garrison
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 47.820, -101.420

hail fell 12 N Garrison along with 60 mph winds.

Hail, Pierce

When: July 24, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Pierce County, 3 mi W of Rugby
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 48.370, -100.050

hail fell 3 W of Rugby

Hail, Kidder

When: July 25, 1:53 PM CST
Where: Kidder County, Dawson
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 46.870, -99.730

Tornado, Ward

When: July 25, 1:55 PM CST to 2:06 PM CST
Where: Ward County, 5 mi SW of Minot
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 48.180, -101.370

brief tornado touchdown 5 SW of Minot

Tornado, Renville

When: July 25, 2:02 PM CST to 2:18 PM CST
Where: Renville County, Mohall to 4 mi SE of Mohall
Rating: F0
Path length: 9 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Coordinates: 48.730, -101.570

tornado moved from 4 SW of Mohall to 5 SE of Mohall

Tornado, Ward

When: July 25, 2:08 PM CST to 2:41 PM CST
Where: Ward County, Minot to 8 mi SE of Minot
Rating: F0
Path length: 12 mi
Path width: 15 yd
Coordinates: 48.120, -101.280

tornado moved from 8 S of Minot to 20 SE of Minot

Tornado, Bottineau

When: July 25, 2:18 PM CST
Where: Bottineau County, 14 mi NE of Lansford
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 48.780, -101.150

brief tornado touchdown 14 ne of Lansford near Mohall

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Renville	1997-07-23	73	Female	Outside/Open Areas	Direct

What these are

Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in North Dakota in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history The tornado archive for North Dakota, 1997 Warnings in North Dakota, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5607112, 5607299, 5607118, 5607300, 5607301, 5607302, 5607303, 5607374, 5607304, 5607305, 5607375, 5607377, 5607376, 5607379, 5607378, 5607380, 5607386, 5607383, 5607381, 5607385, 5607382, 5607388, 5607387, 5607389, 5607390, 5607391, 5607394, 5606343, 5607392, 5607393, 5606344, 5606345, 5606346, 5607117, 5606347, 5606348, 5606349, 5606350, 5606351, 5606691, and more.