Tornadoes and Flash Flood in North Dakota, July 4 to 20, 1998

Numerous roads in Williston impassable due to water. Parts of highways 2 and 85 also under water due to the heavy rain. Spring Brook also flooded.

Heavy rain made streets impassable in Stanley. reports of 3 to 4 inches of rain fell.

Tree in Oak park exploding, spreading bark for 250 feet.

The lightning melted the electrical relays in two warning sirens causing the sirens to activate for 20 to 40 minutes before they could be turned off manually. Otter Tail Power company had damage to a transformer and two 'primary' wires.

Tornado formed in Canada and moved south into the US. multiple funnels were reported.

Lightning ignited a 400 gallon oil storage tank.

Numerous reports were received of this tornado, the first report coming from Minot Airforce Base personnel. Numerous brief touchdowns were reported along its path but no damage was reported.

Hail combined with strong winds to increase damage.

Twentyone trailers/cabins were damaged at the trailer park near the Black Tail dam. Roofs were torn off trailers, north side windows were broken, trees were knocked over, and trailers were moved off their foundations.

Reported as a tornado but no tornado or funnel cloud reported. Damage and eye witness reports suggest a very strong downburst wind. A line of 85 empty rail cars were tipped over between Epping and Wheelock. There was also some damage to a grain elevator and a blacksmith shop in Epping. A farmer lost the roof off a barn 2 miles southeast of Epping. Wind speeds of 98 kts (113 mph) have the force necessary to tip over box cars according to the Fujita scale.

Damage to cars and roofs of homes.

Downburst winds of 87 kts (100 mph) caused widespread damage to numerous weak or high profile buildings in parts of southeast Emmons county. Even though there was heavy property damage, there were no fatalities or injuries. No one reported a tornado although there were unconfirmed reports of funnel clouds. Two trailer houses near Strasburg were destroyed as well as grain bins, pole barns, and farm machinery. The county emergency manager reported no damage in the city of Strasburg, just heavy rain and gusty winds. Monetary damage estimates are likely underestimated.

Brief touchdown reported near Rice Lake. One eye witness reported a wall of water rapidly approaching his farm. His rain guage measured 1.75 inches in less than 8 minutes and every building on his farm had some kind of damage.

Damage was surveyed by the Sheriff and a deputy. Most of the damage was due to wind driven hail. Very little damage due to wind alone. The power went out in Hague near 6 PM CDT and their was minor damage to the Hague Grain Elevator.

Trees stripped of leaves.

Damage to roofs and boats around a lake. People used hail stones as ice cubes.

Two corrals were destroyed and a highline power line was down.

Damage occurred to sunflower crop.

Winds also combined with 3/4 inch hail. damage to most of crops.

Sixty percent of 24,000 acres of crops were damaged by hail and 55 mph wind as reported by the Farm Service agency.

Lightning disrupted power service to 2,300 NSP electrical customers.

Brief event with no damage.

Warning sirens were sounded in the city of Bowman but the funnel did not touch down.

At least 2 vehicle were damaged. Numerous trees lost their leaves. Crops also damaged.