North Dakota, 2001

Tornadoes and Hail in North Dakota, June 20, 2001

June 20, 2001 · NWS FGF · 34 events in 12 counties and zones

26 hail, 7 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
$30 million
Events
34

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.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jun 20, 9:15 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 9:15 AM CST, 2 hours 38 minutes before
FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS
1015 AM CDT WED JUN 20 2001

AFTERNOON UPDATE CHALLENGE IS ONCE AGAIN THE THUNDERSTORM POTENTIAL
ACROSS THE AREA. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS NEXT WAVE MOVING INTO
NORTHEAST MONTANA. 12Z ETA PICKED UP WELL ON THIS FEATURE AND TRACKS
IT INTO CENTRAL ND BY 00Z. OLD AVN A BIT FASTER...WITH ITS PLACEMENT
OVER EASTERN ND BY 00Z. BASICALLY SAME PARAMETERS IN PLACE FROM
TUESDAY WITH COLD H5 POOL OVER AREA IN CYCLONIC FLOW. 12Z KBIS
SOUNDING SHOWS CONVECTIVE TEMP AROUND 70...CAPE NEARLY 1000 J/KG AND
LI AT -4.5. GOOD H7 OMEGA COMING INTO AREA FROM 18Z TO 00Z TIME
FRAME WITH SOME H85-7 Q VECTOR CONVERGENCE. NOT A LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT
NOW AT THE SFC WITH LIGHT WINDS...BUT THERE MAY BE SOME REMNANT
BOUNDARIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE WAVE DROPPING SOUTHEAST. ALL SAID...
THUNDERSTORMS LOOK GOOD AGAIN BY AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY ACROSS
SOUTHEAST ND AND WEST CENTRAL MN. THIS AREA SEEING THE MOST SUNSHINE
THIS MORNING WHILE REMNANT CLOUD COVER AND SHOWERS ARE LIMITING THE
HEATING OVER MOST NORTHERN AREAS. K8D3 ALREADY AT 71 SO WILL ADD A
BUFFER ZONE ACROSS THE SOUTH FOR SLIGHTLY HIGHER TEMPS.

.FGF...NONE.

GODON

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 20, 7:04 AM CST, 4 hours 49 minutes before
MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-
026>030-038-039-049-052>054-201400-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EASTERN ND/GRAND FORKS ND
803 AM CDT TUE JUN 19 2001

...NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED ACROSS EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA OR
NORTHWESTERN MINNESOTA TODAY...

SYNOPSIS...A WEAK UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL PASS ACROSS THE
REGION TODAY WHILE A FRONT BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST TOWARD EASTERN
NORTH DAKOTA AND NORTHWEST MINNESOTA DURING THE AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL SPREAD OVER THE
AREA TODAY...HOWEVER A LACK OF STRONG INSTABILITY WILL LIMIT THE
POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER.

RJT

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

26 hail, 7 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Benson

When
June 20, 11:53 AM CST
Where
Benson County, 3 mi N of Minnewaukan
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.117, -99.250

Tornado, Benson

When
June 20, 12:04 PM CST to 12:06 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 4 mi S of Minnewaukan
Rating
F0
Path length
2 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.017, -99.250

Intermittent touchdowns were reported.

Hail, Ramsey

When
June 20, 12:25 PM CST
Where
Ramsey County, 4 mi SW of Devils Lake
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
48.067, -98.917

Tornado, Benson

When
June 20, 12:25 PM CST
Where
Benson County, Oberon
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.917, -99.200

A brief touchdown was reported.

Hail, Benson

When
June 20, 12:30 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 2 mi S of St Michael
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.917, -98.667

Hail covered the ground.

Tornado, Benson

When
June 20, 12:35 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 4 mi W of Ft Totten
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
47.983, -99.083

A brief touchdown was reported.

Hail, Nelson

When
June 20, 12:38 PM CST
Where
Nelson County, 10 mi S of Michigan City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.867, -98.117

Thunderstorm Wind, Nelson

When
June 20, 12:38 PM CST
Where
Nelson County, 10 mi S of Michigan City
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.867, -98.117

Hail, Benson

When
June 20, 12:45 PM CST
Where
Benson County, Ft Totten
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.983, -99.000

Hail, Nelson

When
June 20, 12:45 PM CST
Where
Nelson County, 6 mi SW of Petersburg
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.950, -98.100

Tornado, Grand Forks

When
June 20, 12:55 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, 2 mi S of Shawnee
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.933, -97.750

A pilot reported a touchdown.

Hail, Benson

When
June 20, 1:10 PM CST
Where
Benson County, 8 mi E of Warwick
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.850, -98.517

Hail, Eddy

When
June 20, 1:11 PM CST
Where
Eddy County, Hamar
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.850, -98.550

Hail, Steele

When
June 20, 1:43 PM CST
Where
Steele County, 19 mi NE of Sharon
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.800, -97.617

Hail, Traill

When
June 20, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Traill County, Hatton
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.650, -97.467

Hail, Nelson

When
June 20, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Nelson County, 5 mi SW of Mc Ville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.717, -98.250

Hail, Grand Forks

When
June 20, 1:52 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, 3 mi SE of Northwood
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.700, -97.517

Hail, Griggs

When
June 20, 2:05 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, 6 mi NW of Jessie
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.600, -98.317

Hail, Grand Forks

When
June 20, 2:09 PM CST
Where
Grand Forks County, 10 mi W of Reynolds
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.683, -97.317

Tornado, Traill

When
June 20, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Traill County, 5 mi SW of Reynolds
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.633, -97.183

A brief tornado touchdown was reported.

Hail, Steele

When
June 20, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Steele County, Sharon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.600, -97.900

Hail, Griggs

When
June 20, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Griggs County, 12 mi NE of Cooperstown
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.567, -97.933

Tornado, Traill

When
June 20, 2:35 PM CST
Where
Traill County, 8 mi E of Mayville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.500, -97.150

A brief touchdown was reported.

Tornado, Traill

When
June 20, 2:41 PM CST
Where
Traill County, 11 mi E of Mayville
Rating
F0
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
25 yd
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.500, -97.083

A brief touchdown was reported along Interstate 29.

Hail, Traill

When
June 20, 2:43 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where
Traill County, Cummings
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$30 million
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.517, -97.233

Snowplows were called out to remove the 5 inch deep layer of hail from Interstate 29. The melting hail produced a layer of ground fog, which reduced the visibility to around 100 feet. The hailstorm caused an estimated 30 million dollars in damage to Traill county.

Hail, Barnes

When
June 20, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 10 mi W of Litchville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.650, -98.400

Hail, Barnes

When
June 20, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 2 mi W of Litchville
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.650, -98.233

Hail, Barnes

When
June 20, 3:18 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 2 mi N of Eckelson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.967, -98.333

Hail, Richland

When
June 20, 3:22 PM CST
Where
Richland County, 3 mi W of Mantador
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.167, -97.050

Hail, Richland

When
June 20, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Richland County, 2 mi NW of Mantador
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.183, -97.017

Hail, Ransom

When
June 20, 3:40 PM CST
Where
Ransom County, 4 mi N of Lisbon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.483, -97.683

Hail, Barnes

When
June 20, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, Valley City
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.917, -98.000

Hail was reported to be 2 to 3 inches deep.

Hail, Barnes

When
June 20, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Barnes County, 6 mi SE of Valley City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
46.850, -97.917

Hail, Cass

When
June 20, 4:05 PM CST
Where
Cass County, 1 mi SE of Arthur
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
47.083, -97.200

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Dakota, 2001Warnings in North Dakota, June 2001

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: 5251371, 5251372, 5251373, 5251374, 5251367, 5251365, 5251375, 5251376, 5251366, 5251368, 5251562, 5251369, 5251370, 5251569, 5251570, 5251571, 5251377, 5251378, 5251379, 5251566, 5251553, 5251567, 5251568, 5251554, 5251555, 5251563, 5251556, 5251557, 5251558, 5251564, 5251559, 5251560, 5251561, 5251565.