North Dakota, 2015

Hail in North Dakota, July 14, 2015

July 14, 2015 · NWS BIS · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

A short-wave trough moving through a broad upper ridge resulted in some thunderstorms developing over central North Dakota. A few severe storms producing large hail developed over parts of north central North Dakota, where the greatest instability and shear was noted.

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
None recorded
Events
3

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 happened

The episode as NWS BIS wrote it up.

A short-wave trough moving through a broad upper ridge resulted in some thunderstorms developing over central North Dakota. A few severe storms producing large hail developed over parts of north central North Dakota, where the greatest instability and shear was noted. Golf ball sized hail was the largest hail reported, and fell in McHenry County.

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 Bismarck, ND wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 14, 2:08 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 2:08 PM CST, 1 hour 22 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 1:34 PM CST, 1 hour 56 minutes before
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In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 14, 1:33 PM CST, 1 hour 57 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 14, 1:45 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 14, 2:30 PM CST, 1 hour before
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Special weather statement, Jul 14, 3:02 PM CST, 28 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 14, 3:23 PM CST, 7 minutes before
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The radar

The Minot AFB radar (KMBX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:36 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Ward

When
July 14, 3:30 PM CST to 3:33 PM CST
Where
Ward County, 0.92 mi W of Minot
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
48.230, -101.300

Hail, McHenry

When
July 14, 4:45 PM CST to 4:49 PM CST
Where
McHenry County, 1.15 mi SW of Bergen
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
47.990, -100.740

Hail, McHenry

When
July 14, 5:05 PM CST to 5:08 PM CST
Where
McHenry County, Balfour
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
47.950, -100.530

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in North Dakota in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, July 2015

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: 593980, 593981, 593982.