Hail, Polk
- When
- July 7, 3:50 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 2.91 mi SSW of Northland
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 48.040, -97.040
Received a report of 1 inch hail from a member of the public.
Tornadoes and Hail in Minnesota, July 7, 2025
Severe thunderstorms including supercells produced large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes across parts of eastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 6
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 FGF wrote it up.
Severe thunderstorms including supercells produced large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes across parts of eastern North Dakota and west central Minnesota.
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 Jul 7, 3:33 PM CST, 17 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Severe risk, level 2 out of 5 continues into this evening. Damaging wing gusts, hail to golf ball size and an isolated tornado are the main severe threats...
- A severe risk, level 1 out of 5 is possible Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night...
- There is an 80 percent chance for thunderstorms across the area Thursday into Thursday night. Storms may be strong to severe...
Area forecast discussion, Jul 7, 3:33 PM CST, 17 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 433 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe risk, level 2 out of 5 continues into this evening. Damaging wing gusts, hail to golf ball size and an isolated tornado are the main severe threats... - A severe risk, level 1 out of 5 is possible Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night... - There is an 80 percent chance for thunderstorms across the area Thursday into Thursday night. Storms may be strong to severe... && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 433 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025 ...Synopsis... Storms developing along and ahead of a frontal boundary moving through the area this afternoon and evening with severe activity already occuring and expected through the evening hours. Frontal boundary moves east into Tuesday with high pressure building into the region. Another weak shortwave will move through the area mid-week bringing another round of storm chances and potential isolated severe storms before a larger storm system impacts the area Thursday into Friday. This system will bring more widespread chances for storms and severe weather. ...Severe risk, level 2 out of 5 continues into this evening. Damaging wing gusts, hail to golf ball size and an isolated tornado are the main severe threats... Storms continue to form along and ahead of the cold front stretching from north to south across northeast ND. Instability is decent, with deep layer shear in the 35-45kt range. Initially have the chance for an isolated tornado near the boundary and closer to the low across the northern forecast area where low level shear is stronger and greater low level instability/stretching, etc. A transition to more hail/wind is expected through the evening and as the front pushes east. Previous Discussion... ...Wednesday Severe Risk... Wednesday late aftn/eve will see a short wave move ESE across the area. The airmass advecting north into the area, esp central ND, is more unstable with MUCAPES over 3500 j/kg and high temps in central ND fcst to be low 90s. 0-6 km shear is 30kts or less though. SPC did insert a marginal risk for eastern and central ND due to instability being quite high and weak wave moving ESE thru the area. ...Thursday into Thursday night.... Thursday afternoon and night has for the last several days been highlighted as the most unstable day in the 7 days. MUCAPE values from ensembles (EC/GEM,GFS) from 00z runs all over 3500 j/kg with likely over 4000 j/kg. But issue is placement of 500 mb system with this and placement of 500 mb jet. Model continuity has been poor. Thus question is with all the instability will there be enough forcing and shear aloft to generate a higher end severe threat. That remains to be seen. Given the conditions fcst all hazards would be possible, though wind/hail favored vs tornado as unsure of any surface boundary location. We also have some sfc CIN to overcome. But highs are forecast to be low 90s and dew pts low 70s. If either one can over achieve that will add to instability. For Friday and Saturday forecast hangs on development of 500 mb low and placement and track. GFS been all over the place in the last 24 hours with ECMWF the most consistent in having upper low in the area Saturday with persistent area of showers and t-storms near and just east of the wave over much of the area Friday. Slower ECMWF would keep rain chance longer into Saturday vs NBM. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY/... Issued at 1257 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025 A few isolated showers/storms around could impact KBJI/KTVF initially in the period. Otherwise additional development expected late this afternoon/evening that could impact all TAF sites from 22-03Z from NW to ESE as storms develop along a cold front dropping through the forecast area. This will allow winds to shift from south to southeast to the northwest behind the front for late tonight into Tuesday. Tried to time the greatest chance for the storms at each site, with dry conditions expected mainly after 06Z into Tuesday. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && DISCUSSION...MJB/Riddle AVIATION...MJB
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 7, 3:34 AM CST, 12 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 434 AM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025 MNZ001>009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024- 026>030-038-039-049-052>054-080945- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods- West Marshall-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington-Red Lake- East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-Hubbard-West Becker-East Becker-Wilkin- West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant-Towner-Cavalier- Pembina-Benson-Ramsey-Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks- Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- Western Walsh- 434 AM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening for eastern North Dakota and northwest and west central Minnesota. The main hazards will be hail to 1.50 inch, wind gust 60 mph and frequent lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday There is a level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon and evening, but this is conditional risk as storms may not form. If they do then large hail and damaging wind risk. Thursday afternoon and evening will see a potentially higher risk of severe storms. All hazards are possible. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today.
In the hours before
Special weather statement, Jul 7, 10:42 AM CST, 5 hours 8 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1142 AM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
MNZ029-030-040-NDZ053-071715-
Grant MN-Wilkin MN-West Otter Tail MN-Richland ND-
1142 AM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN OTTER TAIL...
GRANT...WILKIN AND SOUTHEASTERN RICHLAND COUNTIES THROUGH 1215 PM
CDT...
At 1141 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 6 miles east of Kent to near Fairmount to Lake
Traverse Reservation. Movement was east at 55 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Fergus Falls, Wahpeton, Breckenridge, Elbow Lake, Ashby, Herman, and
Barrett.
This includes the following highways...
Interstate 29 between mile markers 0 and 9.
Interstate 94 in North Dakota between mile markers 45 and 80.
Interstate 94 in Minnesota between mile markers 45 and 80.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4602 9627 4602 9657 4593 9656 4594 9705
4614 9674 4645 9672 4638 9577 4595 9577
4576 9615 4576 9625
TIME...MOT...LOC 1641Z 282DEG 47KT 4646 9654 4609 9658 4590 9691
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
RaffertySpecial weather statement, Jul 7, 2:15 PM CST, 1 hour 35 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
315 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
NDZ016-027-072045-
Eastern Walsh County ND-Grand Forks ND-
315 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTH CENTRAL GRAND FORKS AND
SOUTHEASTERN WALSH COUNTIES THROUGH 345 PM CDT...
At 314 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Forest River, or 15 miles south of Grafton, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Minto, Manvel, Gilby, Forest River, Ardoch, Johnstown, and Poland.
This includes Interstate 29 between mile markers 151 and 166.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4828 9711 4827 9714 4825 9712 4825 9715
4824 9713 4822 9714 4823 9712 4821 9712
4821 9713 4818 9715 4818 9714 4816 9714
4816 9713 4814 9715 4814 9713 4799 9718
4812 9761 4829 9757
TIME...MOT...LOC 2014Z 280DEG 17KT 4819 9748
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
Rafferty/TTLocal storm report, Jul 7, 2:34 PM CST, 1 hour 16 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
334 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0327 PM Hail 2 S Forest River 48.19N 97.47W
07/07/2025 M1.00 Inch Grand Forks ND Trained Spotter
Quarter sized hail reported by trained
weather spotters.
&&Local storm report, Jul 7, 3:19 PM CST, 31 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
419 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0343 PM Tornado Calio 48.62N 98.93W
07/07/2025 Cavalier ND Public
multiple reports and images of a tornado
south of Calio.
&&Local storm report, Jul 7, 3:21 PM CST, 29 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
421 PM CDT Mon Jul 7 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0420 PM Hail 3 W Manvel 48.08N 97.24W
07/07/2025 E1.75 Inch Grand Forks ND Public
&&The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:50 UTC.
Event by event
3 tornado, 2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm Wind, Polk
- When
- July 7, 4:20 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 0.83 mi NW of Mallory
- Measured
- 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 47.890, -96.930
Multiple tree limbs up to 6 inch in size down. Estimated 70 mph wind gust.
Hail, Polk
- When
- July 7, 6:16 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 3.7 mi E of Key West
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 47.930, -96.700
Received a public report of 1 inch hail.
Tornado, Polk
- When
- July 7, 7:29 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 2.07 mi N of Nielsville to 1.45 mi NNE of Nielsville
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 0.62 mi
- Path width
- 10 yd
- Reported by
- Fire Department/Rescue
- Coordinates
- 47.560, -96.820
Nielsville FD reported multiple brief touchdowns near the pilling station lasting no more than 30 seconds and doing no reported damage other that stripping some leaves off crops. Spotters also reported a funnel with intermittent touchdowns near the Nielsville pilling station.
Tornado, Polk
- When
- July 7, 7:53 PM CST to 8:05 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, 5.56 mi WSW of Beltrami to 5.52 mi SW of Beltrami
- Rating
- EF0
- Path length
- 0.68 mi
- Path width
- 40 yd
- Continued into
- Norman, Mn (FGF)
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 47.507, -96.630
This tornado tracked NW to SE with a final S push as it occluded. It tracked for about 5.3 miles, with roughly 0.68 miles in Polk County and the remaining track in Norman County. EF0 damage was noted in Polk County, with EF1 damage in Norman County.
Tornado, Norman
- When
- July 7, 8:05 PM CST to 8:22 PM CST
- Where
- Norman County, 5.33 mi NNW of Lockhart to 2.5 mi NW of Lockhart
- Rating
- EF1
- Path length
- 4.04 mi
- Path width
- 40 yd
- Reported by
- NWS Storm Survey
- Coordinates
- 47.499, -96.621
A tornado tracked NW to SE with a final S push as it occluded. It tracked for about 5.3 miles, starting in Polk County, then continuing into Norman County. After crossing into Norman County, this tornado scoured a soybean/corn field before doing damage to some farm outbuildings. This track may be adjusted pending high resolution satellite imagery. UPDATE 7/22: Track adjusted based on Sentinel-2 imagery. EF0 damage was noted in Polk County, with EF1 damage in Norman County.
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- 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
- Heat in Alabama, July 7, 2025
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in New York, July 7, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Colorado, July 7, 2025
- Damaging Winds in New York, July 7, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in North Dakota, July 7, 2025
- Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in South Carolina, July 7, 2025
- Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, July 7, 2025
- Flash Flooding and Hail in Nebraska, July 7 to 8, 2025
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Ohio, July 7, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 7, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Colorado, July 7, 2025
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Texas, July 7 to 9, 2025
More
Every storm in Minnesota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Minnesota, 2025Warnings in Minnesota, July 2025
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: 1282449, 1282451, 1282450, 1282393, 1282442, 1282443.