During the evening of Friday, June 20th into the early morning hours of June 21st, much of the region was affected by severe weather. A powerful line of severe thunderstorms categorized as a derecho, which tracked across much of the region, including northwest Minnesota, brought widespread straight line wind damage.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS FGF wrote it up.
During the evening of Friday, June 20th into the early morning hours of June 21st, much of the region was affected by severe weather. A powerful line of severe thunderstorms categorized as a derecho, which tracked across much of the region, including northwest Minnesota, brought widespread straight line wind damage. After the derecho passed through the region, there was a period of prolonged destructive winds that affected portions of central and east central North Dakota, as well as adjacent portions of Minnesota. This was a unique event due to the long duration of significant winds that followed the derecho.
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, 9:03 PM CST, 1 hour 28 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1003 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this evening
and overnight. Primary hazards of tennis ball size hail or
greater, damaging winds of 75mph or higher, and a few
tornadoes will be possible.
- Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday
afternoon and evening. Primary hazards of hail up to 1 inch
and damaging wind gusts of 60mph.
- Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Sunday
afternoon and evening. Primary hazards will be damaging wind
gusts of 70mph, large hail to the size of golf balls, and
isolated tornadoes
- Heat index values Saturday will exceed 100 degrees in the
southern Red River Valley and portions of west central
Minnesota. Heat related impacts are expected. For Sunday, heat
index values could approach 100 degrees, mainly in west
central Minnesota.
&&
.UPDATE...
Issued at 955 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
Discrete cells continue to move east along I-94, Ransom/Sargent
counties, and around the Hwy 200 corridor. The Tornado warning
within Barnes county continues to produce a rain wrapped tornado
as it moves eastward. Reports of the tornado have been along
the I-94 corridor and just south of it. If you are in the path
of this storm seek shelter immediately. A Derecho is forming
and organizing in central ND and moving toward the ENE.
Widespread wind gusts of 60mph and isolated amounts of 80+
within the Derecho are likely. Arrival time of the Derecho is
11-12am within the Sheyenne River Valley. If in the line of
these storms get to a shelter.
UPDATE
Issued at 756 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
Discrete cells have developed in parts of southeastern North
Dakota this afternoon and gone severe. Continued development of
discrete cells ahead of the main linear complex out in western
North Dakota through the evening hours. CAPE continues to be
around the 3000-4000 J/kg along with 50-60kts of effective
shear. This environment continues to be conducive for large
hail, tornadoes, and strong wind gusts. The linear complex out
in western ND is continuing to organize as it follows the DCAPE
gradient and mean wind. As it gets further eastward we will see
widespread damaging wind gusts in excess of 60mph, with isolated
gusts of 80+ mph. Within the linear complex we could see
isolated QLCS spin ups as well. A Tornado Watch is in effect for
eastern ND and into portions of northwestern MN through 8z.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 243 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
...Synopsis...
Current environment across the region has SBCAPE increasing, shear
around 50-60kts at the 0-6km level, dewpoints already in the upper
60s to 70s, and a surface boundary lingering across the area.
Sufficient daytime heating from plentiful sunshine will help
increase our instability throughout the afternoon as temperatures
reach the 80s to lower 90s. Deepening upper level trough will enter
the northern plains this afternoon and evening helping to initiate
the development of thunderstorms. Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe
thunderstorms along and south of Highway 2 toward the I-94 corridor
for this evening and overnight. Main hazards are hail of tennis ball
size or greater, winds of 75mph or greater, and a few tornadoes will
be possible. Storms start discrete and later cluster into a linear
complex as they shift through eastern ND and into NW MN. Threat for
storms continue through the 2-4am timeframe before conditions slowly
improve. Marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon
and evening. Risk will be more conditional as there will be fairly
strong cap in place across the area as temperatures warm into upper
80s through the 90s near the surface and aloft. Any storm that does
develop Saturday will be isolated, with main hazards of 60mph winds
and quarter size hail. Sunday a cold front shifts through the area
helping to initiate thunderstorms ahead of it and along it during
the afternoon and evening hours. Main hazards Sunday will be golf
ball size hail, 70mph wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes.
Besides the severe thunderstorm chances there will hot and humid
conditions both Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening.
Temperatures will be in the 80s to 90s Saturday and Sunday. Warmest
day will be Saturday, with heat indices expected to reach the lower
100s across the southern Red River Valley. Sunday the warmest
temperatures shift eastward towards west central MN. A Heat Advisory
is in effect Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening for the
southern Red River Valley into west central and north central MN.
Post weekend, we are looking at a less active period to start off
the new work week. This looks to be brief as machine learning is
picking up on further chances for thunderstorms mid to late next
week.
...Enhanced Severe Risk This Evening and Overnight...
A warm front is currently moving through this afternoon, with a
deepening upper level trough out towards MT. Strong warm air
advection is pushing through the Dakotas and into Minnesota
throughout the day, with plentiful sunshine. Shear continues to be
strong at the 0-6km level with 50-60kts, and the 0-3km being 40-
45kts. Strong shear combined with the moist humid air mass will help
fuel the instability across the region. SBCAPE is already in the
2000-3000 J/kg range and potential rises toward 4000 J/kg later this
afternoon and evening. Steep low to mid level lapse rates will
continue to increase through the afternoon and evening. Looking at
latest CAMS there is some diversity in the solutions with the main
concern around the corridor of greatest threat. They shift the
threat between Highway 2 through the I-94 corridor. None the less
thunderstorms develop along the front as discrete and quickly grow
upscale and cluster within hours of initiation. HRRR/NAM guidance
confirms this, with a linear complex developing near the later
evening hours as the storms cluster and the main shortwave out west
shifts eastward. So timeframe of the thunderstorms will be 7pm-9pm
along the warm front, with an approaching system from the western
parts of ND. Storms will be discrete with the potential for
Tornadoes and large hail. As they grow upscale and become linear
during the later evening and overnight hours we transition to a
large hail, damaging wind, and isolated tornado threat. Guidance has
the main complex of storms shifting east of the forecast area around
the 2 to 4am timeframe with lingering isolated showers and storms
after.
To sum everything up, we have an enhanced risk of severe
thunderstorms this evening and overnight, with the main hazards of
tennis ball size hail, 75+ mph winds gusts, and a few tornadoes are
possible. There is also a low risk for flash flooding if storms
linger and redevelop over the same areas creating higher rainfall
rates. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive alerts today and
tonight, especially if headed out this evening and overnight.
...Saturday Severe Risk...
Environmental conditions on Saturday remain sufficient for further
severe weather chances during the afternoon and evening hours. There
is vast disagreement on any storm initiation as there is a fairly
large cap across the region thanks to the warm temperatures aloft
and near the surface. If we are able to break the cap storms would
fire quickly and remain discrete. Conditions remain suitable for
quarter size hail and 60mph wind gusts. Timeframe of storms looks to
be around the 3-5pm timeframe and lingering through the 10-12am
timeframe. Coverage of severe storms will be isolated at best.
...Sunday Severe Risk...
An approaching system on Sunday will bring another chance for strong
to severe thunderstorms to the region. There is a 2 out of 5 risk
for severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening across the
Red River Valley and into northwestern MN. A cold front will begin
to sweep through the area during the afternoon and evening with
strong instability, shear, and moisture ahead of it. Storms that
develop ahead of the front will be discrete to begin with, but later
turn linear as the front pushes through. Isolated tornado threat and
large hail of golf ball size when storm mode is discrete. As the
storms turn linear the threat turns toward damaging winds, with the
potential to see gusts of 70mph. Storms clear the region by the late
evening and overnight hours. After Sunday, there looks to be a brief
break in the active pattern before machine learning picks up on
further thunderstorm chances mid to late week.
...Hot and Humid Conditions...
As we get into the weekend, the strong surge of warm air advection
will help drive temperatures further into the 90s for the southern
Red River Valley and into west central MN. Dewpoints in the 60s to
lower 70s will bring heat indices to the lower 100s for the southern
Red River Valley Saturday. Heat related impacts are expected. The
cold front on Sunday will help translate the heat impacts further
into MN, with heat indices approaching 100 in west central MN Sunday
afternoon and evening. A Heat Advisory is in effect 1pm Saturday
through 7pm Sunday for the southern Red River Valley and west
central MN. Make sure to stay hydrated this weekend especially if
your outdoors.
&&
.AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY/...
Issued at 640 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
VFR flying conditions prevail across all TAF sites late this
afternoon, except for BJI where some MVFR stratus has moved in
over the past couple hours, with southeast winds in the 10-15 kt
range. Conditions will rapidly deteriorate late this evening
into the overnight period when severe thunderstorms move across
the area, bringing IFR/LIFR vis and/or cigs, frequent
lightning, significant and erratic wind gusts up to 70 kts,
large hail up to the size of tennis balls, and possibly a few
tornadoes. Highest confidence in terminal impact timing is
outlined within TEMPO groups, give or take an hour.
Thunderstorms are expected to exit the area by 08-09Z, with
flight categories gradually improving to VFR from west to east,
and winds calming into the 5-15 kt range generally out of the
northeast.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Heat Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for NDZ052-
053.
MN...Heat Advisory from 1 PM to 7 PM CDT Sunday for MNZ006-009-016-
017-022>024-027-028.
Heat Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 7 PM CDT Sunday for
MNZ029>032-040.
&&
UPDATE...Spender
DISCUSSION...Spender
AVIATION...LeeHazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 303 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025 MNZ001>003-009-013>017-022>024-027>032-040-NDZ014-015-024-026>030- 038-039-049-052-053-212015- West Polk-Norman-Clay-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-Benson-Ramsey-Eddy- Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom- Sargent-Richland- 303 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota, west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Level 3 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight. Primary hazards of tennis ball size hail, damaging winds of 75 mph or greater, and a few tornadoes will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening. Primary hazards will be damaging wind gusts to 60 mph and large hail up to 1 inch. Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening. Primary hazards will be damaging wind gusts to 70 mph, large hail to the size of golf balls, and isolated tornadoes. Heat index values Saturday will exceed 100 degrees in the southern Red River Valley and portions of west central Minnesota. Heat related impacts are expected. For Sunday, heat index values could approach 100 degrees once more, mainly for west central Minnesota. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today. MNZ004>008-NDZ006>008-016-054-212015- Kittson-Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-West Marshall-East Marshall- Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Eastern Walsh-Western Walsh- 303 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this evening and overnight. Primary hazards of hail up to the size of quarters, damaging winds of 70 mph, and a few tornadoes will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening. Primary hazards will be damaging wind gusts to 60 mph and large hail up to 1 inch. Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms Sunday afternoon and evening. Primary hazards will be damaging wind gusts to 70 mph, large hail to the size of golf balls, and isolated tornadoes. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today.
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
931 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0925 PM Tornado 2 S Sanborn 46.91N 98.22W
06/20/2025 Barnes ND Law Enforcement
A funnel cloud was observed just south of
Sandborn.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
934 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0914 PM Tornado 1 N Urbana 46.95N 98.42W
06/20/2025 Barnes ND Storm Chaser
house damaged by tornado, reported by a
storm chaser.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1000 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0958 PM Tornado 2 W Valley City 46.92N 98.05W
06/20/2025 Barnes ND Law Enforcement
A tornado was reported 2 miles west of
Valley City.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1031 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1030 PM Tornado 1 N Fort Ransom 46.54N 97.93W
06/20/2025 Ransom ND Public
Stovepipe tornado reported N of Fort Ransom
via public.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1038 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM Tornado Urbana 46.93N 98.41W
06/20/2025 Barnes ND Law Enforcement
Numerous homes were reported damaged north
of Urbana and west of Eckelson. Time
estimated by radar.
&&Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
1124 PM CDT Fri Jun 20 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1114 PM Tstm Wnd Dmg Valley City 46.92N 98.01W
06/20/2025 Barnes ND Trained Spotter
Tree branches 6 inches to 10 inches in
diameter were reported down in Valley City.
&&The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 93 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:34 UTC.
34 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 215012 Waukon MN.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 216419 east of Perley MN.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 218411 Ulen, MN.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 218411 Ulen, MN.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 216419 6 miles east of Perley, MN.
Mesonet station 211549 Eldred MN ndawn.
NDAWN station 211549 2 miles west of Eldred MN.
Ground survey and high resolution satellite confirmed a long swath of widespread destructive straight-line winds estimated between 80 and 90 mph starting across south central Clearwater County north of Highway 200 and south of Highway 2. The swath was 8 miles at its widest and easternmost point in Clearwater County. This surge of straight-line winds continued east into southern Beltrami and northern Hubbard counties where more significant winds and impacts were observed around Bemidji. The 30 mile long swath started in Clearwater County and ended near the southeastern Beltrami county line. There was approximately 60,388 acres of Clearwater County impacted with widespread tree damage within this single swath.
High resolution satellite imagery reveals numerous swaths of significant tree damage in portions of southern Clearwater County MN. This includes one noteworthy area of widespread tree destruction near Long Lost Lake, particularly south and east of the lake. Maximum wind estimated from numerous trees snapped at the trunk blown down in a unidirectional and divergent pattern indicative of destructive straight line winds around 100 mph.
NDAWN 10 meter measurement north of Crookston.
Measurement on 10 meter NDAWN sensor.
Mesonet station MN060 East Grand Forks MN dot.
Measurement on 10 meter NDAWN sensor.
MN dot mesonet station MN135 Kent, MN.
Ground survey and high resolution satellite confirmed a long swath of widespread destructive straight-line winds estimated between 80 and 90 mph across far northern Hubbard County. The surge of winds and associated 30 mile long damage swath started upstream in Clearwater County and spread across southern Beltrami and northern Hubbard county. The widest part of the swath was almost 12 miles wide from just north of Bemidji to its southern edge in northern Hubbard county. The highest winds and greatest damage were in the Bemidji area. There was approximately 53,609 acres of northern Hubbard County impacted with widespread tree damage within this single swath.
A ground survey and high resolution satellite confirmed a swath of destructive straight-line winds estimated between 80-120 mph occurred across southern Beltrami County. The swath started in Clearwater County and continued east across southern Beltrami County and northern Hubbard County, and was approximately 30 miles long. The widest part of the swath was approximately 12 miles wide from just north of Bemidji to its southernmost point in northern Hubbard County. There was approximately 143,838 acres of southern Beltrami County impacted with widespread tree damage within this single swath. Highest impacted areas extend from near the US Highway 2 and Division Street West intersection, through downtown Bemidji, and through southern and eastern areas of Lake Bemidji. Extensive and significant tree damage was noted within this swath. While widespread tree damage occurred across this 30 mile long swath, the most significant tree damage was within a mile swath beginning south of Wilton and extending about 4 miles east of Lake Bemidji. Such widespread and significant tree damage made numerous roads inaccessible, hampering recovery efforts and trapping people at locations like Lake Bemidji State Park. Some trees that were downed are reported to be 100 to 200 years old. As a result of extensive tree damage, widespread and long duration power outages occurred for over 50,000 reported accounts, some locations lasting more than 6 days after the event within Beltrami County near the Bemidji area. Fallen trees also resulted in vehicular and structural damage. Widespread structural damage from destructive winds alone also occurred to residential and commercial buildings, government buildings, the Sanford Center Arena, and Bemidji State University. This includes, but is not limited to, completely destroyed outbuildings and garages, roofs damaged or completely destroyed, and numerous instances of broken windows. Reports of damage to aircraft and airport buildings received at the Bemidji International Airport. Media relayed that 90 percent of Bemidji State University buildings suffered some form of damage. NWS storm survey teams did not find definitive evidence of tornadic circulation, rather they found damage indicative of destructive straight line winds.
Estimated 70 mph winds by trained storm spotter 5 S Lengby, small tree branches down.
Estimated 70 mph winds by trained storm spotter 5 S Lengby, small tree branches down.
Thief River Falls MN airport awos station KTVF.
Measurement on 10 meter NDAWN sensor.
Multiple tree branches blown down along with home damage. Winds were estimated at 80 mph.
Measured wind gust at KBJI AWOS located at the Bemidji airport.
Measured gust at AWOS station kffm at Fergus Falls MN airport.
Estimated 60 to 70 mph winds as the initial line of thunderstorms rolled through, with tree damage to branches larger than their forearm.
There were reports of power lines down and tree limbs up to 3 inches blown down.
Measured gust at mesonet station 2438D Hadler MN.
Measured wind gust at MNDOT mesonet station 2 miles west northwest of Bemidji BMJM5.
Measured gust at MN DOT mesonet station MN131 Herman, MN.
Widespread tree damage with limbs around 3 inches in diameter blown down.
Measured gust at mesonet station MN114 Beltrami MN DOT.
NDAWN 10 meter measurement north of Fertile.
Measured gust at NDAWN mesonet station 210019 1 north Ada MN.
MN dot mesonet station MN068 Brooks, MN.
Measured gust at MN dot MN068 Brooks, MN.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Minnesota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, June 2025
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: 1276759, 1276758, 1276766, 1276765, 1276762, 1276755, 1276753, 1276967, 1281638, 1276756, 1276772, 1276752, 1276771, 1276770, 1276970, 1276979, 1276747, 1276748, 1276776, 1276775, 1276739, 1276751, 1276774, 1276749, 1276740, 1276761, 1276750, 1276773, 1276742, 1276754, 1276757, 1276760, 1276777, 1276778.