A cluster of thunderstorms produced heavy rain and localized flash flooding over parts of southeast North Dakota during the evening. A wake low developed as this complex moved east with widespread 50 to 55 mph winds reported, and one brief high wind report of 58 mph at Fargo Airport.
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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.
A cluster of thunderstorms produced heavy rain and localized flash flooding over parts of southeast North Dakota during the evening. A wake low developed as this complex moved east with widespread 50 to 55 mph winds reported, and one brief high wind report of 58 mph at Fargo Airport.
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 Aug 5, 5:52 PM CST, 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 652 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening, especially west of the Red River. Hazards could include half dollar sized hail and wind gusts to 60 mph. - Strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday across parts of northwest Minnesota. - Severe thunderstorms are possible both Thursday and Friday. Significant severe storms are possible both days, with hazards including large hail, significant damaging wind gusts, and isolated tornadoes. && .UPDATE... Issued at 652 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 Complex of thunderstorms beginning to enter southeastern ND, so made some adjustments to POPs for current trends. There has been a weakening trend as storms move into slightly less unstable air, but there is still decent effective shear to work with and could still see hail up to quarters and winds up to 70 mph as cells move into our area. Biggest threat will likely be heavy rain, as portions of south central ND have already seen up to 5 inches in the last few hours and storms will continue to move slowly into southeastern ND. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 343 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 ...Synopsis... A mid level shortwave continues moving across the area today, bringing showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. A few severe thunderstorms are possible. This shortwave moves east overnight, and could bring additional severe storms into northwest Minnesota on Wednesday. An H5 upper low, situated in southern Saskatchewan, is the main contributor of energy as the H7 waves form along southwest flow. This will lift northeast late Wednesday with another shortwave approaching heading into Thursday. The environment will be quite supportive of severe thunderstorms both Thursday and on Friday as an upper low pushes a strong theta-e gradient boundary, and the resultant cold front, across the area. A warming trend prevails through Thursday, with afternoon highs in the 80s Wednesday and upper 80s to low 90s Thursday. ...Severe Thunderstorms Possible This Evening... Instability continues to build into the Northern Plains this afternoon, with a weak shortwave traversing the region from west to east. Soundings indicate favorable shear profiles to allow a mention of supercells, albeit with only moderate CAPE values. There is the potential for hail up to the size of half dollars and wind gusts to 60 mph. ...Severe Thunderstorm Chances Wednesday... A conditional risk for severe thunderstorms continues on Wednesday, mainly for areas of northwest Minnesota. Hazards could include wind gusts to 60 mph and hail up to the size of quarters. A lingering H7 shortwave will provide an axis of development east of the Red River Valley in northwest Minnesota. ...Significant Severe Storms Possible Thu and Fri... Moisture levels continue to increase Thursday and Friday, with SBCAPE values climbing upwards of 3000-4000 J/Kg. Thursday, soundings support the chance for significant wind as steep mid-level lapse rates and DCAPE upwards of 1400 J/Kg have been consistent in recent Model runs. Significant damaging wind gusts, of 75 mph or greater, are possible along with large hail. Low to mid level shear support at least a mention of isolated tornado potential along the leading edge of an H7 shortwave. Most of the area could potentially be impacted, with the best chances in northeast North Dakota and the central Red River Valley. Heading into Friday, a cold moves closer to the area as H5 troughing deepens in the southern Canadian Plains. SBCAPE in some model soundings exceeds 4000 J/Kg, with a probability of exceeding 4000 J/Kg coming in around 90 percent, especially in the southern Red River Valley. Given the current model soundings, all modes and all hazards are worth mentioning; however, significant wind potential remains quite high comparatively. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z THURSDAY/... Issued at 652 PM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 All sites currently VFR, but will see a decrease in category along with vicinity showers and thunderstorms as a complex moves in from south central ND in the next few hours. Best chances for thunder and heavier rain will be in the KFAR area, but all sites should see at least some showers. Behind the convection, ceilings down into the MVFR to IFR range will be possible, along with a few lingering showers at the MN airports. Some improvement by the end of the period. Winds will be out of the southeast with some gusts up to 20 kts at times, then shifting more southwesterly by tomorrow at the ND airports. && .FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ND...None. MN...None. && UPDATE...JR DISCUSSION...Lynch AVIATION...JR
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND 434 AM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 MNZ005-006-008-009-013>017-022>024-028-032-060945- Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington- Red Lake-East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-Hubbard-East Becker-Wadena- 434 AM CDT Tue Aug 5 2025 This hazardous weather outlook is for portions of west central and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Isolated thunderstorms possible today. Showers and scattered thunderstorms overnight tonight. Main hazard is lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday There is the potential for strong to severe storms Wednesday afternoon, Thursday night and again Friday. Friday has the potential for significant severe weather with large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today. MNZ001>004-007-027-029>031-040-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038- 039-049-052>054-060945- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Kittson-West Marshall-West Becker-Wilkin- West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-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 Tue Aug 5 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 near Valley City and Lisbon and a level 1 out of 5 for the remainder of eastern North Dakota into parts of west central Minnesota. This is for this afternoon into tonight. The main hazards will be hail to quarters, wind gusts 60 mph and lightning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday There is the potential for strong to severe storms Wednesday afternoon, Thursday night and again Friday. Friday has the potential for significant severe weather with large hail, damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be required today.
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 84 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:02 UTC.
4 flash flood, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Flash flooding reported in Valley City, ND.
Flash flooding reported in Fargo, ND.
Street flooding in Fargo. 25th Street had two feet of water on it.
Widespread street flooding reported in Fargo. Vehicle stalls reported across the metro area.
Wind gust of 58 mph measured at the KFAR ASOS associated with wake low.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in North Dakota, August 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1282394, 1282396, 1282397, 1282398, 1282400.