Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Forks
- When
- May 15, 1:50 PM CST to 1:55 PM CST
- Where
- Grand Forks County, 0.83 mi SW of Thompson
- Measured
- 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 47.770, -97.110
Top of large cottonwood trees snapped.
Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in North Dakota, May 15, 2025
Severe thunderstorms produced frequent severe wind gusts across portions of west central Minnesota, northwest Minnesota, and eastern North Dakota. Several weak brief tornadoes also occurred.
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
- 4
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 produced frequent severe wind gusts across portions of west central Minnesota, northwest Minnesota, and eastern North Dakota. Several weak brief tornadoes also occurred.
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 May 15, 12:40 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, especially south of Highway 2.
- Showers continue on Friday with much cooler temperatures.
- There is a 60 percent chance for at least 1 inch of rain over eastern North Dakota today through Friday. Best chances west of the Red River.
Area forecast discussion, May 15, 12:40 PM CST, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Grand Forks ND
Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND
140 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon,
especially south of Highway 2.
- Showers continue on Friday with much cooler temperatures.
- There is a 60 percent chance for at least 1 inch of rain over
eastern North Dakota today through Friday. Best chances west
of the Red River.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 137 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
...Synopsis...
A strong upper low, and the corresponding shortwave, will traverse the area
today through Friday. This will bring widespread rain chances to eastern North
Dakota, northwest Minnesota, and west-central Minnesota. A few of todays storms
could become severe. Heading into Friday, look for continuing rainfall and much
cooler temperatures. Highs are only expected to reach the 40s and 50s. Cooler
temperatures remain in place this weekend as high temperatures reach the upper
40s Saturday, then climb into the 50s for Sunday. Highs will then be in the 60s
through the first half on next week.
...Severe Storms Possible Today...
H5 upper low continues to approach southeastern North Dakota this afternoon.
Soundings indicate the presence of CAPE values ranging from 1500 J/Kg to 2500 J/Kg.
Low level shear, both in the 0-1km and 0-3km layers looks supportive of low top
supercells or cluster/supercell hybrid mode. As such, the risk for brief tornadoes
and hail up to 1 inch is worth a mention. Additionally, funnels are possible as the
upper low passes through the area.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/...
Issued at 1251 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025
Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to
continue moving through the region today, primarily from south
to north. MVFR to IFR visibility, strong and erratic wind gusts,
and possibly MVFR ceilings can be expected with the strongest
storms today. Later this afternoon into tonight, low ceilings
are forecast to spread across the area from southwest to
northeast, mostly IFR west of KGFK and KFAR, and MVFR elsewhere.
Winds will mostly be out of the southeast to northeast around
10-20 kts through the forecast period, strongest this afternoon.
&&
.FGF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
ND...Wind Advisory from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday for
NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>030-038-039-049-052>054.
MN...Wind Advisory from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday for
MNZ001>004-007.
&&
DISCUSSION...Lynch
AVIATION...ZH/HollanHazardous weather outlook, May 15, 1:16 PM CST, 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Grand Forks ND Issued by National Weather Service Bismarck ND 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 MNZ004-007-NDZ006>008-014>016-024-026>029-054-161930- Kittson-West Marshall-Towner-Cavalier-Pembina-Benson-Ramsey- Eastern Walsh-Eddy-Nelson-Grand Forks-Griggs-Steele-Western Walsh- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Minnesota, northeast North Dakota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Friday...A Wind Advisory is in effect from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday. Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ029>032-040-161930- Wilkin-West Otter Tail-East Otter Tail-Wadena-Grant- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of central Minnesota and west central Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight A Tornado Watch is in effect until 8 PM CDT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ015>017-022-023-027-161930- East Polk-North Clearwater-South Beltrami-Mahnomen- South Clearwater-West Becker- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ005-006-008-009-013-014-161930- Roseau-Lake Of The Woods-East Marshall-North Beltrami-Pennington- Red Lake- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ024-028-161930- Hubbard-East Becker- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central Minnesota and northwest Minnesota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed. MNZ001>003-NDZ030-038-039-049-052-053-161930- West Polk-Norman-Clay-Traill-Barnes-Cass-Ransom-Sargent-Richland- 216 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwest Minnesota, west central Minnesota, and southeast North Dakota. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon. Expected hazards include hail up to the size of quarters, wind gusts to 60 mph, and a tornado or two. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Friday...A Wind Advisory is in effect from 7 AM Friday to 1 AM CDT Saturday. Saturday night...Frost risk. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed.
The radar
The Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 31 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:49 UTC.
Event by event
2 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Tornado, Cass
- When
- May 15, 2:08 PM CST to 2:09 PM CST
- Where
- Cass County, 1.12 mi SW of Vance
- Rating
- EFU
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 20 yd
- Reported by
- Storm Chaser
- Coordinates
- 47.018, -97.236
Video evidence shows a brief, semi-condensed funnel very close to the ground, and some brief ground debris lofted for a few seconds. No damage reported or discernable via satellite.
Tornado, Pembina
- When
- May 15, 3:28 PM CST to 3:29 PM CST
- Where
- Pembina County, 2.48 mi NNE of Hensel
- Rating
- EFU
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 20 yd
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 48.710, -97.620
Video relayed from online media of a broad circulation of dust under an apparent wall cloud. No damage reported or discerned. No discernable damage via satellite or reported.
Thunderstorm Wind, Grand Forks
- When
- May 15, 4:02 PM CST to 4:07 PM CST
- Where
- Grand Forks County, 3.11 mi ENE of Merrifield
- Measured
- 50 kt (58 mph) estimated gust
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 47.870, -97.040
Tree branches damaged.
What these are
- 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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, May 15, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, May 15, 2025
- Flash Flood in Michigan, May 15, 2025
- Tornado and Hail in Wisconsin, May 15, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in Michigan, May 15 to 16, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, May 15, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 15, 2025
- Flash Flood in Ohio, May 15, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in Michigan, May 15 to 16, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 15, 2025
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Michigan, May 15 to 16, 2025
- Tornadoes and Hail in Minnesota, May 15, 2025
More
Every storm in North Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for North Dakota, 2025Warnings in North Dakota, May 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: 1267979, 1268667, 1268662, 1267980.