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Dakotas, Upper Midwest Keeping Their Eyes Peeled for Severe Weather

August 26, 2019
UPDATED By WeatherBug's Chris Sayles
Dangerous thunderstorms continue to threaten the northern High Plains for the last Sunday in August.

A quick-moving disturbance attached to a cold front will roll through eastern Montana into the Dakotas tonight. The necessary ingredients are in place to continue to flare up storms across western Wyoming into west-central South Dakota and central North Dakota. Isolated strong to severe storms are a posssibility with any thunderstorms that develop, but these storms will become better organized overnight.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for northeastern Wyoming into central South and North Dakota. Although a brief tornado or two is possible early in the storm development stage, the primary risks include hail larger than golf balls and destructive wind gusts ranging from 60 to 70 mph. Jamestown and Belcourt, N.D., Newcastle, Wyo., and Rapid City and Pierre, S.D., will need to keep a watchful eye to the sky for this dangerous weather.

A robust thunderstorm or two carrying gusty winds and hail could survive as far south and east as Grand Forks and Fargo, N.D., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Valentine, Neb., this evening into early tonight.

Beyond the typical severe weather hazards, these thunderstorms will likely squeeze out 1 to 2 inches of rain in a short time, especially across the eastern Dakotas and western Minnesota. Here, the totals alone could be enough to overwhelm storm drains on a temporary basis, but add in possible storm debris, and urban and flash flooding will be a concern. Remember, if you approach a flooded roadway, it best to “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”

Earlier today, cities such as Bismarck and McClusky got hammered by golf ball to baseball-sized hail, while winds up to 70 mph were recorded in northeastern Wyoming causing extensive damage to multiple trees.

The Dakotas and Upper Midwest were last hit by severe weather more than a week ago on Saturday, August 17. That day produced many severe weather reports, including possible tornado touchdowns in Hadley and near Wilder, Minn. Hail ranging from quarter to golf ball size pelted Deadwood and Piedmont, S.D., while thunderstorm wind gusts downed powerlines in Medilia and Winnebago, Minn.

Keep in mind that lightning is one of Mother Nature's most dangerous killers. “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors” because if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning, even if the sun is shining.

Be sure to understand the difference between a weather watch and a warning. A watch means that an area is being monitored for dangerous weather and warning means that dangerous weather is imminent.