Tornado Watch Issued for Western North Dakota

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for western North Dakota as isolated supercells have the potential to develop, bringing a risk of tornadoes, large hail, and significant gusts. The watch area includes a 45-mile-wide band, stretching from 55 miles north-northeast of Williston to 60 miles south-southwest of Dickinson.

The Storm Prediction Center has issued a Tornado Watch Number 476, effective from 345 PM MDT on Thursday, June 27, 2024, until 900 PM MDT. The primary threats include a couple of tornadoes possible, widespread damaging winds, isolated significant gusts to 80 mph likely, scattered large hail, and isolated very large hail events to 3 inches in diameter likely.

Isolated supercells are forecast to develop late in the afternoon into the evening across western North Dakota, posing a risk of tornadoes, large hail, and significant gusts. A band of severe thunderstorms is expected to move west to east across the watch area later in the evening, bringing severe gusts (60-80 mph) to the more intense portions of the band.

Residents in the watch area should remain vigilant, listening for later statements and possible warnings. The Advisory from the Storm Prediction Center warns of the following conditions:

• A few cumulonimbus with maximum tops to 500
• Mean storm motion vector 26030
• Turbulence and surface wind gusts to 70 knots

The Tornado Watch area is approximately along and 45 statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles north-northeast of Williston ND to 60 miles south-southwest of Dickinson ND. For a complete depiction of the watch, see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU6).

The watch area should be aware of the potential for tornadoes and receive updates from local authorities regarding the status of the severe weather.