North Dakota

May 12 derecho unleashed 6 tornadoes on western Minnesota, eastern North Dakota

Published

3 years ago

May 15, 2022

Press Room

May 12 derecho unleashed 6 tornadoes on western Minnesota, eastern North Dakota

GRAND FORKS — The

Nationwide Climate Service in Grand Forks

has confirmed a mega-storm generally known as a “derecho” unleashed at the very least six completely different tornadoes Might 12 on japanese North Dakota and western Minnesota.

The Nationwide Climate Service defines a

derecho

as a “widespread, long-lived wind storm that’s related to a band of quickly shifting showers or thunderstorms.”

Though the derecho can produce destruction just like that of tornadoes, the climate service says the derecho’s harm sometimes is directed in a single course alongside a straight swath. Consequently, the time period “straight-line wind harm” is typically used to explain derecho harm.

Final Thursday night’s rash of storms and hurricane-force winds uprooted and destroyed timber; snapped energy poles like matchsticks, and broken buildings, outbuildings and autos all through the area. No lives had been misplaced within the Pink River Valley,

though one Minnesota man was killed by a big grain bin

that blew over in Lake Lillian about 87 miles west of Minneapolis, and two individuals died in South Dakota because of the storm, in response to wire experiences.

The Nationwide Climate Service in Grand Forks described the flurry of storms as “a fast-moving and long-tracking Derecho/downburst/wind episode which tracked north-northeastward from northeastern Nebraska, via japanese South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota into far southeastern North Dakota and west-central Minnesota.”

Derechos are comparatively uncommon — however particularly so in Might.

“It’s fairly uncommon (to occur) this early within the 12 months,” stated Vince Godon of the Nationwide Climate Service. “Normally, it’s extra like a July/August occasion.”

Godon says derechos usually tend to happen

within the Midwest when the corn fields are rising and transpiring moisture into the air,

which helps contribute to the 90-and-above temperatures and dewpoints within the 70s.

So how did the derecho have an effect on us? The climate service not too long ago launched this detailed report:

Twister 1, EF1 (weak), with peak winds of 100 mph close to Charlesville and Elbow Lake, Minn. This tornado started at 7:07 p.m. half a mile southeast of Charlesville, Minn., and ended three minutes and three miles later 13 miles west of Elbow Lake, Minn.

A number of giant ash and cottonwood tree limbs had been damaged down in shelterbelts and a number of other energy poles had been broken.

Twister 2, EF1 (weak), producing peak winds of 100 mph close to Le Mars in Richland County, N.D. This tornado started at 7:10 p.m. 1.5 miles southwest of Le Mars, then traveled 3 miles to finish at northwest Le Mars three minutes later.

The storm broke tree limbs of ash and field elder timber in shelterbelts, cracked at the very least two picket energy poles and precipitated two different poles to lean.

Twister 3, EF2 (robust), producing peak winds of 115 mph close to Tenney and Campbell, Minn. It started at 7:16 p.m. 1 mile southwest of Tenney in Minnesota’s Wilkin County and lasted 9 minutes throughout its nine-mile journey, which ended 3 miles north of Campbell, Minn.

In keeping with climate service data, “this twister was greatest marked by the path of at the very least 23 energy poles which had been cracked or utterly snapped alongside its route.”
As well as, quite a few timber had been snapped and storage doorways blown in at rural homesteads. The group of Campbell confirmed widespread tree harm, with quite a few spruce timber uprooted and ash and cottonwoods snapped. Falling timber broken quite a few properties and communities all through the group and enormous metal bins on the Campbell elevator advanced had been partially caved in.

Twister 4, EF1 (weak), producing peak winds of 100 mph, by Battle Lake, Minn. It started at 7:31 p.m. 2 miles southwest of Battle Lake, Minn., and ended simply three minutes later 1.5 miles north/northeast of Battle Lake. This brief, intense storm flipped a single-wide trailer; snapped or uprooted quite a few spruce, poplar and ash timber, and blew metallic roofing off a storage constructing.

Twister 5, EF1 (weak), producing peak winds of 85 mph over West Mason Lake. This waterspout was noticed over West Mason Lake, close to Clitherall, Minn., from 7:40 to 7:41 p.m. The winds it generated broke a number of giant 6- to 10-inch diameter tree branches on the lake’s north shore.
Twister 6, EF2 (robust), producing peak winds of 115 mph close to Verndale and Sebeka, Minn. The twister was reported 1 mile southwest of Verndale in Wadena County at 7:53 p.m. It ended 18 minutes later after touring 16 miles to five.5 miles southeast of Sebeka.

This twister snapped energy poles whereas breaking and uprooting timber all through a broad space. Falling timber additionally broken quite a few properties and autos all through the communities of Verndale, Blue Grass and surrounding rural areas.
Quite a few farm buildings, particularly these which had been open to the south, misplaced metal roofing and sidewall panels to the winds. Roofs had been torn off turkey barns and different industrial buildings as properly.

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North Dakota

Police ID Cass County man killed in western North Dakota motorcycle crash

Published

14 hours ago

June 4, 2025

Press Room

Police ID Cass County man killed in western North Dakota motorcycle crash

KILLDEER, N.D. — The North Dakota Highway Patrol has identified the Cass County man killed Saturday, May 31, in a motorcycle crash in western North Dakota.

According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Gene Schepp, 71, of Gardner, was riding a 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycle Saturday on Highway 22 near mile marker 123, north of Killdeer. Schepp failed to negotiate a curve and overturned. He was wearing a helmet but died of his injuries.

The Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash. The Killdeer Area Ambulance, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office and West Dunn Fire Department also responded to the crash.

Located in Dunn County, Killdeer is 35 miles north of Dickinson.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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North Dakota

Kick Off to Summer Weekend Set to Bring Food, Fun, and Festivities to Watford City and Western North Dakota

Published

1 day ago

June 3, 2025

Press Room

The Rough Rider Center and Watford City Parks and Recreation are gearing up for their Kick Off to Summer Weekend, a jam-packed celebration of community, food, fun, and America’s favorite pastime. This annual tradition is set to begin on Wednesday, June 4, and run through Sunday, June 8, with activities for all ages.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Wednesday, June 4: Alumni Baseball Game

The week kicks off with a special Walleye Alumni vs. Alumni Baseball Game, celebrating the legacy and talent of past Walleye players. Join us for a night of nostalgia and community pride.

Thursday, June 5: Food Truck Rodeo Begins & Doug Johnsrud Baseball Tournament.

Get ready to eat! The Food Truck Rodeo runs from Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7 Enjoy a wide variety of local and regional favorites. Admission into the Food Truck Rodeo is FREE this year. A huge thank you to Son Oil Field Services for their generous support as our Title Sponsor of the Food Truck Rodeo.

Thursday also marks the beginning of the Doug Johnsrud Memorial Baseball Tournament, showcasing teams from North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. Baseball fans won’t want to miss this exciting four-day tournament, featuring our hometown Walleye team. Special thanks to the Johnsrud Family, American Legion, FIBT, Lund Oil, and all of our sponsors for making this tournament possible.

Friday, June 6: Touch-a-Truck

Bring the kids out for our always-popular Touch-a-Truck Event! Young ones can climb aboard and explore trucks and large vehicles from across the county—yes, they can even honk the horns! Event time runs from 1-4pm, with a special sensory inclusive time scheduled from 1-2 p.m.

Rough Rider Center 2209 Wolves Den Parkway PO Box 1739, Watford City, ND 58854701-842-3665. http://www.roughridercenter.com.

Saturday, June 7:

Live Music with Wedge

After the final baseball game of the evening, stick around as local rock band Wedge takes the stage with energetic covers from the ’90s and 2000s. Music begins after the 7 p.m. game—don’t miss it. Thursday to Sunday: Bounce House Fun Throughout the weekend, kids can enjoy the bounce house in the Fieldhouse. A great way to burn off energy while the rest of the family enjoys the festivities! This entire weekend is FREE and open to the public thanks to the incredible support from our community sponsors. Come out and enjoy great food, family-friendly activities, and top-tier baseball in an unforgettable start to summer. Let’s celebrate in the best way–TOGETHER, as a community!

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