Reports: Intense storms erupt over Montana, North Dakota with high winds, tornadoes

brian.lada
Updated

As of 2:00 a.m. CDT Friday, the reports below are no longer being updated.

Damaging storms are impacting the north-central US and spinning up tornadoes across the region into Friday morning.

Moisture-rich air from the south will help to fuel severe thunderstorms across eastern Montana, northeastern Wyoming, North Dakota and northern South Dakota into the overnight hours.

This includes a stretch of Interstate 94 extending hundreds of miles across the region. Motorists driving on this highway should be prepared for weather-related delays.

The strongest storms will be capable of producing winds over 70 mph, baseball-sized hail and even tornadoes.

12:50 a.m. CDT Friday:

Residents in Bismarck, North Dakota, are about to get rattled by severe storms that are sweeping in from the west.

The city is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 1:45 a.m. CDT, with wind gusts up to 70 mph possible with the storms.

11:40 p.m. CDT Thursday:

In addition to unleashing high winds, the severe storms rumbling across the northern Plains are dumping a tremendous amount of rainfall which is leading to flash flooding.

In Mercer County, North Dakota, 5.25 inches of rain fell within three hours.

The heavy rainfall caused ditches to overflow with water and flood neighboring roads near Halliday, North Dakota, according to local law enforcement.

10:30 p.m. CDT Thursday:

Wind gusts between 70 and 80 mph have been reported with an intense line of storms sweeping through western North Dakota. Winds of this magnitude can easily flip over tractor trailers and snap trees and power lines.

With the threat of severe weather continuing well after dark, residents across North Dakota and even into northwest Minnesota are encouraged to keep cell phones on and fully charged with severe alerts enabled before heading to bed.

9:30 p.m. CDT Thursday:

A storm that produced tornadoes in southeast Montana has crossed over into South Dakota and is producing a large tornado in Harding County, South Dakota.

8:55 p.m. CDT Thursday:

A line of severe storms has developed in eastern Montana with isolated supercell thunderstorms east of the line. A tornado has been confirmed by several trained spotters near Capitol, Montana.

radar
radar

8:15 p.m. CDT Thursday:

The same thunderstorm that spun up a brief tornado near Halliday, North Dakota, earlier this evening is once again capable of producing a tornado. This is a slow-moving thunderstorm and may cause flooding as heavy rain persists over the same areas.

7:50 p.m. CDT Thursday:

AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer confirmed that a tornado touched down earlier this evening near Halliday, North Dakota. The tornado has since lifted and lifted some vegetation in the area.

6:30 p.m. CDT Thursday:

Severe thunderstorms are starting to become more widespread in eastern Montana and western North Dakota with several storms capable of producing large hail.

storms
storms

4:15 p.m. CDT Thursday:

A strong thunderstorm is gaining strength in western North Dakota. AccuWeather Extreme Meteorologist Reed Timmer is near Watford City and is intercepting the storm.

3:20 p.m. CDT Thursday:

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for much of North Dakota. A few tornadoes are likely in this area, as well as wind gusts to 70 mph and very large hail.