Dangerous Situation Unfolding in Western North Dakota

There is a massive line of storms producing major wind damage in the western end of North Dakota, out in what's known as the Oil Patch region of the state. Severe Thunderstorm Watch #403 has also just been issued by the SPC.

This includes Bismarck, Minot AFB, Devils Lake, Jamestown, Mobridge, and Aberdeen.

930 PM CDT MON JUL 8 2013

   THE NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS ISSUED A

   * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF 
     CENTRAL AND EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA
     NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA

   * EFFECTIVE THIS MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING FROM 930 PM
     UNTIL 400 AM CDT.

   * PRIMARY THREATS INCLUDE...
     SEVERAL SIGNIFICANT DAMAGING WIND GUSTS TO 75 MPH POSSIBLE
     SEVERAL VERY LARGE HAIL EVENTS TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER POSSIBLE

The following are recently issued statements from the National Weather Service office in Bismarck. Note the extremely serious wording they are using with some of these storms. The weather service believes that these storms will be a direct and significant threat to life and property, and reports of 70-90mph wind gusts have been reported with some storms. Even though the tornado threat is relatively low, straight line winds that strong can produce damage similar to that of an EF1-EF2 tornado.

920 PM CDT MON JUL 8 2013

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR NORTHWESTERN
MERCER AND WEST CENTRAL MCLEAN COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CDT...

AT 918 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR WHITE
SHIELD...OR 51 MILES SOUTHWEST OF MINOT...MOVING NORTH AT 15 MPH.

THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS STORM.

HAZARD...QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 80 MPH WIND GUSTS.

SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED. TRAINED SPOTTERS ALSO REPORTED WINDS UP TO
         80 MPH WITH THIS STORM.

IMPACT...MOBILE HOMES WILL BE HEAVILY DAMAGED. FLYING DEBRIS WILL BE
         DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS. EXPECT CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE
         TO ROOFS...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE AND
         POWER OUTAGES ARE LIKELY.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
EMMET...WHITE SHIELD AND ROSEGLEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. PEOPLE OUTSIDE
SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER...INSIDE A STRONG BUILDING AND AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

815 PM MDT MON JUL 8 2013

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BISMARCK HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHWESTERN BILLINGS COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
  WESTERN BOWMAN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
  THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BOWMAN
  GOLDEN VALLEY COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA
  WESTERN SLOPE COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA

* UNTIL 915 PM MDT

* AT 809 PM MDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE
  EXTENDING FROM OLLIE TO LADNER AND MOVING EAST AT 40 MPH.

  HAZARD...GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND 70 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...PEOPLE AND ANIMALS OUTDOORS WILL BE INJURED. EXPECT HAIL
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING...WINDOWS AND VEHICLES. EXPECT
           CONSIDERABLE TREE DAMAGE. WIND DAMAGE IS ALSO LIKELY TO
           MOBILE HOMES...ROOFS AND OUTBUILDINGS.

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR...
  PRETTY BUTTE AROUND 845 PM MDT.
  MARMARTH AROUND 850 PM MDT.
  ALPHA AND SUNSET BUTTE AROUND 855 PM MDT.
  MUD BUTTES AND THREE V CROSSING AROUND 900 PM MDT.
  RHAME AROUND 910 PM MDT.
  GRIFFIN AROUND 915 PM MDT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THESE STORMS ARE PRODUCING DESTRUCTIVE WINDS AND LARGE DAMAGING HAIL.
SEEK SHELTER NOW INSIDE A STURDY STRUCTURE AND STAY AWAY FROM
WINDOWS.

THESE THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING ALL TYPES OF SEVERE
WEATHER...INCLUDING EXTREMELY LARGE HAIL...DESTRUCTIVE STRAIGHT LINE
WINDS AND TORNADOES. MOVE QUICKLY TO A SAFE SHELTER...SUCH AS IN AN
INTERIOR ROOM...A BATHROOM OR CLOSET...OR BASEMENT.