Severe thunderstorms threaten Fergus Falls with damaging wind and hail
Storms came within 18 miles of Fergus Falls with 60 mph gust and quarter-size hail warnings. The NWS also flagged more thunderstorms later in the week.
Severe thunderstorms tightened around Fergus Falls as cells moved east across Otter Tail County, with one storm over southwestern Ottertail Lake and another near Underwood. The National Weather Service office in Grand Forks warned at 2:38:37 p.m. CDT that thunderstorms were developing in Minnesota, some could become strong to severe, and residents needed a way to receive warnings.
The first severe thunderstorm statement placed a storm over southwestern Ottertail Lake, about 18 miles east of Fergus Falls, moving east at 45 mph. The hazard listed was 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail. A later update put another severe thunderstorm near Underwood, about 9 miles east of Fergus Falls, also moving east at 45 mph with the same wind and hail threat. That kept the strongest part of the system close enough to matter for neighborhoods, farms and road travel east of the city.
Mostly cloudy and hot conditions were forecast for the Fergus Falls area, with a high near 93 and heat index values as high as 102. Another forecast pushed the heat index to 105 and kept a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m.
Storm intensity was expected to decrease during the evening hours, but the June 30 system was part of a broader stretch of active weather that could keep bringing thunderstorm chances later in the week. The June 22, 1919 Fergus Falls tornado destroyed 228 houses and killed 57 people.
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