Severe thunderstorm warning issued for Kensal, Glenfield and Buchanan

Kensal, Glenfield and Buchanan were under a severe thunderstorm warning Tuesday night as storms capable of 60 mph wind gusts and small hail moved across Stutsman County. The National Weather Service office in Bismarck said the warning remained in effect until 11:00 PM CDT on June 10.

The warning put the three communities in the path of fast-changing storm conditions that could damage roofs, siding and trees. Weather Service guidance for the area told residents to stay away from windows and move to an interior room when storms approached, a standard safety step when severe thunderstorms threaten in the open country and small towns across the county.

At 8:46 PM CDT, the Weather Service said severe storms were located in the area with the hazard centered on strong wind gusts and small hail. That combination has repeatedly prompted alerts around Stutsman County in recent days, including a separate warning that also listed Kensal and Buchanan among the locations in the storm path.

The threat was not limited to wind and hail. The Stutsman County forecast from the Weather Service called for a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, with locally heavy rainfall possible. That raised the risk of sudden downpours, slick roads and brief visibility problems, especially on rural routes and low-lying stretches where water can pool quickly.

For drivers moving between Kensal, Glenfield and Buchanan, the warning meant close attention to changing skies and conditions along the roads. For farm sites, outbuildings and homes on the edge of town, the concern centered on exposed roofs, loose siding, tree limbs and vehicles left outside. With storms already producing repeated alerts in the county, residents had reason to expect additional rounds of unsettled weather rather than a quick one-time system.

The combination of severe wind, small hail and heavy rain kept much of eastern Stutsman County on alert late into the evening. Even after the warning expired at 11 p.m., the broader forecast still pointed to more thunderstorm chances, leaving the county in a stretch of active summer weather.