In the mid afternoon hours of Wednesday, July 30th, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 775 was issued for much of western and central North Dakota due to intensification of thunderstorms developing along a pre-frontal trough situated over western North Dakota. Later Wednesday evening Severe Thunderstorm Watch 777 was issued to expand the watch area east and to extend portions of WW 775 into the early morning hours of Thursday, July 31st.
The end result was a large severe weather outbreak experienced across much of southwest and south central North Dakota, lasting from the late afternoon hours of the 30th, into the early morning hours of the 31st. Multiple severe thunderstorm warnings, several tornado warnings, and one flash flood warning were issued. Numerous reports of large hail and severe thunderstorm wind gusts were received throughout this event, along with one flash flooding event.

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 20:15:00 to 30-JUL-08 20:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROSEGLEN
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Ping pong size hail was accompanied by heavy rain. Total rainfall at the time of the report was 2.20 inches. There was no flooding.

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 20:42:00 to 30-JUL-08 20:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMMET
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 35.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Very large hail up to tennis ball size damaged skylights on a home and caused other damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 22:40:00 to 30-JUL-08 22:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: STANTON
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A six inch in diameter tree was blown down in Stanton.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:30:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: BALDWIN
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Damage was reported to trees and there was also minor structural damage.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:50:00 to 31-JUL-08 00:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: (BIS)BISMARCK MUNI A
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 40.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Severe thunderstorm wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph swept across the Bismarck and Mandan areas as a large bow echo pushed southeast across south central North Dakota. Winds resulted in widespread tree damage across the cities, as well as loss of power to roughly 7,000 customers due to trees falling onto power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 31-JUL-08 02:00:00 to 31-JUL-08 02:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLENDALE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 85.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Severe thunderstorm wind gusts overturned several grain bins and destroyed them. Tree limbs were broken and crops were damaged.

Flash Flood in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 21:57:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRISON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Flash flooding was reported in the city of Garrison with water flooding city streets and yards, and flowing into some basements. This was due to excessive rainfall of 3.43 inches total, with 2.62 inches of that falling within one hour.

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 22:30:00 to 30-JUL-08 22:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: STANTON
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down 12 inch diameter trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCINTOSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 31-JUL-08 02:00:00 to 31-JUL-08 02:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: DANZIG
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 1.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm wind gusts broke three inch in diameter tree branches.

Thunderstorm Wind in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 31-JUL-08 03:04:00 to 31-JUL-08 03:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ELLENDALE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

A second wave of severe thunderstorm wind gusts caused damage to trees in the city of Ellendale.

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 21:09:00 to 30-JUL-08 21:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRISON
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 21:39:00 to 30-JUL-08 21:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRISON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Thunderstorm Wind in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:21:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARMON
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 18:41:00 to 30-JUL-08 18:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: BENEDICT
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in WARD, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 18:48:00 to 30-JUL-08 18:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: HESNAULT
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 20:45:00 to 30-JUL-08 20:52:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARRISON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 17:50:00 to 30-JUL-08 17:57:00 (CST-6)
Location: PICK CITY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 17:59:00 to 30-JUL-08 18:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: BLACKWATER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 18:15:00 to 30-JUL-08 18:21:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLEHARBOR
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 16:23:00 to 30-JUL-08 16:32:00 (CST-6)
Location: REPUBLIC
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

No reports of damage were received.

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 17:11:00 to 30-JUL-08 17:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH ARPT
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:30:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:43:00 (MST-7)
Location: HAYNES
Magnitude: 2.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

This report was from the Severe Hail Verification Experiment.

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 17:30:00 to 30-JUL-08 17:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZEN
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A swath of quarter to golf ball size hail fell south to north across the city of Hazen. Some property damage was reported, but there were no specifics.

Hail in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 14:55:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:02:00 (MST-7)
Location: GLADSTONE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:00:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:08:00 (MST-7)
Location: TAYLOR
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Estimated seventy mph winds along with penny size hail was reported.

Hail in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 16:25:00 to 30-JUL-08 16:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: HEBRON
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

No reports of damage were received.

Hail in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:00:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:15:00 (MST-7)
Location: TAYLOR
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

This report was from the Severe Hail Verification Experiment.

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 17:40:00 to 30-JUL-08 17:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: KREM
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

In addition to the hail, 60 mph thunderstorm wind gusts were reported.

Hail in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:21:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:41:00 (MST-7)
Location: REEDER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail up to golf ball size lasted for 20 minutes.

Hail in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:14:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: RICHARDTON
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

This report was from the Severe Hail Verification Experiment.

Hail in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 15:13:00 to 30-JUL-08 15:22:00 (MST-7)
Location: REEDER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

This report was from the Severe Hail Verification Experiment.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:28:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:34:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANDAN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:36:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANDAN MUNI ARPT
Magnitude: 2.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

No reports of damage were received.

Hail in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 23:50:00 to 30-JUL-08 23:59:00 (MST-7)
Location: SHIELDS
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 14:13:00 to 30-JUL-08 14:18:00 (MST-7)
Location: BOWMAN
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

Hail in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 30-JUL-08 14:20:00 to 30-JUL-08 14:26:00 (MST-7)
Location: LEFOR
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager