In the mid afternoon hours of Wednesday, July 8th, Tornado Watch 563 was issued for all of western and parts of central North Dakota, due to the expected widespread and dangerous development and rapid intensification of thunderstorms near a surface trough along the western North Dakota border. Destabilization along the surface trough, coupled with the approach of a strong upper level trough and an intensifying late afternoon/early evening low level jet, all contributed to the watch issuance. Later Wednesday evening, Severe Thunderstorm Watch 565 was issued for much of central North Dakota to replace the expiring Tornado Watch, and specifically to account for a developing bow echo which was expected to push east across the watch area into the early morning hours of Thursday, July 9th.
The end result was a large severe weather outbreak experienced across much of west and central North Dakota, lasting from the late afternoon hours of the 8th, into the early morning hours of the 9th. Multiple severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings were issued. Numerous reports of large hail and severe thunderstorm wind gusts were received throughout this event.  Several tornadoes occurred, including an EF3 within city limits on the south side of Dickinson. That tornado alone resulted in over twenty million dollars in damage.

Hail in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:07:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAL
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:17:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHGATE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:02:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: BOWMAN ARPT
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 20.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Hail in this swath ranged from one inch diameter to 1.75 inch diameter. The largest stones fell about five miles north of Bowman and about 6.5 miles north-northwest of Buffalo Springs. There was minor crop and property damage.

Tornado in BILLINGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 17:27:00 to 08-JUL-09 17:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: MEDORA
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

A brief tornado touchdown was reported. No reports of damage or injuries were received.

Tornado in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 18:45:00 to 08-JUL-09 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: RHAME
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A newspaper article mentioned a brief tornado near Rhame. There was no mention of damage. Follow up with law enforcement also indicated that no damage was done.

Tornado in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:15:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:30:00 (MST-7)
Location: DICKINSON
Tornado F-scale: EF3
Property damage: 20.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Meteorologists from the National Weather Service conducted a storm damage survey in and around Dickinson on Thursday, July 9th, 2009. Meteorologists walked through the area and spoke with numerous people affected, many of whom were eye witnesses to the event.
This tornado passed through the city of Dickinson on the far south side, mainly just south of the Heart River. No witnesses spoken to actually saw the tornado. From their eye witness accounts, and from video obtained by the Dickinson Police Department, it is likely that this was a rain-wrapped tornado, and very difficult if not impossible to see. The tornado occurred before sunset, yet it was described as being as dark as night during the event.
The conclusion of the damage survey was that this tornado touched down around a mile or so outside the city limits, on the southwest side, and moved east-northeast, passing through the far southern part of the city. It lifted back into the parent thunderstorm on the extreme southeast side of Dickinson near the city limit. This occurred in the window between 815 PM MDT and 830 PM MDT.
Over 450 structures were damaged, of which nearly 100 were declared completely destroyed or beyond repair. Numerous vehicles were damaged or destroyed, some were on their roofs. Power lines were snapped, knocking out power to most of Dickinson, and tree damage was extensive. Two minor injuries were reported, with no deaths. The injuries were to a 23 year old male and a 42 year old male. Both occurred in homes.
The worst damage surveyed was between the Heart River and roughly 8th Street Southwest and 8th Street Southeast in southern Dickinson. Of that damage, the absolute worst corresponded to middle EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. From that it was determined that peak wind speeds in the tornado were on the order of 150 mph.
Other parts of Dickinson and the surrounding area sustained wind damage likely associated with the rear flank downdraft of the storm.

Tornado in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 17:05:00 to 08-JUL-09 17:10:00 (MST-7)
Location: SENTINEL BUTTE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A brief tornado occurred. The tornado touched down in open country and impacted no structures. There were no reports of damage.

Hail in GOLDEN VALLEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 18:45:00 to 08-JUL-09 18:53:00 (MST-7)
Location: GOLVA
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

No damage was reported.

Funnel Cloud in SLOPE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 17:24:00 to 08-JUL-09 17:28:00 (MST-7)
Location: MARMARTH
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Emergency management reported this funnel cloud.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 22:34:00 to 08-JUL-09 22:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: TURTLE LAKE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported an estimated severe thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph.

Hail in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 16:31:00 to 08-JUL-09 16:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: FORTUNA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Tornado in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 18:15:00 to 08-JUL-09 18:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: PORTAL
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 185.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

A tornado was reported west of Portal near the Canadian border where it blew out the windows of two vehicles and blew the vehicles into the ditch. The tornado continued east-southeast towards the southern side of the town of Portal, uprooting 12 inch in diameter trees, snapping several power poles, and destroying an old oak barn. The tornado then continued east of Portal, uprooting several more large trees, downing more power lines, and destroying a granary, before dissipating. The damage corresponded to low end EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. From that it was determined that wind speeds were around 90 mph. No injuries and no deaths were reported.

Tornado in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 20:30:00 to 08-JUL-09 20:50:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHERWOOD
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

This tornado touched down in rural parts of northern Renville County. There was damage done on a farmstead nine miles west and four miles south of Sherwood. The tornado damage was rated low end EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. From that it was determined that wind speeds were on the order of 90 mph. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:10:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHGATE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 55.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Power lines and small trees were downed due to strong thunderstorm wind gusts. Several empty oil storage tanks were also damaged. Power was out to the local area near Northgate. Three tornadoes also touched down in Burke County this day. See the entries for those three tornadoes as well.

Funnel Cloud in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 20:17:00 to 08-JUL-09 20:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHERWOOD
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Law enforcement reported this brief funnel cloud near Sherwood.

Thunderstorm Wind in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 21:41:00 to 08-JUL-09 21:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: GLEN ULLIN
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported an estimated severe thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph.

Hail in DIVIDE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 16:45:00 to 08-JUL-09 16:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: FORTUNA
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 3.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

A vehicle was dented.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 09-JUL-09 00:00:00 to 09-JUL-09 00:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: BISMARCK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Estimated severe thunderstorm winds of 60 mph damaged the soffits on a home.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 22:35:00 to 08-JUL-09 22:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: COLEHARBOR
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

The public reported an estimated severe thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph. Tree branches were broken.

Tornado in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:35:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: POWERS LAKE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

This report came to the National Weather Service from the public, relayed through broadcast media. The report was of a brief tornado that hit no structures and did no damage. No reports of injuries or deaths were received.

Tornado in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:19:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:24:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHGATE
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Oil storage tanks were reported damaged from a tornado east of Northgate. The damage corresponded to high end EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita Tornado Scale. From that it was determined that wind speed were around 85 mph. There were no other damage reports. There were no injuries and no deaths.

Hail in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 20:18:00 to 08-JUL-09 20:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: LIGNITE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 22:07:00 to 08-JUL-09 22:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZEN
Magnitude: 51.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in STARK, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:15:00 to 08-JUL-09 19:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: DICKINSON
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Shingles were torn off of numerous structures due to these very strong thunderstorm winds. These winds were likely the result of the rear flank downdraft on the back side of a tornadic thunderstorm that was occurring around the same time in Dickinson. See the tornado entry for Stark County the same day from 1915 MST to 1930 MST.

Hail in ADAMS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 19:50:00 to 08-JUL-09 20:40:00 (MST-7)
Location: BUCYRUS
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 500.00K
Crop damage: 750.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

A severe thunderstorm brought a two to three mile wide swath of very large hail across southern Adams County. The maximum hail size reported was baseball size and fell on a farm about three miles east and four miles north of Hettinger. That farm had 100 percent crop loss over 1,500 acres and had extensive damage to buildings, machinery, and vehicles. National Weather Service officials spoke with the owner of the farm who stated that every window on the west and north sides was broken. Hail broke windows on the farm house, came inside the dwelling, and broke picture frames, knickknacks, and a large screen television inside. Five sheep were beaten to death by the hail. Large hail, but smaller than baseball size, fell on the north side of Hettinger. Windows were broken and siding and roofs were damaged. Damage amounts are estimated from newspaper articles and from speaking with victims.

Hail in BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 08-JUL-09 18:45:00 to 08-JUL-09 18:50:00 (MST-7)
Location: RHAME
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager