Two rounds of storms occurred during this event. The first round started in the late evening of the 15th and lasted about two hours.  Thunderstorms over eastern Montana moved into west central North Dakota before midnight.
The second round of storms started around five in the morning central time on the 16th and continued past daybreak. These storms rapidly intensified before sunrise as a nocturnal low level jet combined with strong instability and favorable deep layer wind shear.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 15-JUL-11 22:10:00 to 15-JUL-11 22:20:00 (MST-7)
Location: GRASSY BUTTE
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down several trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 00:59:00 to 16-JUL-11 01:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: EMMET
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Thunderstorm Wind in MOUNTRAIL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 00:21:00 to 16-JUL-11 00:31:00 (CST-6)
Location: STANLEY
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

A tree that was two and one half feet in diameter, and 30 feet tall, was snapped.

Hail in MCKENZIE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 02:13:00 to 16-JUL-11 02:13:00 (MST-7)
Location: GRASSY BUTTE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 05:55:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 06:00:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:09:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 05:55:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail size ranged from ping pong ball to golfball sized. Strong winds up to 60 miles per hour accompanied the hail. The wind driven hail resulted in area crop damage.

Hail in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 06:16:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZEN
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 06:24:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZEN
Magnitude: 62.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: AWOS

Thunderstorm Wind in MERCER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 05:55:00 to 16-JUL-11 06:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: BEULAH
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Large hail accompanied the strong winds.

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 07:30:00 to 16-JUL-11 07:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 07:32:00 to 16-JUL-11 07:39:00 (CST-6)
Location: WILTON
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 07:40:00 to 16-JUL-11 07:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: REGAN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 07:55:00 to 16-JUL-11 08:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: WASHBURN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 16-JUL-11 08:00:00 to 16-JUL-11 08:06:00 (CST-6)
Location: WING
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter