On the morning of July 4th, a cold front pushed into central North Dakota, eventually reaching eastern North Dakota around the noon hour. Ahead of the front, a stationary boundary also set up, basically running along the U. S. Highway 2 corridor. South of this stationary boundary temperatures surged into the 90s with dew points in the low 70s, resulting in a heat advisory for portions of the area. Precipitable water values were also quite high, ranging around two inches, which increased the probability for heavy rain with any of the thunderstorms. As the boundaries continued to move east during the day, showers and thunderstorms marched from near Sarles, North Dakota, along and north of the U. S. Highway 2 corridor to near Bemidji, Minnesota.

Hail in CAVALIER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 06:25:00 to 04-JUL-12 06:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: OLGA
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Heavy Rain in WALSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 07:20:00 to 04-JUL-12 07:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: GRAFTON
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The heavy rain caused street flooding in Grafton. Pea size hail also fell.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAVALIER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 05:05:00 to 04-JUL-12 05:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: SARLES
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: COOP Observer

Crops were flattened in the Sarles area and objects were blown over at a construction site.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAVALIER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 06:25:00 to 04-JUL-12 06:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: OLGA
Magnitude: 50.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Four to five inch diameter branches were snapped off trees.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAVALIER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 06:59:00 to 04-JUL-12 06:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: OLGA
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Three steel grain bins were caved in and blown off their foundations. Many trees were blown down and several windows were broken or blown out of homes.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 07:05:00 to 04-JUL-12 07:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAVALIER ARPT
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A twenty-four inch diameter tree was blown down along with several power lines. Pea size hail was also reported along with six to eight inches of water on main street.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 07:22:00 to 04-JUL-12 07:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: HENSEL
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Trees were blown down in Hensel. A local farmer lost a pole barn and garage and some farm equipment was damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 07:30:00 to 04-JUL-12 07:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CRYSTAL
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

A tree branch almost four feet in circumference was blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in WALSH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 08:05:00 to 04-JUL-12 08:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: POLAND
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Sixty to seventy mph wind gusts were reported but no damage occurred.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 06:45:00 to 04-JUL-12 06:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: WALHALLA ARPT
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A few trees were knocked down by the strong wind.

Thunderstorm Wind in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 07:15:00 to 04-JUL-12 07:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAVALIER ARPT
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: AWOS

The wind was measured by the Cavalier Airport AWOS.

Lightning in GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 08:45:00 to 04-JUL-12 08:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: KELLY
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Lightning caused a house fire that led to a total structural loss.

Flash Flood in PEMBINA, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-12 10:00:00 to 04-JUL-12 11:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: BACKOO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 50.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Heavy rains in excess of four inches in two hours across much of Advance and Cavalier North townships produced significant runoff in local creeks that feed into the Tongue River. One small creek washed out a box culvert/bridge along 98th Street Northeast, between 138th and 139th Avenue Northeast.