By late in the afternoon of July 4th, a weak cold front had moved to a line from near Winnipeg, Canada, to Rugby, and then to near Bismarck, North Dakota. Ahead of the cold front, surface winds were rather weak, but afternoon temperatures peaked in the upper 80s with dew points in the mid to upper 60s. Thunderstorms formed over north central North Dakota near the frontal boundary and quickly became severe. These storms tracked into western Benson County (ND), then began diving southeast toward western Cass County (ND), and eventually western Clay County of Minnesota. These storms produced large hail and numerous reports of 60 to 80 mph winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:30:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NILES
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured by the Leeds RWIS station near U. S. Highway 2 and highway 281.

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:22:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRINSMADE
Magnitude: 1.50 
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in RAMSEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:56:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: (DVL)DEVILS LAKE MUN
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Other Federal Agency

The wind gust was measured by the AWOS sensor at the Devils Lake airport.

Hail in RAMSEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:45:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: RAMSEY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Intermittent dime to quarter sized hail fell near the Mauvais Coulee bridge on county road 19.

Thunderstorm Wind in RAMSEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:00:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CAMP GRAFTON
Magnitude: 73.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured at the highway 20 RWIS station on Devils Lake.

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:20:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEDS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:10:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOKIO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Strong winds were also reported.

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:25:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOKIO
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Dime to quarter sized hail fell.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:55:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: BINFORD
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Large trees were broken down or uprooted, and a small shed was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind in EDDY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:45:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:46:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAMAR
Magnitude: 77.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured by the NDAWN mesonet site eight miles north of McHenry, ND, along highway 15. There was a prior measurement of 69 mph at 545 pm CDT.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:29:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: COOPERSTOWN
Magnitude: 55.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured at the NDAWN mesonet site along highway 200 at highway 1. The station also reported 62 mph at 629 pm CDT.

Hail in STEELE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:51:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: LUVERNE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Public

Hail in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:02:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Thunderstorm Wind in BARNES, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 18:10:00 to 04-JUL-16 18:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: KOLDOK
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Large tree branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 18:27:00 to 04-JUL-16 18:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Strong winds were reported, flattening crops in the area.

Hail in TRAILL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 18:30:00 to 04-JUL-16 18:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUXTON
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: NWS Employee

Thunderstorm Wind in NELSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:53:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:53:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEKIN
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trees and power poles were snapped along highway 1 and 16th street northeast.

Hail in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 18:55:00 to 04-JUL-16 18:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAGNOLIA
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:05:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CASSELTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Large tree branches were blown down across the northern part of Casselton.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:20:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAPLETON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Social Media

Large tree branches were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:07:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: LYNCHBURG
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Strong winds blew down several trees in shelterbelts.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:02:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:02:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOSE
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Several large trees were snapped in shelterbelts west of Binford in Bryan Township. Two to three inches of rain also fell in 30 minutes.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:40:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: FARGO
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Tree damage and power outages were reported around the Northport area of north Fargo.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:30:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RIVERSIDE
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Amateur Radio

A large tree was blown down.

Hail in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 19:05:00 to 04-JUL-16 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: CASSELTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in NELSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:49:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEKIN
Magnitude: 74.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A pole shed door was blown in and several large pine and cottonwood trees were snapped nearby.

Thunderstorm Wind in NELSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 16:47:00 to 04-JUL-16 16:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: PEKIN
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Large cottonwood trees were blown down.

Hail in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:10:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: JESSIE
Magnitude: 2.00 
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Thunderstorm Wind in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:10:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: JESSIE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Numerous large tree branches and limbs were broken down across eastern Addie and western Tyrol townships.

Thunderstorm Wind in GRIGGS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:20:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: REVERE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Large cottonwood trees  were broken down in farmsteads across Clearfield Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in STEELE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 17:45:00 to 04-JUL-16 17:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SHERBROOKE
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several large tree branches and limbs were broken down from Golden Lake Township into Enger Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in TRAILL, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 18:25:00 to 04-JUL-16 18:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: CUMMINGS
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Several six to eight inch diameter tree branches were blown down in shelterbelts across northern Wold Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 14:45:00 to 04-JUL-16 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEDS
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured by a personal weather station.

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 14:45:00 to 04-JUL-16 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: KNOX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:15:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: HARLOW
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Hail covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 04-JUL-16 15:20:00 to 04-JUL-16 15:20:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEEDS
Magnitude: 60.00 EG
Reported by: Amateur Radio

Large tree branches and power lines were blown down in town.