A humid air mass lifted into the area ahead of surface low pressure that was situated over far western North Dakota in the morning into the early afternoon. Two rounds of severe weather developed. The first round, in the early to mid-afternoon, occurred as an upper level short wave trough passed through the area, with severe thunderstorms developing over the upper James River Valley. Damaging wind gusts were the primary concern with these storms. Later in the afternoon a surface trough affiliated with the surface low served as the focus for thunderstorm development, gradually moving east in the evening.  The strongest wind gusts, estimated around 90 mph, occurred in Foster County, while the largest hail was reported to be baseball size and fell in Renville and Morton counties. A tornado also developed in Oliver County but produced no damage, though was visible from far distances, including the Bismarck area, due to the higher base of the thunderstorm.

Thunderstorm Wind in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 13:25:00 to 21-JUL-17 13:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHASELEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Several large branches were blown down in Chaseley.

Hail in WELLS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 13:30:00 to 21-JUL-17 13:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: CATHAY
Magnitude: 0.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Thunderstorm Wind in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 14:18:00 to 21-JUL-17 14:23:00 (CST-6)
Location: JUANITA
Magnitude: 64.00 MG
Property damage: 150.00K
Crop damage: 100.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Measured wind gusts to 74 mph combined with quarter size hail to cause widespread damage in the Juanita area. One foot diameter trees were broken down. Wind driven hail caused damage to windows, vehicles, and siding. A grain truck was knocked over, and a door was torn off a quonset hut. Crops were damaged, with some corn flattened. Other reports of wind included estimates as high as 85 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind in FOSTER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 14:22:00 to 21-JUL-17 14:26:00 (CST-6)
Location: GLENFIELD
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 75.00K
Crop damage: 20.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Multiple power lines and trees were down. A tractor-trailer truck was blown over.

Hail in GRANT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 17:00:00 to 21-JUL-17 17:03:00 (MST-7)
Location: SHIELDS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BURKE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 18:18:00 to 21-JUL-17 18:22:00 (CST-6)
Location: NORTHGATE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 18:30:00 to 21-JUL-17 18:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAGUE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:00:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:05:00 (CST-6)
Location: LORAINE
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:05:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:08:00 (CST-6)
Location: LORAINE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:07:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAX
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in RENVILLE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:08:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: LORAINE
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Storm Chaser

Hail in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:32:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:35:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEHR
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:37:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: RENVILLE
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in MCLEAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:38:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:42:00 (CST-6)
Location: WASHBURN
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:40:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:43:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAXBASS
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:48:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: MAXBASS
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 20:00:00 to 21-JUL-17 20:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: NEWBURG
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 20:24:00 to 21-JUL-17 20:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: KRAMER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in BOTTINEAU, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 20:27:00 to 21-JUL-17 20:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: KRAMER
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 20:55:00 to 21-JUL-17 20:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRICOURT
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated by the public.

Hail in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:00:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:04:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRICOURT
Magnitude: 1.50 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in DICKEY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:00:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:03:00 (CST-6)
Location: MERRICOURT
Magnitude: 1.25 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Hail in MORTON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:10:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: MANDAN
Magnitude: 2.75 
Property damage: 250.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Large hail fell over a broad swath of the city of Mandan, with the largest hail reported near the baseball field on 3rd Street SW.

Hail in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:16:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOWNER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: COOP Observer

Hail in MCHENRY, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:16:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:19:00 (CST-6)
Location: TOWNER
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:25:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:29:00 (CST-6)
Location: BISMARCK
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Funnel Cloud in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:30:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:33:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUGBY
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

A brief funnel cloud was reported.

Hail in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:40:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: (BIS)BISMARCK MUNI A
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Employee

Hail in PIERCE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 21:51:00 to 21-JUL-17 21:54:00 (CST-6)
Location: RUGBY
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Hail in LA MOURE, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 22:10:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:13:00 (CST-6)
Location: VERONA
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 22:22:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: HAZELTON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Some large branches broke down in Hazelton.

Thunderstorm Wind in EMMONS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 22:36:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: BRADDOCK
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Property damage: 8.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Many tree branches were broken down.

Thunderstorm Wind in LOGAN, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 22:45:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:48:00 (CST-6)
Location: NAPOLEON
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

Tree branches were broken down.

Thunderstorm Wind in BURLEIGH, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 22:47:00 to 21-JUL-17 22:49:00 (CST-6)
Location: MOFFIT
Magnitude: 56.00 MG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Tornado in OLIVER, NORTH DAKOTA
From 21-JUL-17 19:50:00 to 21-JUL-17 19:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: SANGER
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Public

There were numerous reports of this tornado over a rural area of eastern Oliver County. It was visible from Bismarck and Mandan. No damage occurred and so the tornado was rated EF0.