Late in the afternoon of September 19th, a frontal boundary pushed into the Devils Lake to Jamestown (ND) corridor. Due to fairly extensive cloud cover throughout the day, late afternoon temperatures only ranged in the low 60s over the Devils Lake region, to the lower 70s over southeast North Dakota into west central Minnesota. Even though temperatures remained on the cool side, a strong moisture surge occurred. Cloud cover decreased somewhat over southeast North Dakota during the late afternoon, where thunderstorms flared up south of Jamestown. As this large thunderstorm cell moved into southwest Barnes County (ND), it produced a tornado near Litchville. This cell evolved into a larger storm complex, which moved east-northeast through the evening. This storm complex produced large hail, strong winds, and a second tornado along the Norman/Polk (MN) county border in Minnesota.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 16:45:00 to 19-SEP-17 16:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BUFFALO
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Public

Strong winds were reported along with pea sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 17:17:00 to 19-SEP-17 17:17:00 (CST-6)
Location: HUNTER
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: Social Media

Numerous large branches were scattered all over the road for about an eighth of a mile, half way between Page and Gardner, on county road 26. Some of the branches were six inches in diameter, and were blown off trees that were 100 feet tall.

Thunderstorm Wind in CASS, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 17:25:00 to 19-SEP-17 17:25:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARDNER
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Mounted transmitter and receiver platforms on a cellular communications tower were damaged by the strong winds.

Hail in BENSON, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 17:55:00 to 19-SEP-17 17:55:00 (CST-6)
Location: ESMOND
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Hail in SARGENT, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 20:07:00 to 19-SEP-17 20:07:00 (CST-6)
Location: HOVING
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: Public

Thunderstorm Wind in RICHLAND, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 20:45:00 to 19-SEP-17 20:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: BARNEY
Magnitude: 52.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A few four to six inch diameter tree branches were blown down around town.

Hail in BARNES, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 15:30:00 to 19-SEP-17 15:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: LITCHVILLE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Reported by: NWS Employee

Quarter sized hail fell along with 50 to 60 mph winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in BARNES, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 15:41:00 to 19-SEP-17 15:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: LITCHVILLE
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Reported by: Public

A barn had damage to its roof from impacted tree limbs. A house also had shingles removed.

Thunderstorm Wind in RANSOM, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 15:56:00 to 19-SEP-17 15:56:00 (CST-6)
Location: FT RANSOM
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A few large tree branches were broken down in shelterbelts just south of highway 46, in far northwest Northland Township.

Tornado in BARNES, NORTH DAKOTA
From 19-SEP-17 15:41:00 to 19-SEP-17 15:47:00 (CST-6)
Location: LITCHVILLE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 3.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

The tornado peeled shingles and roofing off of homes at two farmsteads roughly a mile apart, and snapped or uprooted several box-elder and spruce trees at both farmsteads. Branch scatter through a shelterbelt located midway between the farms suggested a possible secondary vortex. Peak winds were estimated at 110 mph.