Just after midnight, or during the early morning hours of July 8th, a stationary boundary was draped from the northern Red River Valley back to south of Bismarck. South of the boundary, temperatures were still in the lower 80s with dew points in the lower 70s. Just after 3 am CDT, an area of thunderstorms moved into the New Rockford, ND, area, while another thunderstorm formed around Thief River Falls, MN. Both areas of storms moved east-northeast, keeping most of the thunderstorm activity along the U. S. Highway 2 corridor. Other than a few reports of large hail, these storms primarily produced damaging wind gusts.

Hail in PENNINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 02:56:00 to 08-JUL-18 03:01:00 (CST-6)
Location: THIEF RIVER FALLS
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: Public

Hail in PENNINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 03:00:00 to 08-JUL-18 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: THIEF RIVER FALLS
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Public

The hail nearly covered the ground.

Hail in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:33:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: MALLORY
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Trained Spotter

The hail was accompanied by very heavy rain, and followed by strong winds.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:37:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: EAST GRAND FORKS
Magnitude: 50.00 MG
Reported by: Public

The wind gust was measured at Krueger Farms.

Thunderstorm Wind in BELTRAMI, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:40:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:40:00 (CST-6)
Location: WASKISH
Magnitude: 65.00 EG
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Numerous poplar trees were snapped or toppled along highway 72 and through the Red Lake Wildlife Management Area.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:41:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:41:00 (CST-6)
Location: MALLORY
Magnitude: 54.00 MG
Reported by: Mesonet

The wind gust was measured by a MNDOT RWIS sensor along highway 2.

Hail in PENNINGTON, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 05:37:00 to 08-JUL-18 05:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: ERIE
Magnitude: 1.25 
Reported by: Public

The hail was accompanied by very heavy rain.

Thunderstorm Wind in BELTRAMI, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 06:10:00 to 08-JUL-18 06:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: ISLAND LAKE
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tree damage was observed across Alaska Township.

Thunderstorm Wind in BELTRAMI, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 06:12:00 to 08-JUL-18 06:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: PONEMAH
Magnitude: 55.00 EG
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Large branches and several trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind in BELTRAMI, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 06:25:00 to 08-JUL-18 06:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAUM
Magnitude: 61.00 EG
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Poplar and pine trees were snapped to the east-southeast across western Woodrow and western Cormant townships.

Thunderstorm Wind in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:36:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:36:00 (CST-6)
Location: MALLORY
Magnitude: 78.00 EG
Property damage: 100.00K
Crop damage: 5.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Roof panels and roofing material was peeled up from a steel clad pole shed and flung over 100 yards to the east-southeast. Nearby farmsteads across northern Huntsville and southern Sullivan townships had large tree branches blown down and had shingles and gutters torn off the houses and sheds.

Hail in POLK, MINNESOTA
From 08-JUL-18 04:44:00 to 08-JUL-18 04:44:00 (CST-6)
Location: EUCLID
Magnitude: 1.75 
Property damage: 20.00K
Crop damage: 200.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Large, wind driven hail stripped sugar beet, bean, and wheat fields in far eastern Euclid and western Belgium townships. Large tree branches were torn down across the area as well.