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Excessive Rainfall in the Southern Plains; Extreme Heat Coming to the Southwest U.S.

Heavy to severe thunderstorms may bring areas of excessive rainfall and flooding over parts of the southern Plains through Friday. A Slight Risk of excessive rainfall has been issued. Dangerously hot temperatures are forecast across parts of southern Arizona and far southeastern California Saturday through Monday. An Extreme Heat Watch has been issued. Read More >

Overview

Late in the afternoon on July 12, 2019, several discrete supercell thunderstorms developed across the Canadian border in southern Saskatchewan. These storms went on to produce severe weather across parts of northwestern North Dakota, including a measured 68 mph wind gust near Tioga, ND.

As evening approached, new storms began to rapidly intensify further south around Dickinson, ND. One of these new storms quickly developed an intense mesocyclone, dropping golf ball size hail around Lefor, ND before heading towards Mott, ND.

Just north of Mott, an EF-1 tornado touched down around 9:24 MDT moving south southeast. Wind gusts of 72 mph and 90 mph were measured by a North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) station, likely associated with the outer edge of the tornadic circulation. The tornado then tracked through northeastern Mott before lifting just east of town about eight minutes later, near Mott Golf Course on highway 21.

Storms continued well into the morning hours of July 13, 2019, producing more sporadic severe wind and hail reports across parts of southwestern and central North Dakota. 

Tornadic Supercell Over Mott, ND
Tornadic Supercell Over Mott, ND

(Courtesy of Nadra Auch)

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