What you need to know
Two tornadoes touched down in central North Dakota Thursday evening, July 9, 2026, near the communities of Hamberg and Denhoff. Both tornadoes were brief, and no EF ratings have been issued yet. The tornadoes were part of a broader severe weather outbreak that produced 193 severe weather reports across 24 states, dominated by damaging winds and large hail.
The North Dakota tornadoes
The first tornado touched down approximately four miles southwest of Hamberg at 7:16 PM local time (0016 UTC), according to the National Weather Service office in Bismarck (NWS BIS). The tornado remained on the ground for just two minutes, lifting at 7:18 PM.
The second tornado was reported about 10 miles south of Denhoff roughly an hour later, around 8:08 PM local time (0108 UTC). This tornado was photographed with circulation confirmed on the ground, though the exact time and location were estimated using radar data.
Both tornadoes occurred in sparsely populated areas of central North Dakota. No damage reports, injuries, or fatalities have been confirmed in connection with either tornado as of this writing.
Tennis ball hail and widespread wind damage
While the tornadoes grabbed headlines, the more widespread threat Thursday came from large hail and damaging winds that swept across the Northern Plains and into the Midwest, Mid-South, and Northeast.
North Dakota bore the brunt of the hail threat. The NWS received 17 hail reports from the state, with the largest stones reaching 2.5 inches in diameter—roughly the size of a tennis ball—in Wellsburg. That report, relayed by broadcast media and confirmed with a ruler measurement, came in at midnight UTC. Another significant hail report from six miles northeast of Harvey documented stones measuring 2.25 inches.
Quarter-to-golf-ball-sized hail was common across central and northern North Dakota through the evening. A report from three miles northeast of Silva noted that "most hail was quarters to golf balls... a few were tennis ball."
167 wind reports dominate the severe weather day
Damaging winds were the primary hazard nationwide Thursday, accounting for 167 of the 193 total severe weather reports. States from the Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic reported downed trees, damaged structures, and power outages.
Missouri saw early-morning wind damage, with reports beginning around 7:00 AM local time. Near Crockerville, a large tree fell onto a mobile home. Multiple trees were reported down near Rocky Mount, and an outbuilding lost part of its roof between Iberia and Brumley.
The wind threat spread east through the afternoon. In Michigan, a measured 71 mph gust near Pewamo split a large walnut tree and sent outdoor furniture—including a polywood table—airborne. West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland all reported trees down on power lines and roadways through the late afternoon.
New York's western counties saw concentrated wind damage in the early evening, with trees and wires down in Youngstown, North Tonawanda, and Lockport. Two power poles were downed in North Tonawanda.
Georgia and Mississippi rounded out the wind reports in the evening hours, with Burke County, Georgia, dispatch reporting multiple trees and power lines down along Highway 56 south near Di-Lane Plantation.
The setup: MCV and frontal boundaries
Thursday's severe weather was driven by a mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) that tracked eastward from the Nebraska-Kansas border into the Midwest, along with multiple weak frontal boundaries draped across the central and eastern United States.
The Storm Prediction Center's Day 1 outlook highlighted the potential for severe weather from the southern High Plains into the Ozarks and mid-Mississippi Valley, noting that "moderate to locally strong instability coupled with modestly enhanced mid-level westerly flow and sufficient deep-layer shear should promote organized severe convection."
Across the Northern Plains, where the North Dakota tornadoes occurred, the SPC noted that "isolated to scattered thunderstorms may develop this afternoon along/near a weak front from parts of eastern SD and vicinity into western MN," though deep-layer shear was expected to remain weak to modest, limiting overall organization.
The environment was more favorable for damaging winds and hail than tornadoes, which is reflected in the report distribution: 167 wind reports, 24 hail reports, and just 2 tornado reports.
No EF ratings yet
As of Friday morning, the National Weather Service has not issued Enhanced Fujita Scale ratings for either North Dakota tornado. Survey teams typically assess tornado damage within 24 to 48 hours of an event, weather and access permitting.
Given the rural locations and brief duration of both tornadoes, it's possible that little to no damage occurred. In such cases, the NWS may assign an EF rating based on available evidence—such as photographs, video, or radar signatures—or classify the tornado as EF-Unknown (EF-U) if insufficient data exists to estimate wind speeds.
Context: July tornadoes in the Northern Plains
July tornadoes are not unusual in North Dakota, though they are less common than during the state's peak tornado season in June. According to NOAA's Storm Events Database, North Dakota averages roughly 2 tornadoes per year, with the majority occurring between May and August.
Thursday's tornadoes bring the national tornado count for early July 2026 into line with recent days. Landspouts—tornadoes that form along converging boundaries without a supercell thunderstorm—are common in the High Plains during the summer months when daytime heating and weak wind shear create favorable conditions for brief, often weak tornadoes.
It's not yet clear whether Thursday's North Dakota tornadoes were landspouts or formed from more organized supercell structures. Radar-estimated locations and the presence of large hail in the vicinity suggest at least some degree of storm organization.
Lessons: brief tornadoes still require warnings
Both North Dakota tornadoes were on the ground for only a few minutes, and both occurred in rural areas. But brief tornadoes can still be deadly, especially if they strike without warning or catch people outdoors or in vulnerable structures.
The National Weather Service issues tornado warnings when radar indicates rotation or when a tornado is reported by spotters. These warnings are disseminated via NOAA Weather Radio, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to mobile phones, and through media partners.
Third-party weather apps are silenced by Do Not Disturb, though Wireless Emergency Alerts for tornado warnings still break through on most phones. For those who want an additional layer of notification—especially at night—VORTEX Pro places phone calls when a tornado warning is issued for a saved location. Once you enable Emergency Bypass for the VORTEX number, those calls can ring through Do Not Disturb, ensuring you're alerted even if your phone is silenced.
Looking ahead
Friday's severe weather outlook remains active, with the Storm Prediction Center maintaining a Slight Risk across portions of the Ozarks, mid-Mississippi Valley, and southern High Plains. Scattered severe thunderstorms capable of producing damaging winds and hail are possible this afternoon and evening.
No significant tornado threat is forecast for Friday, though isolated tornadoes can never be ruled out in environments with sufficient shear and instability.
VORTEX is a free web app at vortexintel.app that monitors severe weather nationwide. Pro ($4.99/month) places phone calls to your phone when a tornado or flash flood warning is issued for a location you care about — calls can ring through Do Not Disturb once you enable Emergency Bypass for the number, unlike most third-party app notifications.