Severe weather could bring large hail, high winds, twisters to region

FARGO — Strong to severe storms expected to produce very large hail, strong wind gusts and possibly a few tornadoes are possible across parts of the Red River Valley starting Wednesday afternoon, May 11, and continuing through much of Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Flash flooding will also be possible with these storms, as will continued river and overland flooding, the weather service said.

The storms could produce up to golf ball sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday night.

According to the weather service, the tornado threat was expected to be strongest in an area between and south of Wahpeton, North Dakota, and Wadena, Minnesota, between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Severe weather is expected to continue Thursday, with afternoon and evening storms capable of a variety of hazards including large hail 2 inches or greater, possible winds of 75 mph or higher and the continued threat of tornadoes, the weather service said.

John Wheeler, WDAY chief meteorologist, said that while the threat of severe weather is very real, his primary concern has to do with the area's soil saturation and flooding situation.

"If any part of the region gets the unlucky misfortune of having a heavy storm today and tonight and then another one tomorrow, there's going to be some water problems," Wheeler said.

Wheeler also noted late Wednesday afternoon that it looked like the strongest likelihood for severe weather on Thursday was in areas south and east of Fargo.

He said that while there will probably be a few bad storms across the region, "the areal coverage of those really bad, damaging storms tomorrow (Thursday) is likely to be fairly small."