A high-impact severe weather event unfolded across portions of the northern Plains on June 7, 2026, producing tornadoes, giant hail, and destructive straight-line winds from Wyoming and Montana into the Dakotas. The event occurred as an unusually volatile weather pattern developed across the northern Plains and Canadian Prairies. As a result, Canadian forecasters at the Environment Canada office issued a rare Extreme Thunderstorm Risk for parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The designation was the first Extreme Thunderstorm Risk issued in eight years. This highlighted the exceptional combination of instability, wind shear, and moisture that supported the threat of significant tornadoes, giant hail, and destructive winds across the region.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, supercell thunderstorms developed across the region. These storms generated multiple tornado reports, hailstones larger than baseballs, and widespread damaging wind gusts. The most intense winds approached hurricane-force strength in parts of North Dakota. There, numerous reports of structural damage, downed trees, and overturned campers were received.
Widespread Damaging Winds and Significant Impacts
The most widespread hazard of the event proved to be damaging straight-line winds. North Dakota experienced numerous measured gusts exceeding 80 mph as thunderstorms evolved into powerful wind-producing complexes.
The strongest measured wind gust reached 98 mph near Garrison, North Dakota. Additional gusts included 93 mph at the same location. In addition, there was a 90 mph gust near Pick City, 86 mph near Max, and multiple reports between 80 and 85 mph elsewhere across the state.
These winds caused extensive damage in several communities. Emergency management officials reported power outages, downed trees, damaged fences, roof damage, and structural impacts across Dickinson, North Dakota. Photos from several locations showed overturned campers, damaged outbuildings, and widespread tree damage.
In White Earth Bay and near Beulah Bay, multiple campers were overturned by the strong winds. Elsewhere, farm buildings sustained roof and wall damage, while large trees and power lines were brought down across numerous communities.
Tornadoes Reported Across Multiple States
Multiple tornadoes were reported during the event. A trained storm spotter reported a brief rain-wrapped tornado near Newton County, Arkansas. A landspout was also reported between Burns and Hillsdale, Wyoming.
In Missouri, an EF0 tornado near Battlefield left visible tree debris along Farm Road 131 southeast of town. Another tornado was radar-confirmed near Sparta, Missouri, where trees were reported down on roadways. Additional brief tornadoes were reported in North Dakota, including near Bowbells and Berthold.
Giant Hail Falls in Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota
Very large hail accompanied several of the strongest supercell thunderstorms. The largest report came from Harding County, South Dakota, where a hailstone measuring 3.25 inches in diameter was recorded near Redig. Notably, the stone was measured after some melting had already occurred. Therefore, it may have been even larger when it initially fell.
Other notable reports included 3.00-inch hail near Powderville, Montana, and 3.00-inch hail near Medora, North Dakota. There were also multiple reports of hail ranging from tennis-ball to baseball size across eastern Montana, western South Dakota, and western North Dakota.
A Rare High-End Severe Weather Setup
The June 7 event showcased the full range of severe weather hazards that can accompany mature Plains thunderstorms. Tornadoes, giant hail, and widespread destructive winds all occurred within the same event, with some locations experiencing multiple hazards simultaneously.
While tornado reports remained relatively limited compared to the overall size of the event, the combination of baseball-sized hail and wind gusts approaching 100 mph made this one of the more impactful severe weather days of the early summer season across the northern Plains.
This outbreak coinciding with one of Canada’s rare Extreme Thunderstorm Risk forecasts underscored the exceptional atmospheric conditions that were in place across the northern Plains and Prairies during this event.
This data came from Storm Reports provided by the Storm Prediction Center: https://www.spc.noaa.gov/
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