8/26/07 NOW: ND

[John Hudson]

A nice line of strong cells associated with the cold front moving through eastern ND attm.

Funnel cloud spotted on cell NW of Grafton has that storm TOR warned, and nice meso markers on GRLevel3.


John Hudson
www.skywatch7.com

 

[Chad Cowan]

The line has a really nice 'string of pearls' look to it. I'm surprised only one cell is TOR warned. That cell has showed a very nice BWER the past few scans. If they can maintain their discrete nature, the tornado potential will increase as it moves into an area of higher helicity in northern MN.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

Latest warning text mentions damage in Northwood ND, this image could possibly explain why, very nice couplet just North of town, hopefully it was only small RFD damage in town.

 

[Danny Neal]

Law enforcement reported tornado damage in the town of Northwood between 850-852 pm. Hopefully as Dustin says its RFD damage but that couplet went almost right over town and another one quickly developed to its ENE. Very nice looking supercell indeed, that will probably stay south of Grand Forks, Thompson about 10 miles south of GF better watch its A$$ though!

 

[Justin Turcotte]

I was chasing near Northwood and spotted a funnel in the area around 8:30 and then got the hell out of there as the situation was looking ugly. A white knuckle drive all the way back to GFK with the tornado following. Looks like she will stay south of GFK. Another cell with robust rotation in Thief River Falls area.

Listening to scanner traffic and emergency responders heading toward Northwood with GFK hospital on alert.

Funnel west of Northwood at around 8:30...

 

[beaudodson]

Nice photo of the funnel cloud. I uploaded a satellite loop from gempak of the storm as it moved through Northwood.
http://www.beaudodson.com/pages/northwoodtornado.htm

Also some other large grabs here
http://www.beaudodson.com/blog/blog7.htm

Early reports are that there was damage to mobile homes and some farm structures.

 

[Chris Foltz]

One confirmed fatality in Northwood with others possible according to this article.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=48299&section=News

 

[Justin Turcotte]

Sad news. One probable fatality in the trailer park...

A Grand Forks County Sheriff's deputy on the scene described the trailer court as "really twisted."

Officials and townspeople reported serious damage to the city's fire hall, school, grain elevator and other buildings. Businesses, including the Guenthner Super Valu grocery store, were damaged and Agvise, a large employer on the east side of town, was destroyed. Rail cars were blown off tracks and at least two grain bins spilled grain on the road leading into town. The roofs are off some houses and many trees were uprooted.

The hospital itself had some damage but everyone there was safe, said Carla Sletten, director of nursing. She said windows were blown out on one side of the nursing home, but all residents were safe and secure.
She said some injured people had arrived at the hospital and some were transferred to Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.


More details at http://www.grandforks.com


I was parked two miles west of the town around 8:30 and just had a very bad feeling and bailed. It was getting dark and the northern escape route was blinding rain and hail. I briefly thought of watching the storm in Northwood and I'm obviously glad to to have not been there 15 minutes later. I suspect the pic I took of the funnel was something occluding ahead of what eventually hit Northwood. Also of note was the rediculous amount of lighning with the storm. At least one house in Grand Forks was struck and caught fire.