Widespread precipitation is expected across the Northwest and northern Rockies through Monday, including heavy mountain snow for parts of the region. A powerful storm is expected to bring periods of heavy rain, gusty winds, and the potential for severe thunderstorms throughout the southern to central Plains between tonight and Monday. Read More >
THREE TORNADOES OCCURRED IN THE RUSO AREA OF MCLEAN COUNTY NORTH DAKOTA ON MONDAY AUGUST 15 2022 The first tornado occurred 4 miles east of Ruso at about 508 PM. It was short lived, lasting about one minute. It impacted no structures and so by National Weather Service policy was rated EF-U (EF-Unknown). The second tornado developed about two miles south of Ruso at about 510 PM and traveled slowly south. Shortly after developing it snapped hardwood trees in a shelterbelt and blew over and destroyed an animal shelter. The tornado then dissipated about four miles south of Ruso at about 535 PM. Based on the damage done this tornado was rated EF-1 and from that wind speeds were estimated to be around 110 mph. The third tornado developed while the second one was still ongoing, at about 530 PM. This was about five miles south of Ruso. This third tornado also moved south and about six miles south of Ruso it destroyed three small wooden granaries, damaged farm equipment by flipping over a large seed cart attached to an air seeder, tossed round hay bales and flipped anhydrous tanks. The tornado then dissipated at about 550 PM about 8 miles south of Ruso. Based on the damage done this tornado was rated EF-2 and from that wind speeds were estimated to be around 120 mph. The National Weather Service extends great appreciation to the Mclean County Emergency Manager and other county and city officials, and area residents. Their photos, videos and event details were very valuable in determining what happened in this multi-tornado event. The information in this statement is PRELIMINARY and subject to change pending final review of the events of August 15 and publication in NWS Storm Data. ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 0508 PM TORNADO 4 E RUSO 47.84N 100.85W 08/15/2022 MCLEAN ND LAW ENFORCEMENT REPORT FROM MONDAY AUGUST 15. LASTED ONE MINUTE UNTIL 509 PM. NO STRUCTURES IMPACTED SO RATED EFU (EF UNKNOWN) BY NWS POLICY. 0510 PM TORNADO 2 S RUSO 47.81N 100.93W 08/15/2022 MCLEAN ND EMERGENCY MNGR REPORT FROM MONDAY AUGUST 15. SECOND OF THREE TORNADOES IN THIS AREA. TORNADO MOVED SOUTH AND ENDED 4 MILES SOUTH OF RUSO AT 535 PM. HARDWOOD TREES SNAPPED AND ANIMAL SHELTER DESTROYED SOON AFTER IT DEVELOPED. DAMAGE RATING EF-1 WITH WINDS FROM THAT ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 110 MPH. 0530 PM TORNADO 5 S RUSO 47.77N 100.93W 08/15/2022 MCLEAN ND COUNTY OFFICIAL REPORT FROM MONDAY AUGUST 15. THIRD OF THREE TORNADOES IN THIS AREA. THIS THIRD TORNADO STARTED WHILE THE SECOND ONE WAS ONGOING. THE TWO TORNADOES WERE ONGOING TOGETHER FOR 5 MINUTES (530 PM TO 535 PM). TORNADO MOVED SOUTH AND ENDED 8 MILES SOUTH OF RUSO AT 550 PM. 6 MILES SOUTH OF RUSO THREE SMALL WOODEN GRANARIES WERE DESTROYED, FARM EQUIPMENT WAS DAMAGED INCLUDING THE FLIPPING OF A LARGE SEED CART ATTACHED TO AN AIR SEEDER, TOSSED HAY BALES AND FLIPPED ANHYDROUS TANKS. DAMAGE RATING EF-2 WITH WINDS FROM THAT ESTIMATED AT ABOUT 120 MPH. SCHILD / MARTIN