PUBLISHED Sep 5, 2026, 10:25 AM ET
Authored by Levi C. Webb
The National Weather Service issued a Saturday morning warning for parts of four North Dakota counties as storms brought wind, hail and heavy rain threats.
A storm near Bottineau prompted a Saturday morning warning as forecasters tracked hail, damaging wind and torrential rainfall across parts of north central North Dakota.
The National Weather Service in Bismarck issued the severe thunderstorm warning at 9:21 AM CDT on September 5, with an expiration time of 10:15 AM CDT. It covered southeastern Bottineau County, northeastern McHenry County, northwestern Pierce County and southwestern Rolette County. At issuance, forecasters placed the storm nine miles south of Bottineau and said it was moving southeast at 25 mph. The warning identified a threat of 60 mph gusts and quarter-size hail based on radar, rather than reporting those conditions as measured at the ground.
Bottineau, Willow City, Barton, Barton City, Gardena, Overly and Omemee were among the locations named in the bulletin. The agency warned that hail could damage vehicles and that wind could damage roofs, siding and trees. It directed people in the warned area to take shelter in a substantial building and keep away from windows. Those statements describe the expected hazards and protective actions; the warning itself does not establish that property damage has occurred.
Heavy rain added a separate concern for anyone traveling through the storm. The warning said torrential rainfall was occurring and could lead to flash flooding, and it instructed drivers to avoid flooded roadways. Earlier Saturday, the Bismarck office had described storms along the Canadian border as producing torrential rain and localized flooding in urban areas, low spots and places with poor drainage. That morning discussion provides context for the rainfall concern, while the later warning identifies the more immediate wind and hail threat near Bottineau.
The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, also identified north-central North Dakota as an area of ongoing thunderstorm activity in its 7:54 AM CDT outlook. It said isolated hail was possible during the next few hours before storm intensity declined as overnight atmospheric support weakened. More broadly, the center forecast isolated large hail and severe gusts in parts of the northern and central Plains through Saturday night. The outlook describes a regional risk and does not mean every community in that region will experience severe weather.
Bismarck forecasters expect additional periods of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms through the Labor Day weekend, with a few storms potentially becoming strong or severe. Their Saturday morning discussion placed the highest chances for showers and storms from Sunday night into Labor Day. They also described unseasonably warm, humid conditions through the weekend before a cooling trend. Forecast uncertainty remains about where additional storms will develop, so the morning warning should not be treated as a complete forecast for the holiday period.
This update reflects the warning issued at 9:21 AM CDT, which was scheduled to end at 10:15 AM CDT on September 5. Residents and travelers in Bottineau, McHenry, Pierce and Rolette counties should check subsequent National Weather Service bulletins for changes to the warning area or timing. The longer weekend outlook remains a separate forecast from this specific storm alert.
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Reporting and writing by Levi C. Webb. AI tools were used selectively to assist with research and editorial support.
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