Videos show flooding on 24th Avenue South in Grand Forks between 18th and 20th Street. Submitted video by Andrew Johnson
Severe thunderstorms pummeled the northern Red River Valley Monday night, bringing dangerous winds, golf ball-size hail and reports of tornadoes.
“We’re talking 60-65-75 mph gusts,” said Bill Barrett with the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks.
He was busy fielding reports from storm spotters and the general public, including downed trees, 1-inch hail and possible tornado sightings.
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A tornado warning set off sirens in Grand Forks shortly after 8:30 p.m. as storm circulations were spotted on radar west of the city, according to the weather service. The weather service received preliminary reports of funnel clouds near Larimore, N.D., and Crookston before 9 p.m.
At Turtle River State Park near Arvilla, N.D., park workers were clearing campsites and sheltering campers in buildings at the park.
In Larimore, three families of campers from the Larimore Dam camping area waited out the storm at Larimore High School.
“We tried to get to the high school and there were trees blocking the road,” said camper Paul Voracheck, who got to the school by another route.
High school custodian Mike Bodin said he had heard reports of flooding and downed trees around town.
“You could barely see the roads with all the flooding,” he said. “A lotta wind, a lotta, lotta rain.”
Grand Forks Police advised drivers to stay off the streets or use extreme caution because of flooding and downed branches.
According to weather service’s preliminary storm reports, water was pooling on Washington Street and streets to the east. On UND’s campus, people splashed in knee-deep water on University Avenue.
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Grand Forks Street Superintendent Mark Aubol said the amount of water residents encounter on streets will depend on where they are in the city.
“In some areas of town, the water drains off pretty good,” he said.
As of late Monday evening, crews were heading to the city’s equipment shop and then out to monitor the streets.
Aubol said the situation will be evaluated as the night goes on, but crews from the city will likely be working with the Park District to deal with downed trees and branches.
At Larimore High, Vorachek said he had camped at the dam for 10 years, but had not seen a storm like this before.
He expected his camper to be OK, though.
“It’s probably wobbling pretty good in 50-to-60-mph wind,” he said.
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