The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather alert for three U.S. states as intense hailstorms are expected to roll in on Monday, July 6. Residents in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota should prepare for potentially damaging hail and strong winds.
This alert comes on the heels of a weekend filled with volatile weather across the region. Just days ago, a Fourth of July storm unleashed 75 mph winds across five states, and now a new system is targeting the upper Midwest with a different kind of hazard: large, accumulating hail that could cause significant property damage and pose risks to anyone caught outdoors.
What to Expect
Forecast models show the storms developing Monday afternoon and intensifying through the evening. Hailstones could reach sizes that dent cars, break windows, and injure people or animals caught in the open. The National Weather Service urges everyone in the affected areas to stay weather-ready and monitor local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updates on severe thunderstorm watches and warnings.
Safety Tips for Hail Storms
If you find yourself in the path of these storms, here’s how to stay safe in different situations:
- At home: Move to a secure location, preferably a basement or interior room without windows. If you hear a severe thunderstorm warning, take your pets with you if time allows.
- At work or school: Stay away from windows and avoid large open rooms like cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums. These spaces offer little protection from hail or flying debris.
- Outdoors: Seek shelter in a sturdy building immediately. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Do not take cover under a tree—it could fall on you, and you’re also at greater risk of being struck by lightning.
- In a vehicle: Pull over safely and stay inside. Avoid stopping under overpasses or near trees. Hail can shatter windows, so protect your head and face as much as possible.
This isn’t the first time this summer that severe weather has threatened the region. Earlier in the week, strong tornadoes threatened three states on Monday night, and Kentucky flooding claimed four lives Saturday as storms wreak havoc across the Midwest. The pattern of intense storms is a reminder that summer weather can turn dangerous quickly.
For those living in the alert zones, now is the time to review your emergency plans and make sure your family knows where to go when a warning is issued. Stay alert, stay indoors, and take every warning seriously.
