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Severe thunderstorms possible for next several days.

Pattern to continue next week

Area weather that turned from drought to deluge in recent days apparently is about to deliver a few more sudden surprises.

At mid-afternoon Thursday the National Weather Service issued a situation report advising that “severe storms and heavy rain” is possible through the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The NWS says there is “high confidence” that western and central North Dakota will be impacted with large hail, damaging winds, very heavy rainfall and frequent lightning.

What’s more, the pattern of severe thunderstorm activity isn’t going to roll on through and disappear. Not this time. The NWS says we should expect unstable weather continuing beyond the holiday weekend. Forecasts for the Minot, Garrison and Bottineau areas include a chance of thunderstorms at least through next Thursday.

“We’re pretty confident the pattern is basically going to stay the same for the next week,” said Adam Jones, Bismarck NWS meteorologist. “You can take the current forecast and copy it for the next several days with a chance of thunderstorms and hail and wind.”

The timing of the conditions known to spawn sudden thunderstorms couldn’t be much worse as people begin heading out to their favorite locations for the long Fourth of July weekend. Jones says hot and humid conditions really carry with it a “lot of ingredients for creating those big storms.”

“My advice would be to pay attention to the weather,” said Jones. “Especially in the afternoon and evenings. Storms can form quite quickly. People should plan on having a place to go.”

Jones cautioned that “heavy rain and hail will probably be the main players” of any storms that form. The statement from the NWS said severe weather threats Saturday and Sunday includes large hail up to golf ball size and damaging winds up to 60 miles per hour.

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