Velva Park Board member Mike Heisler estimated around 40 trees were damaged at the park. Two of the largest, older trees that fell had rotted insides, but a number of other trees appeared to have been healthy, he said. There were trees whose trunks were split but also a handful that were uprooted.

Heisler, who spent much of Sunday helping with cleanup, said replanting will need to occur, given the extent of the damage.

The National Weather Service reported the storm came through shortly before 4:30 a.m. There was a local report of a possible funnel cloud, although NWS meteorologist Michael Hollan in Bismarck said the environment wasn’t conducive to a tornado. Although a funnel cloud can’t be ruled out, he said it is more likely the phenomenon was one known as a scud cloud, which appear as funnel clouds but lack the rotation.

“They like to form along leading edges of storm winds in thunderstorms,” he said.

Jill Schramm/MDN Volunteers help with cleanup Sunday at the Velva City Park, cutting up tree limbs with a chainsaw so they can be placed in piles for equipment crews to remove.

A weather observer three miles northeast of Velva reported 1.18 inches of rain with the storm.