BISMARCK – At least 15 tornadoes touched down across central North Dakota on Sunday, Sept. 14, according to preliminary findings recently released by the National Weather Service.

The EF ratings on the storms surveyed remain the same as previously announced. A tornado near Mercer in McLean County was rated an EF1. Tornado damage near Denhoff in Sheridan County and in Emmons County near Beaver Bay indicated EF2 tornadoes.

The weather service reported its next step will be to investigate the tracks for as many tornadoes as possible, starting with those surveyed. It expects the work to take some days to complete.