Independence Day tornado hits edge of Warwick

According to a National Weather Service report, an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 115 mph touched down 2 miles south-southwest of Warwick around 2:30 a.m. on July 4. A line of thunderstorms moved quickly eastward across eastern North Dakota that morning, producing widespread wind damage with pockets associated with either embedded microbursts or brief squall line tornadoes. One of at least two tornado segments passed near Warwick; another hit near Lawton, N.D.

The 400-yard wide path of the tornado near Warwick tracked to the north northeast at nearly 60 mph, brushing the east edge of Warwick. It traveled 3 miles in just 3 minutes, snapping multiple power poles on both the south and north side of Highway 20, due south of Warwick. Large cottonwood trees in and near town were also snapped. Siding and roofing panels were peeled off a service building near the southeast corner of town.

A microburst from the same thunderstorm wiped out nearly a half-mile of transmission line east-southeast of New Rockford. Crews worked on July 4 and 5 to repair the broken lines.