Summer thunderstorms in North Dakota; what to expect, and how they form

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Summer is on its way, meaning thunderstorms are too. According to WDAY’s John Wheeler, thunderstorms are attributed with giving us over half the rainfall we get over the entire year, while also potentially damaging crops and property with hail and heavy winds. They are even potentially life threatening. In our area, thunderstorms occur after midnight at a high percentage, which is in response to the air over the Western High Plains cooling down at night. This causes a jet stream that causes air to rise at night, fueling thunderstorm development.