Strong winds caused nearly four dozen train cars to derail in North Dakota as part of a storm system that led to reports of five tornadoes across the Dakotas. A BNSF Railway spokesperson confirmed that a train near Steele, North Dakota, was halted due to a tornado warning on Wednesday night. The suspected tornado's high winds resulted in 43 empty coal cars derailing. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the derailed cars did not contain any hazardous materials.
BNSF cleanup crews were promptly dispatched to the site on Thursday to address the aftermath of the incident. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service disclosed that three potential tornadoes were sighted in north-central South Dakota, with an additional two reported in North Dakota on the same night. Storm survey teams are currently working to determine whether the damage was caused by tornadoes or straight-line winds, with no injuries reported thus far.
Although the severe weather was largely moving away from the Dakotas, the weather service cautioned that severe thunderstorms could still occur on Thursday in Minnesota, as well as parts of Iowa and Wisconsin. Residents in these areas are advised to stay informed about weather updates and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
