NORTH DAKOTA - North Dakota saw bouts of baseball-sized hail last night, potentially causing some setbacks to the state’s 2016 potato crop.

According to information from the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association and news source Potato Pro, the northeastern part of the state saw the majority of the damage, with the stretch along Highway 18 from Mountain to Hoople in Pembina and Walsh Counties catching heavy rains, hail, and strong winds.

The source notes that Crystal, ND, in particular, saw heavy damage, adding that on top of rain issues from earlier in the year, some growers have now reached higher than average levels of weakened crops. 

North Dakota has seen a particularly difficult year as far as storms in 2016. The National Weather Service reports that the state has seen an average of 33 storm days. Just in the first half of 2016 North Dakota has already seen 29.

"The upper level weather pattern is the key driver to what's going on. It's actually dictating our local weather by the position of this huge ridge of high pressure forcing the active storm track, this parade of storms, storm track over the northern part of the country,” explains Chief Meteorologist Kevin Lawrence. “Each one of those means thunder storms, and that's exactly what's happening right here across the region."

According to Andy Robinson, Potato Extension Agronomist at North Dakota State University, some hail damaged potatoes may still be able to be harvested if the fields in question are mature enough, but yields may be diminished.

As we learn more from the growers in the area and how they project the North Dakota potato crop, AndNowUKnow will update you with the latest.