Alert archive / South Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 1989

Tornado Warning 7, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

August 21, 1989Brookings County, South Dakota

NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at Aug 21, 1989, 10:58 PM CDT for Brookings County, South Dakota. It was in force for 32 min.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 21, 1989, 10:58 PM CDT (03:58 UTC)
Expired
Aug 21, 1989, 11:30 PM CDT
In force
32 min
Issued by
NWS Sioux Falls, SD
Area
Whole counties

County Brookings County, SD

The radar

The WSR-88D network and its archive begin in 1991, so there is no radar volume for this alert.

The nearest sounding before it

Aberdeen, SD (KHON), launched 00:00Z, 4.0 hours before the alert went out and 140 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 1989-08-22Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 383 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 1989-08-22The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 44 square meters per square second.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
383 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-72 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2740 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
30 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
44 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
46 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

000 
TTAA00 KFSD 220401
TORFSD
SDC011-220430-
 
BULLETIN - EBS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
1058 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SIOUX FALLS HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING EFFECTIVE UNTIL 1130 PM CDT
FOR PEOPLE IN THE FOLLOWING COUNTY...
 
IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA
          ...EAST CENTRAL BROOKINGS
 
AT 1055 PM CDT RADAR INDICATED A POSSIBLE TORNADO 5 MILES NORTHEAST OF
 
BROOKINGS SOUTH DAKOTA MOVING EAST AT 25 MPH.
 
 
IF YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...THE SAFEST PLACE IS A
BASEMENT.  GET UNDER A WORKBENCH OR PIECE OF STURDY FURNITURE.
IF NO BASEMENT IS AVAILABLE...SEEK SHELTER IN AN INTERIOR ROOM
SUCH AS A CLOSET ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  USE BLANKETS...PILLOWS...
OR CUSHIONS TO COVER YOUR BODY.  AVOID WINDOWS.
 
DO NOT USE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO OUTRUN A TORNADO. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT
IN THE PATH OF A TORNADO...LEAVE THE CAR AND GO TO A STRONG
BUILDING. IF NO STRUCTURE IS NEARBY...SEEK SHELTER IN A DITCH OR
LOW SPOT.
 
IF YOU LIVE IN A HOME OR APARTMENT...SEEK SHELTER IN THE
INNERMOST PORTION OF THE BUILDING ON THE LOWEST FLOOR.  IF YOU LIVE
IN A MOBILE HOME...IF POSSIBLE...ABANDON IT FOR A STRONGER SHELTER.
BLOOM

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this tornado warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Aug 21, 6:41 PM CDT, 4 hours 17 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
635 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

AT 635 PM CDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVED OVER PARTS OF HAMLIN AND
DEULE COUNTIES DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS. THESE STORMS DUMPED VERY HEAVY
RAINS AND LARGE HAIL. NO REPORTS OF RAINFALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...HOWEVER 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAVE BEEN
ESTIMATED.

DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN...DITCHES AND PASTURES HAVE BEEN AND
ARE FILLING RAPIDLY.

IF YOU ARE IN THIS AREA YOU SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR QUICKLY RISING WATERS.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH ANY AREA OF SWIFTLY MOVING
OR RISING WATERS.

EDDY/MILLER
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 6:42 PM CDT, 4 hours 16 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
635 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

AT 635 PM CDT...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS MOVED OVER PARTS OF HAMLIN AND
DEULE COUNTIES DURING THE LAST TWO HOURS. THESE STORMS DUMPED VERY HEAVY
RAINS AND LARGE HAIL. NO REPORTS OF RAINFALL HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...HOWEVER 4 TO 6 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAVE BEEN
ESTIMATED.

DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNTS OF RAIN...DITCHES AND PASTURES HAVE BEEN AND
ARE FILLING RAPIDLY.

IF YOU ARE IN THIS AREA YOU SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR QUICKLY RISING WATERS.
PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE OR WALK THROUGH ANY AREA OF SWIFTLY MOVING
OR RISING WATERS.

EDDY/MILLER
Local storm report, Aug 21, 6:47 PM CDT, 4 hours 11 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
645 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

STORM DATA FOR IOWA

 TIME            COUNTY..LOCATION           CHARACTER OF STORM..DAMAGE
.......................................................................
540 PM CDT       SIOUX                      GOLF BALL SIZE HAIL AND
                                            STRONG WINDS 5 MILES WEST
                                            OF ROCK VALLEY

554 PM CDT       SIOUX                      ESTIMATED 60 MPH WIND AND
                                            VERY HEAVY RAIN/ VISIBILITY
                                            1/8 MILE/ 6 MILES NORTHWEST
                                            OF SIOUX CENTER

557 PM CDT       SIOUX                      TREES DOWN ALL OVER SIOUX
                                            CENTER

600 PM CDT       SIOUX                      53 MPH WINDS AT SIOUX CENTER

605 PM CDT       SIOUX                      61 MPH WINDS AT SIOUX CENTER

610-620 PM CDT   SIOUX                      MARBLE SIZE HAIL AT SIOUX
                                            CENTER

620 PM CDT       SIOUX                      ELECTRICITY OUT 1 MILE EAST
                                            OF SIOUX CENTER

620 PM CDT       SIOUX                      1.50 INCHES OF RAIN IN 1/2
                                            HOUR AT SIOUX CENTER

WILLIAMS
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 7:40 PM CDT, 3 hours 18 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
740 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A LARGE PART OF
   EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA UNTIL 10 PM CDT TONIGHT...

AT 725 PM CDT...NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS...SOME WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN
CONTINUED OVER EXTREME NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA...CENTRAL MINNESOTA
AND NORTHEAST NORTH DAKOTA.

IN SOUTH DAKOTA THE THUNDERSTORMS WERE WITHIN A 20 MILE RADIUS OF
MILBANK...LOCATED 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF WATERTOWN.  THESE STORMS WERE
DECREASING IN INTENSITY...BUT THEY ARE STILL CAPABLE OF HEAVY RAIN...
SMALL HAIL...GUSTY WIND AND DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THESE STORMS WERE MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MILES AN HOUR AND SOULD {BE OUT
OF THE STATE BY 830 PM CDT.

HUTCHEON
Special weather statement, Aug 21, 7:47 PM CDT, 3 hours 11 minutes before
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT...CORRECTED...
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
746 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR A SMALL PORTION OF
   NORTHEASTERN SOUTH
Local storm report, Aug 21, 8:22 PM CDT, 2 hours 36 minutes before
STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HURON SD
800 PM CDT MON AUG 21 1989

STORM DATA FOR MON AUG 21 1989
TIME           COUNTY...LOCATION          CHARACTER OF STORM...DAMAGE
450 PM         HAMLIN COUNTY              MARBLE SIZE HAIL.
               7 MI EAST OF BRYANT

450 PM         HAMLIN COUNTY              HAIL PILED UP.
               7 1/2 MI E ESTELLINE.

602 PM         CODINGTON COUNTY...        PEA TO MARBLE SIZE HAIL.
               FLORENCE...10 NW ATY

604 PM         HAMLIN COUNTY              3 1/2 FEET WATER IN PASTURES.
               7 1/2 MI N OF ESTELLINE

606 PM         CODINGTON COUNTY           GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL.
               2 1/2 E OF FLORENCE

611 PM         CODINGTON COUNTY           LARGER THAN GOLFBALL SIZE HAIL.
               FLORENCE...10 NW ATY

640 PM         CODINGTON COUNTY           BASEBALL SIZE HAIL. 40% OF
               2 1/2 NE KRANZBURG         YARD COVERED. 1.25 RAIN.

700 PM         GRANT COUNTY               HEAVY RAIN. PEA SIZE HAIL.
               4 WSW TWIN BROOKS

700 PM         GRANT COUNTY               PEA SIZE HAIL. HEAVY RAIN.
               MILBANK                    WND EST 30 TO 40 MPH.

707 PM         GRANT COUNTY               MARBLE SIZE HAIL. GROUND WHITE.
               4 MI S MILBANK

710 PM         GRANT COUNTY               3/4 IN HAIL. HEAVY RAIN.
               1 NW MILBANK               WIND EST 40-50 MPH.

MILLER/HUTCHEON

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Dakota, 1989Every tornado warning in 1989Tornadoes in 1989

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive.