Alert archive / South Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2020

Tornado Warning 8, NWS Rapid City, SD

July 20, 2020Bennett County, South Dakota

NWS Rapid City, SD issued this tornado warning at Jul 20, 2020, 4:48 PM MDT for Bennett County, South Dakota. It was in force for 42 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 20, 2020, 4:48 PM MDT (22:48 UTC)
Expired
Jul 20, 2020, 5:30 PM MDT
In force
42 min
Issued by
NWS Rapid City, SD
Area
Storm-based polygon
Tornado
Radar indicated
Hail
2.5 in

County Bennett County, SD

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 140 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:47 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

IssuedProductOfficeLasted
Jul 20, 12:13 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WatchSPC6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Rapid City, SD (KUNR), launched 12:00Z, 10.8 hours before the alert went out and 138 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, Rapid City, SD at 12:00Z on 2020-07-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 89 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Rapid City, SD at 12:00Z on 2020-07-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 79 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
89 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-242 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1354 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
35 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
79 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
-0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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.

NWS Rapid City, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at Jul 20, 2:13 PM MDT, 2 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 20, 2:13 PM MDT, 2 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
213 PM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Monday)
Issued at 155 PM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020

Water vapor shows robust upper trof crossing the Northern Plains.
Morning/early afternoon convection that prompted warning across
northwest SD has pushed east and out of our cfwa, with outflow
boundary/front now pushing into southwest/south central SD.
Additional storms are firing from Weston County WY into the Black
Hills and southwest SD. Special 19Z raob still reveals very
unstable conditions with plenty of shear along and behind of the
outflow boundary/front.

Rest of this afternoon/evening, still expecting to see an uptick
in storms and severe potential from around the Black Hills through
southwest/south central SD. Storms should be less prominent
further north. Current watch looks good, although there is some
potential we may need extend the watch into the early evening
hours over south central SD. Most activity should be done by
mid/late evening.

Some diurnally driven activity expected Tuesday, mainly in our
southwestern zones, but the threats for severe storms is low.
Temps should be near average with northerly winds and relatively
low dewpoints.

Short wave ridge will cross the region on Wednesday into Thursday
for warmer temps back into the 90s on the plains, with a chance of
mainly afternoon/evening storms. Southwest flow aloft will
continue through the weekend for above average temps and daily
chances for storms.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Tuesday)
Issued At 1137 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020

Strong to severe storms expected across western/central SD
through early evening before shifting east. Large hail and
damaging winds are expected with the severe storms. IFR conditions
expected in stronger storms. Mainly VFR conditions expected
across northeast WY, and outside of any storms over
western/central SD.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
WY...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Johnson
AVIATION...Johnson
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 20, 3:54 AM MDT, 12 hours 54 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
354 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-211300-
Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-
Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot Hills-Rapid City-
Southern Foot Hills-Central Black Hills-Southern Black Hills-
Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-Haakon-Fall River-
Oglala Lakota-Jackson-Bennett-Mellette-Todd-Tripp-
Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills-Southern Meade Co Plains-
Hermosa Foot Hills-
354 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020 /454 AM CDT Mon Jul 20 2020/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern
South Dakota...south central South Dakota...southwestern South
Dakota...and the Black Hills of South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms will continue through this morning, then intensify
in the afternoon. Some storms may be severe in the afternoon and
evening, with large hail and damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Isolated storms will be possible each day through the rest of the
week. A few storms may be strong or severe each day.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

WYZ054>058-071-211300-
Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-Western Crook-
Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook-
354 AM MDT Mon Jul 20 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Wyoming...and the Black Hills of Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and early evening. A few
storms may be strong or severe.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday

Isolated storms will be possible each day through the rest of the
week. A few storms may be strong or severe each day.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 20, 3:37 PM MDT, 1 hour 11 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Jul 20, 3:55 PM MDT, 53 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 20, 4:07 PM MDT, 41 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 20, 4:25 PM MDT, 23 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 20, 4:27 PM MDT, 21 minutes before
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Local storm report, Jul 20, 4:35 PM MDT, 13 minutes before
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The office that day

Everything else NWS Rapid City, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 6:31 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCuster, Lawrence, Pennington59 min
Jul 19, 7:35 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRButte40 min
Jul 19, 8:52 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRButte38 min
Jul 19, 9:13 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRBennett17 min
Jul 19, 9:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRJackson40 min
Jul 20, 10:14 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRPerkins46 min
Jul 20, 10:35 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRPerkins25 min
Jul 20, 10:42 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMeade, Perkins, Ziebach48 min
Jul 20, 10:52 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRMeade38 min
Jul 20, 10:53 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMeade, Ziebach67 min
Jul 20, 11:15 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMeade, Ziebach60 min
Jul 20, 11:44 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRHaakon, Meade, Ziebach61 min
Jul 20, 2:01 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRCuster44 min
Jul 20, 2:14 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRPennington46 min
Jul 20, 2:25 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCuster50 min
Jul 20, 2:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMeade32 min
Jul 20, 2:42 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCuster, Pennington48 min
Jul 20, 2:57 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRJackson, Mellette63 min
Jul 20, 2:57 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRPennington48 min
Jul 20, 3:01 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCuster, Oglala Lakota, Pennington44 min
Jul 20, 3:23 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRPennington52 min
Jul 20, 3:49 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMeade19 min
Jul 20, 3:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRJackson65 min
Jul 20, 4:00 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRMellette, Todd39 min
Jul 20, 4:07 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRBennett, Jackson, Oglala Lakota53 min
Jul 20, 5:27 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRBennett, Jackson, Mellette, Todd63 min
Jul 19, 7:11 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCrook34 min
Jul 19, 10:23 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCampbell, Crook53 min
Jul 19, 11:33 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCampbell57 min
Jul 20, 12:26 AM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRCampbell64 min
Jul 20, 1:28 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRCampbell47 min
Jul 20, 3:51 AM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRWeston39 min
Jul 20, 12:55 PM MDTSpecial Weather StatementUNRWeston20 min
Jul 20, 3:17 PM MDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningUNRWeston17 min

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in South Dakota, 2020Every tornado warning in 2020Tornadoes in 2020

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; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.