Alert archive / South Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 231, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 18, 2026, 12:57 AM CDT for Aurora County, Brule County, Jerauld County, South Dakota. It was in force for 33 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 18, 2026, 12:57 AM CDT (05:57 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 18, 2026, 1:30 AM CDT
- In force
- 33 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 0.75 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Aurora County, SD, Brule County, SD, Jerauld County, SD
The radar
The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 174 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 05:58 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.
Did it verify
Not verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow found no qualifying storm report inside this severe thunderstorm warning while it was in force. That is not proof nothing happened: reports are thin where few people live.
Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.
The nearest sounding before it
Aberdeen, SD (KABR), launched 00:00Z, 6.0 hours before the alert went out and 115 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 1577 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -3 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1675 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 32 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 18 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 52 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- -0.0
- Supercell composite
- -0.0
The text
As transmitted.
753
WUUS53 KFSD 180557
SVRFSD
SDC003-015-073-180630-
/O.NEW.KFSD.SV.W.0231.260818T0557Z-260818T0630Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
1257 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Northwestern Aurora County in south central South Dakota...
Jerauld County in central South Dakota...
Northeastern Brule County in south central South Dakota...
* Until 130 AM CDT.
* At 1257 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 11 miles west of Wessington Springs to 7 miles south
of Gann Valley to 6 miles south of Shelby, moving southeast at 40
mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* Severe thunderstorms will be near...
Kimball around 105 AM CDT.
Other locations in the path of these severe thunderstorms include
White Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service
office in Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4393 9893 4420 9892 4420 9883 4407 9833
4403 9833 4372 9873 4362 9904 4385 9932
4387 9931 4390 9936 4394 9935
TIME...MOT...LOC 0557Z 317DEG 35KT 4406 9880 4392 9897 4385 9920
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
Samet1 follow-up statement
571
WWUS53 KFSD 180620
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
120 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026
SDC003-015-073-180630-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0231.000000T0000Z-260818T0630Z/
Aurora SD-Jerauld SD-Brule SD-
120 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 130 AM CDT
FOR NORTHWESTERN AURORA...JERAULD AND NORTHEASTERN BRULE COUNTIES...
At 119 AM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line
extending from 8 miles south of Lane to 7 miles north of White Lake
to near Kimball, moving east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Mesonet. Around 1:00 AM CDT, a 59 mph wind gust was
recorded in Gann Valley.
IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Kimball and White Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.
To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Sioux Falls.
&&
LAT...LON 4372 9874 4362 9904 4385 9932 4387 9931
4390 9936 4394 9935 4393 9893 4420 9892
4420 9883 4407 9833 4403 9833 4374 9870
TIME...MOT...LOC 0619Z 281DEG 34KT 4395 9848 4384 9871 4380 9901
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...<.75 IN
WIND THREAT...OBSERVED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
SametWhat forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 17, 9:22 PM CDT, 3 hours 35 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to scattered storms are ongoing this evening, through development remains very uncertain. Risks of 1" hail and 60 mph will be possible.
- Greater storm potential after midnight and through the overnight. Initial supercells are capable of producing 1-2" hail and wind gusts to 65 mph. Storms gradually grow into broken lines with a few bowing segments. Risks become wind gusts to 70 mph and marginal hail.
- Lingering rain early Tuesday will push the greatest risk of severe storms Tuesday further south. However cooler temperatures and clouds may linger deeper into the day.
- Rain chances persist Wednesday and Thursday, though storm track leads to lower confidence in where rain may fall.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 9:22 PM CDT, 3 hours 35 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 922 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered storms are ongoing this evening, through development remains very uncertain. Risks of 1" hail and 60 mph will be possible. - Greater storm potential after midnight and through the overnight. Initial supercells are capable of producing 1-2" hail and wind gusts to 65 mph. Storms gradually grow into broken lines with a few bowing segments. Risks become wind gusts to 70 mph and marginal hail. - Lingering rain early Tuesday will push the greatest risk of severe storms Tuesday further south. However cooler temperatures and clouds may linger deeper into the day. - Rain chances persist Wednesday and Thursday, though storm track leads to lower confidence in where rain may fall. && .UPDATE... Issued at 918 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 Showers and thunderstorms have moved into the western portion of our CWA. While the convective environment is largely favorable, the forcing from the prefrontal trough is weak and mid-level lapse rates are decreasing. So while there is still potential for an isolated strong to severe storm, the confidence in severe weather with these storms is low. Should a severe storm manage to form threats include hail to the size of a quarter and wind gusts to 60 mph. These storms will continue to weaken and dissipate as they move southeast through the late evening. Another round of potentially strong to severe thunderstorms are possible through the overnight. An upper shortwave and associated cold front will push into central South Dakota around midnight. Deep layer shear remains strong and the LLJ will be increasing. Though forcing with this round will be stronger, instability, and lapse rates will be decreasing. What this means is most likely upon convection initiation strong to severe supercells are possible with hail 1-2" and wind gusts to 60-65 mph. As the storms progress southeast they will transition to elevated line segments, some with bowing structures. The threat will then transition to a wind threat with gusts of 70 mph possible. For much of the northern part of the CWA, storms will be clear around 7am. For areas along the southern Missouri River and northwest Iowa, storms may linger into mid- morning Tuesday. Lingering clouds through the day and light northerly winds will keep highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 132 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 THIS AFTERNOON: Convection risks remain the primary focus in the upcoming 24 hour period, as there continues to be uncertainty on if we can advect sufficient moisture northward, and provide enough focus of lift. Visible satellite this afternoon shows two areas of interest, one area of ACCAS across northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota, driven by 700 mb winds over the crest of the Ridge. A second area of ACCAS drifting eastward out of the Badlands area. At the surface, one concern has been a slower arrival of boundary layer moisture as surface dewpoints continue to linger in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Further south, models continue to overestimate dew points in NE/KS, providing some doubt on if the lower 70 dewpoints advertised by "high instability" models can be realized. The projections into the evening remain slightly uncertain with several focusing mechanisms available. A surface trough extending from NW Minnesota into NE South Dakota and central South Dakota will provide some minor convergence (focused greater over NW Minnesota and eastern North Dakota). A weaker pre-frontal trough in the NE Panhandle into the Sandhills could also serve as a focal point. Finally, a few storms may also develop over the Minnesota River valley downstream of the Buffalo Ridge. Any storm that develops off of these features will likely produced an increased risk for 1-2" hail, but also 60-70 mph winds as MLCAPE pushes 2000+ J/KG and effective shear climbs towards 40 knots. Gradual east southeast storm tracks within the mean flow are likely which could put portions of SW Minnesota and the MO River valley into a higher early evening risk. However the likely overestimation of surface dew points, poor focus of convergence, and weak inhibition, may also work to prohibit convection over a large part of the Tri- State area into the evening. Further west, additional isolated to scattered convection may form over the western High Plains late this afternoon and evening slightly stronger synoptic lift enters the area. One or more clusters of storms could reach the western CWA by mid-late evening, bringing risks lower risk for hail, but higher risks for a few stronger wind gusts. There continues to be some agreement in mesoscale and lower resolution guidance that a subtle wave crossing the Dakotas could keep scattered convection risks moving through the CWA until at least 4am. Weakening instability, and worsening lapse rates should result in fewer strong to severe storms by daybreak Tuesday. All this to say, coverage of this activity remains highly in doubt, which will keep areal PoPs lower in general. TUESDAY: Latest guidance continues to trend the greatest risks for severe convection southward on Tuesday. Overnight convection, along with the passing shortwave should stabilize the area considerably by daybreak, with a lingering marginal risks for some crossover hail risks near 12Z. We may however see quite a bit of stratus behind this wave, suggesting cooler than normal temperatures into the afternoon. WEDNESDAY-THURDAY: Upper troughing moving into Hudson Bay will sharpen the NW flow over the Plains slightly by mid-week. EC/GFS indicates vorticity crossing from the Pacific Northwest through the Northern Rockies early on Wednesday pushing mid-lvl lift towards the region early Wednesday. Differences on the track of this wave keep PoPs lower, with GEFS/GFS further northeast, and the EC leading to more impact through central Nebraska instead. Another wave, along with a weak frontal boundary approach Thursday afternoon. Depending on the amount of inhibition nearby, a few thunderstorms could form along this boundary late in the day. FRIDAY-SUNDAY: Mid-lvl heights rise and the ridge sharpens over the Rockies as we move into next weekend. This transition of mid-lvl flow could bring one final risk for elevated showers/TSRA early Friday, but generally quiet and dry conditions then develop into the weekend. Temperatures however will fall more under the influence of Canadian high pressure in the Dakotas, suggesting highs may stay in the upper 70s to lower 80s. && .AVIATION /00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z WEDNESDAY/... Issued at 728 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 VFR conditions to begin the period. Clouds are flowing in from the west ahead of a broken line of multicell thunderstorms. Recent shifts in short term guidance leads to high uncertainty in their evolution. The most likely solution is these storms will continue their southeast progression. Some may yet become strong to severe producing hail to the size of a quarter and 60 mph wind gusts. KHON is the most likely to experience hazardous weather from these storms. Another round of strong to severe thunderstorms is possible overnight as a stronger wave moves through the area. Any storms that develop will have the potential of producing hail to the size of a quarter and wind gusts to 70 mph. Storms weaken as daybreak approaches, but showers are expected to continue through much of Tuesday morning. Dry conditions expected for the afternoon. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && UPDATE...AJP DISCUSSION...Dux AVIATION...AJP
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 9:26 PM CDT, 3 hours 31 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 926 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-190230- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Brookings-Gregory- Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Lake-Moody-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook- Minnehaha-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton- Union- 926 PM CDT Mon Aug 17 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms may become strong to severe producing 1 inch hail and wind gusts to 60 mph. A second round of strong to severe storms is possible after midnight. These storms could produce two inch hail and wind gusts to 70 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Tuesday through Sunday. Scattered thunderstorm risks continue through Wednesday. Severe storm risks remain focused mostly Tuesday afternoon and early evening along and south of I-90. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 8:49 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Beadle, Kingsbury, Miner, Sanborn | 26 min |
| Aug 17, 11:07 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Charles Mix, Gregory | 38 min |
| Aug 17, 11:40 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Charles Mix, Douglas | 38 min |
| Aug 17, 11:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Charles Mix, Douglas, Hutchinson | 22 min |
| Aug 18, 1:29 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Aurora, Brule, Davison, Jerauld | 31 min |
| Aug 18, 2:24 AM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Brule, Charles Mix, Gregory | 32 min |
Nearby
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in South Dakota, 2026Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026
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.