Alert archive / South Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026
Severe Thunderstorm Warning 239, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 20, 2026, 6:56 PM CDT for 4 counties in South Dakota. It was in force for 49 min. 2 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.
The area
The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 20, 2026, 6:56 PM CDT (23:56 UTC)
- Expired
- Aug 20, 2026, 7:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 49 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Hail
- 1.5 in
- Wind
- 60.0 mph
Counties Lincoln County, SD, McCook County, SD, Minnehaha County, SD, Turner County, SD
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 26 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:59 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.
What was reported inside it
| Time | Report | Where | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 7:25 PM CDT | TSTM WND GST 76 | 7 Wsw Wall Lake, SD | Mesonet station PKMS2 Parker 7NNE (SD Mesonet). |
| Aug 20, 7:28 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 4 S Sioux Falls, SD |
Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.
Did it verify
Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched 2 storm reports to this severe thunderstorm warning; the first came 29 minutes after it went out.
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
Minneapolis, MN (KMPX), launched 12:00Z, 11.9 hours before the alert went out and 312 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
- 19 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -264 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1140 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 29 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 70 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 139 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
251
WUUS53 KFSD 202356
SVRFSD
SDC083-087-099-125-210045-
/O.NEW.KFSD.SV.W.0239.260820T2356Z-260821T0045Z/
BULLETIN - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
656 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for...
Southwestern Minnehaha County in southeastern South Dakota...
Northwestern Lincoln County in southeastern South Dakota...
Southeastern McCook County in southeastern South Dakota...
Northeastern Turner County in southeastern South Dakota...
* Until 745 PM CDT.
* At 656 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Monroe, or
near Lake Vermillion State Recreation Area, moving east at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
* This severe thunderstorm will be near...
Parker around 700 PM CDT.
Chancellor around 705 PM CDT.
Sioux Falls, Tea, and Lennox around 710 PM CDT.
Other locations in the path of this severe thunderstorm include
Harrisburg and Worthing.
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 4347 9727 4362 9717 4357 9706 4350 9691
4350 9664 4324 9680
TIME...MOT...LOC 2356Z 291DEG 30KT 4351 9712
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IG1 follow-up statement
004
WWUS53 KFSD 210022
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
722 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026
SDC087-210032-
/O.CAN.KFSD.SV.W.0239.000000T0000Z-260821T0045Z/
McCook SD-
722 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN MCCOOK COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...
The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out of
the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.
&&
LAT...LON 4324 9680 4345 9722 4350 9718 4351 9713
4356 9713 4359 9711 4350 9691 4350 9664
TIME...MOT...LOC 0022Z 293DEG 18KT 4347 9703
$$
SDC083-099-125-210045-
/O.CON.KFSD.SV.W.0239.000000T0000Z-260821T0045Z/
Minnehaha SD-Lincoln SD-Turner SD-
722 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026
...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 745 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHWESTERN MINNEHAHA...NORTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND NORTHEASTERN
TURNER COUNTIES...
At 722 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Wall Lake, or 7
miles northeast of Parker, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Ping pong ball size hail and 60 mph wind gusts.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect wind
damage to roofs, siding, and trees.
Locations impacted include...
Tea, Chancellor, Sioux Falls, Lennox, Worthing and Harrisburg.
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 4324 9680 4345 9722 4350 9718 4351 9713
4356 9713 4359 9711 4350 9691 4350 9664
TIME...MOT...LOC 0022Z 293DEG 18KT 4347 9703
HAIL THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
WIND THREAT...RADAR INDICATED
MAX WIND GUST...60 MPH
$$
IGWhat 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 20, 2:11 PM CDT, 4 hours 45 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated thunderstorms could develop this afternoon and evening. IF storms are able to develop, two+ inch hail and 50-70 mph winds are the main hazards. An isolated tornado is also possible.
- Warmer temperatures continue on Friday, with another low chance (20-30%) for thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening along and south of the Missouri River.
- Slightly cooler weather for the weekend. Saturday should remain dry with rain chances (40-70%) returning to portions of the area by Sunday morning.
- Additional chances for rain, and potentially thunderstorms (5- 10%), are possible through the first half of next week. Details are uncertain, so continue to check the latest forecast for the most up to date information.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 20, 2:11 PM CDT, 4 hours 45 minutes before
...CORRECTION... Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 211 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated thunderstorms could develop this afternoon and evening. IF storms are able to develop, two+ inch hail and 50-70 mph winds are the main hazards. An isolated tornado is also possible. - Warmer temperatures continue on Friday, with another low chance (20-30%) for thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening along and south of the Missouri River. - Slightly cooler weather for the weekend. Saturday should remain dry with rain chances (40-70%) returning to portions of the area by Sunday morning. - Additional chances for rain, and potentially thunderstorms (5- 10%), are possible through the first half of next week. Details are uncertain, so continue to check the latest forecast for the most up to date information. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 210 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 A light shower or two persists across southwest Minnesota this afternoon. These showers remain ahead of a cold front that is just pushing into the forecast area. This front will serve as the focal point for potential severe storm development later this afternoon. The main shortwave is just north and east of the forecast area. However, the upper level jet will be nosing its exit region into the southwestern half of the forecast area. This presents a bit of a displacement in where the better shear and forcing will lie. Some capping remains across the area but the weakest amount of capping looks to be just along the front itself. Think that 1 to 4 storms is possible this afternoon and evening IF storms are able to develop. IF storms develop, more than sufficient instability will be in place with CAPE values up to 2,000 J/kg to 2,500 J/kg as moisture pools ahead of the front. With part of the upper level jet overhead, vertical shear will also be sufficient with deep layer shear values between 40 to 50 knots. DCAPE values will be highest along and just behind the front with magnitudes up to 1,200 J/kg. Thus, Large hail to 2+ inches and damaging winds to 50-70 mph will be the main hazards. A low 2% chance exists for a tornado as the low level jet begins to strengthen this evening, slightly expanding low level hodographs and increasing 0-3km storm relative helicity (SRH) values up to 100+ m2/s2. Any chance for severe storms for be waning through the evening hours as nocturnal stabilization increases capping. The previously mentioned cold front will stall out over the forecast area tonight, leaving muggy conditions in place. With light winds expected, patchy fog is once again possible. Highs will remain in the 80s across the area on Friday. The previously mentioned cold front will push through the forecast area and end up right along the Missouri River. This could result in a few storms developing on this boundary before quickly pushing off to the south and east. However, latest LREF probabilities remain low (20-30%) for a tenth of an inch of rain or more. The HREF shows little to no probabilities for any precipitation. This is in line with the latest hi-res guidance as the bulk of this guidance shows storms developing south of the surface front in Nebraska. Will keep an eye on this potential in case storms trend back north, but for now, it looks most likely that the forecast area will remain dry tomorrow. Low temperatures will fall to the upper 50s and low 60s overnight. Saturday will be a dry day as high pressure passes through the forecast area. High temperatures will be a little cooler, only warming to the upper 70s to low to mid 80s. The dry conditions will be brief as the next round of rain will return on Sunday as another shortwave trough will push into the Northern Plains. Latest ensembles show a 40-70% chance for rainfall totals to exceed a tenth of an inch through the day. Latest machine learning (ML) guidance keeps the highest chances for severe storms to the west of the forecast area. This may change over the next few days so will continue to monitor the potential for severe storms on Sunday. High temperatures will remain near seasonable in the upper 70s and 80s for the first half of next week. Active zonal to northwest flow will persist aloft as well, contributing to additional risks for showers and storms. ML guidance does shows a small increase in potential severe storm risk, though the probabilities only 5 to 10%. Something to keep an eye on going forwards as weak shortwaves within the active flow can deliver additional chances for potential severe storms. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY/... Issued at 1226 PM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 VFR conditions begin the TAF period. A few light showers persist across parts of southwest Minnesota but are on the move out. A cold front is just west of the forecast area but will push into the area through the first half of the afternoon timeframe. Showers and thunderstorms may develop along the front later this afternoon and evening. Confidence is high enough to include in KFSD's TAF at this time but trends in storm development will be monitored. Chances for storms will end late this evening, leaving light and variable winds for the overnight hours. Patchy fog is once again on the table though confidence is too low to include in a TAF at this time. Light northerly flow will finish out the TAF period. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && DISCUSSION...Meyers AVIATION...Meyers
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 20, 3:44 AM CDT, 15 hours 12 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 344 AM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 SDZ038-039-050-052>054-057>060-063-064-210845- Beadle-Kingsbury-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Brule-Aurora-Davison- Hanson-Charles Mix-Douglas- 344 AM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Very isolated storms may develop this afternoon and evening. If a storm develops, severe weather is possible with 2 inch hail and 70 mph wind gusts the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. A few strong to severe storms are possible Friday afternoon and evening, south of I-90. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed Thursday afternoon and evening. IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ040-055-056-061-062-065>071-210845- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Brookings-Lake-Moody-McCook-Minnehaha- Hutchinson-Turner-Bon Homme-Yankton-Union- 344 AM CDT Thu Aug 20 2026 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, east central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Patchy fog, including dense fog with visibility below half a mile continues through 9 AM. Isolated to widely scattered storms may develop this afternoon and evening. Storms may quickly become strong to severe, with 2 inch hail and 75 mph wind gusts the main threats. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. Patchy fog is possible Friday morning. A few strong to severe storms are possible Friday afternoon and evening, south of I-90. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed Thursday afternoon and evening.
The office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 20, 2:21 AM CDT | Dense Fog Advisory | FSD | Bon Homme, Clay, Union, Yankton | 7 hr |
| Aug 20, 6:41 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Bon Homme, Hutchinson, Turner, Yankton | 49 min |
| Aug 20, 6:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | McCook, Minnehaha | 47 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; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.