Alert archive / South Dakota / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 239, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

August 20, 20264 counties in South Dakota

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
Aug 20, 7:25 PM CDTTSTM WND GST 767 Wsw Wall Lake, SDMesonet station PKMS2 Parker 7NNE (SD Mesonet).
Aug 20, 7:28 PM CDTHAIL 14 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-08-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 19 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, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-08-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 70 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

IG
1 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

$$

IG

What 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.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 20, 2:21 AM CDTDense Fog AdvisoryFSDBon Homme, Clay, Union, Yankton7 hr
Aug 20, 6:41 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDBon Homme, Hutchinson, Turner, Yankton49 min
Aug 20, 6:43 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDMcCook, Minnehaha47 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.