Alert archive / South Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 18, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at May 31, 2026, 6:07 PM CDT for McCook County, South Dakota. It was in force for 38 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
- May 31, 2026, 6:07 PM CDT (23:07 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 2026, 6:45 PM CDT
- In force
- 38 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Radar indicated
- Hail
- 1.0 in
County McCook County, SD
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 58 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 23:10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 6:07 PM CDT | TORNADO | 1 Nw Bridgewater, SD | Tornado is kicking up dust from the ground now. |
| May 31, 6:16 PM CDT | HAIL 1 | 5 N Bridgewater, SD | Hail was jagged, with some as long as a quarter, but most of it was pea to nickel sized. Heavy rainfall so far has been 1.75 inch. |
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 one storm report to this tornado warning; the first came 0 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, 11.1 hours before the alert went out and 337 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
- 0 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- No buoyant parcel
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1793 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 19 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 139 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 146 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
482
WFUS53 KFSD 312307
TORFSD
SDC087-312345-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0018.260531T2307Z-260531T2345Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
607 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern McCook County in southeastern South Dakota...
* Until 645 PM CDT.
* At 606 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located over Bridgewater, or 16 miles west of Lake Vermillion
State Recreation Area, moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed.
Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree
damage is likely.
* This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern McCook County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4352 9749 4355 9759 4371 9744 4365 9724
TIME...MOT...LOC 2306Z 231DEG 13KT 4359 9750
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SG3 follow-up statements
331
WWUS53 KFSD 312315
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
615 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
SDC087-312345-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260531T2345Z/
McCook SD-
615 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN MCCOOK COUNTY...
At 614 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located over Bridgewater, or
14 miles west of Lake Vermillion State Recreation Area, moving
northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado. Storm chasers show a
tornado on a live stream northeast of Bridgewater.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
southwestern McCook County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a tornado is on the ground. TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a
basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4353 9751 4357 9757 4360 9754 4368 9739
4362 9729 4352 9749
TIME...MOT...LOC 2314Z 245DEG 13KT 4358 9746
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SG458
WWUS53 KFSD 312327
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
627 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
SDC087-312345-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260531T2345Z/
McCook SD-
627 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 645 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MCCOOK COUNTY...
At 627 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Canistota, or 11 miles west of Lake Vermillion State
Recreation Area, moving northeast at 15 mph.
HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.
IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage
to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is
likely.
This tornadic thunderstorm will remain over mainly rural areas of
south central McCook County.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.
Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.
&&
LAT...LON 4361 9749 4368 9739 4362 9729 4353 9746
TIME...MOT...LOC 2327Z 231DEG 13KT 4361 9741
TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN
$$
SG557 WWUS53 KFSD 312344 SVSFSD Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 644 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 SDC087-312354- /O.EXP.KFSD.TO.W.0018.000000T0000Z-260531T2345Z/ McCook SD- 644 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 ...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTH CENTRAL MCCOOK COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 645 PM CDT... The storm which prompted the warning has weakened below severe limits, and no longer appears capable of producing a tornado. Therefore, the warning will be allowed to expire. However, small hail is still possible with this thunderstorm. Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for 715 PM CDT. && LAT...LON 4361 9749 4368 9739 4362 9729 4353 9746 TIME...MOT...LOC 2344Z 252DEG 16KT 4361 9731 $$ SG
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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before this tornado warning went out at May 31, 12:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 29 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop late this afternoon into early evening. Large hail up to half dollarand damaging winds to 60 mph would be the main hazards. A Level 1 of 5 risk for severe storms covers most of the area for this threat.
- Similar to today, a conditional Level 1 of 5 risk for severe storms covers the forecast area Monday afternoon. The chance of development looks lower than today, but if a storm can form, large hail and isolated damaging winds could occur.
- High chances (50-80%) for rain will persist through the bulk of next week. However, severe storm chances continue to look low (near 5% or less) through next week. The better chances for rainfall appear to be Wednesday in central SD and Wednesday night into Thursday area wide.
Area forecast discussion, May 31, 12:38 PM CDT, 5 hours 29 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 1238 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... - Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop late this afternoon into early evening. Large hail up to half dollarand damaging winds to 60 mph would be the main hazards. A Level 1 of 5 risk for severe storms covers most of the area for this threat. - Similar to today, a conditional Level 1 of 5 risk for severe storms covers the forecast area Monday afternoon. The chance of development looks lower than today, but if a storm can form, large hail and isolated damaging winds could occur. - High chances (50-80%) for rain will persist through the bulk of next week. However, severe storm chances continue to look low (near 5% or less) through next week. The better chances for rainfall appear to be Wednesday in central SD and Wednesday night into Thursday area wide. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 1235 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 An active pattern is expected over the next several days, although severe weather appears to remain a minor threat. Patchy heavy rain may play the bigger role with each event. For this afternoon and tonight, a small corridor of low level convergence and lift will focus near and just east of the James Valley. Clouds have cleared through early afternoon and temperatures have risen a touch. Along with this temperature rise is a turn in the surface winds to a more south to southwest direction vs. southeast. This is what is aiding in this low level convergence. The latest model soundings indicate something around 1500-2000 J/kg CAPE but weak, disorganized shear. This suggests severe weather should remain limited, but maybe a cell merger or two could produce a couple of updrafts strong enough to support hail to half dollar and wind gusts to 60 mph. Stronger storms will likely drift east or northeast at about 15 mph, so fairly slow moving. With this slower storm motion in mind, will need to keep an eye on the locally heavy rain potential. A handful of the latest hi-res models are showing small areas of 1-3" of rain with this development. One area to keep a closer eye on will be parts of Western Lake county, Northeast McCook and western Minnehaha where 1-3" of rain fell late last night. The question becomes what will drive development; will it be diurnal heating, which would allow updrafts to start developing around 19- 21z, or will it be the weak wave which moves into the area closer to 0-3z this evening. The latest HRRR and Nam output agree with the later start times, with the Nam indicating a stronger cap and less development, while the RRFS and RAP kick off development a little sooner with weaker capping. With the clearing that we are seeing in central SD towards the James Valley we may see some development by mid to late afternoon as destabilization is more likely. Suspect some development between about 5-6pm. One last thing to watch out for, if we can get mid to late afternoon development, the LFC are marginally low and a weak convergent boundary should be in parts of south central and southeast SD, so an isolated funnel or two will be possible. While a marginal risk for severe weather is in place for Monday, confidence in the chances of development are very low. A capping inversion may win out and for now CAPE values only running around 1000 J/kg with continued weak shear, albeit a little bit better than today. Another wave moves through Tuesday but weak shear and weak instability suggest if anything can develop severe weather is very unlikely. Wednesday into Thursday looks like the better chance for more clouds and better rainfall chances. Broad southerly warm advection looks to bring in some weak elevated instability as low pressure tracks east through ND. For now not anticipating all day rainfall but should see off and on chances Wednesday and Thursday as this low tracks by to the north. Friday into Sunday will see periodic weaker waves move through the area with a continuation of relatively weak flow aloft. This continued weaker shear environment should keep severe weather threats very limited. && .AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/... Issued at 1214 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 Clouds continue to clear from southwest to northeast. An area of stratiform rainfall will drift northeast through southwest MN and northwest IA through mid afternoon. Patchy MVFR conditions will be possible. Otherwise scattered thunderstorms will become possible from about the James River to I-29 late afternoon through early evening, then drift into parts of southwest MN and northwest IA late evening and early overnight. A few of these storms could be strong to very locally severe with locally heavy rain likely with the stronger storms. IFR stratus and possibly fog will fill back in late tonight into Monday morning. No mention of fog for now as the stratus development will likely offset this development. Regardless of fog or stratus, an increased threat for IFR conditions. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && DISCUSSION...08 AVIATION...08
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 1:33 PM CDT, 4 hours 34 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 133 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ038>040-050-052>071-011845- 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- 133 PM CDT Sun May 31 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...This afternoon and tonight. A Level 1 of 5 risk for severe storms is in place for late this afternoon and evening. Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop late this afternoon between the James River and I-29, then progress eastward through the evening. A very isolated stronger storm could produce hail to half dollar and wind gusts to 60 mph. Locally heavier rain will also be possible with small swaths of one to three inches of rainfall. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday. There is a low chance for storms again Monday afternoon. Similar to today, confidence in storm development is low. However, if storms can develop, isolated damaging winds and large hail would be the main threats. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
In the hours before
Local storm report, May 31, 4:57 PM CDT, 1 hour 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
457 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0435 PM Hail 2 NNW Emery 43.63N 97.64W
05/31/2026 E0.88 Inch Hanson SD Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 5:15 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
515 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0507 PM Hail 2 W Vilas 44.01N 97.63W
05/31/2026 M1.25 Inch Miner SD Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 5:45 PM CDT, 22 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
545 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0530 PM Hail 1 WSW Emery 43.60N 97.63W
05/31/2026 E1.00 Inch Hanson SD Trained Spotter
Very heavy rain along with penny to quarter
sized hail. Rainfall is already over 3
inches.
&&
TRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 4:51 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Miner | 24 min |
| May 31, 5:15 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Miner | 11 min |
| May 31, 5:29 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Hanson, McCook | 31 min |
| May 31, 5:51 PM CDT | Flash Flood Warning | FSD | Hanson, Hutchinson, McCook | 3 hr |
| May 31, 5:57 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Hanson, Lake, McCook, Miner | 48 min |
| May 31, 6:34 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | McCook | 41 min |
Nearby
Tornado Warnings in South Dakota, 2026Every tornado warning in 2026Tornadoes 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.