Alert archive / South Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 18, NWS Sioux Falls, SD

May 31, 2026McCook County, South Dakota

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

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 31, 6:07 PM CDTTORNADO1 Nw Bridgewater, SDTornado is kicking up dust from the ground now.
May 31, 6:16 PM CDTHAIL 15 N Bridgewater, SDHail 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.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Minneapolis, MN at 12:00Z on 2026-05-31Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 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 2026-05-31The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 139 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 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
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

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

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

$$

SG
3 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

$$

SG
458 
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

$$

SG
557 
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

&&

TRM
Local 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

&&

TRM
Local 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.

&&

TRM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 31, 4:51 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDMiner24 min
May 31, 5:15 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDMiner11 min
May 31, 5:29 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDHanson, McCook31 min
May 31, 5:51 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningFSDHanson, Hutchinson, McCook3 hr
May 31, 5:57 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDHanson, Lake, McCook, Miner48 min
May 31, 6:34 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningFSDMcCook41 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.