Alert archive / South Dakota / Tornado Warnings in 2026
Tornado Warning 25, NWS Sioux Falls, SD
NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued this tornado warning at May 31, 2026, 8:57 PM CDT for Lincoln County, Turner County, South Dakota. It was in force for 35 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
- May 31, 2026, 8:57 PM CDT (01:57 UTC)
- Expired
- May 31, 2026, 9:32 PM CDT
- In force
- 35 min
- Issued by
- NWS Sioux Falls, SD
- Area
- Storm-based polygon
- Tornado
- Observed
- Hail
- 1.5 in
Counties Lincoln County, SD, Turner County, SD
The radar
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 50 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 01:57 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 tornado 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
Omaha, NE (KOAX), launched 00:00Z, 2.0 hours before the alert went out and 206 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
- 1417 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -10 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 1719 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 37 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 47 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 152 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.1
- Supercell composite
- 2.1
The text
As transmitted.
591
WFUS53 KFSD 010157
TORFSD
SDC083-125-010245-
/O.NEW.KFSD.TO.W.0025.260601T0157Z-260601T0245Z/
BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
857 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
The National Weather Service in Sioux Falls has issued a
* Tornado Warning for...
Southwestern Lincoln County in southeastern South Dakota...
Southeastern Turner County in southeastern South Dakota...
* Until 945 PM CDT.
* At 857 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Centerville, or
8 miles northwest of Beresford, moving east at 10 mph.
HAZARD...Damaging tornado and ping pong ball size hail.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
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.
* The tornado will be near...
Beresford around 900 PM CDT.
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.
&&
LAT...LON 4312 9693 4321 9695 4324 9665 4309 9663
4308 9672
TIME...MOT...LOC 0157Z 288DEG 9KT 4318 9688
TORNADO...OBSERVED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
$$
BP2 follow-up statements
620
WWUS53 KFSD 010204
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
904 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
SDC083-125-010245-
/O.CON.KFSD.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260601T0245Z/
Lincoln SD-Turner SD-
904 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND SOUTHEASTERN TURNER COUNTIES...
At 903 PM CDT, a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was
located near Centerville, or 7 miles northwest of Beresford, moving
east at 10 mph.
This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW!
HAZARD...Damaging tornado.
SOURCE...Weather spotters confirmed tornado.
IMPACT...You are in a life-threatening situation. Flying debris may
be deadly to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes
will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes,
businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction
is possible.
The tornado will be near...
Beresford around 910 PM CDT.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
To repeat, a large, extremely dangerous and potentially deadly
tornado is on the ground. To protect your life, TAKE COVER NOW! Move
to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy
building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in
a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect
yourself from flying debris.
&&
LAT...LON 4312 9693 4321 9695 4324 9665 4309 9663
4308 9672
TIME...MOT...LOC 0203Z 288DEG 9KT 4317 9686
TORNADO...OBSERVED
TORNADO DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.50 IN
$$
BP739
WWUS53 KFSD 010232
SVSFSD
Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
932 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
SDC083-125-010241-
/O.CAN.KFSD.TO.W.0025.000000T0000Z-260601T0245Z/
Lincoln SD-Turner SD-
932 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHWESTERN LINCOLN AND SOUTHEASTERN
TURNER COUNTIES IS CANCELLED...
The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain possible
and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.
However, heavy rain is still possible with this thunderstorm.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 100 AM CDT for
southeastern South Dakota.
Remember, a Severe Thunderstorm Warning still remains in effect for
southwestern Lincoln county until 945 PM CDT.
&&
LAT...LON 4312 9693 4321 9695 4324 9665 4309 9663
4308 9672
TIME...MOT...LOC 0230Z 288DEG 9KT 4315 9677
$$
SGWhat 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, 6:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 2 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
- Isolated to scattered thunderstorms should develop late this afternoon into early evening. Large hail up to half dollar and 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, 6:55 PM CDT, 2 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD Issued by National Weather Service Rapid City SD 655 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 dollar and 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...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Monday Evening) Issued At 651 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026 Isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue to be possible across the area through the early evening hours. Low stratus is expected to develop tonight over southwest Minnesota and eastern South Dakota, especially near and east of I-29. Highest confidence location for this MVFR to IFR stratus regarding the TAF sites will be at KFSD. Winds will turn light through the overnight hours, and this could also result in fog, though confidence is a bit lower in development. Additional showers and storms may develop Monday afternoon, but low confidence in development and location of these storms preclude mention in the TAFs at this time. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. IA...None. NE...None. && DISCUSSION...08 AVIATION...13
Hazardous weather outlook, May 31, 1:33 PM CDT, 7 hours 24 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, 7:38 PM CDT, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
738 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0726 PM Hail 2 WSW Humboldt 43.63N 97.12W
05/31/2026 M1.00 Inch Minnehaha SD Trained Spotter
In addition to hail up to the size of
quarters, heavy rainfall was reported.
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 7:40 PM CDT, 1 hour 17 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
740 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0733 PM Hail 4 SW Hurley 43.24N 97.15W
05/31/2026 E1.00 Inch Turner SD Fire Dept/Rescue
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 8:05 PM CDT, 52 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
805 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0754 PM Hail 2 WNW Davis 43.27N 97.04W
05/31/2026 E1.00 Inch Turner SD Public
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 8:18 PM CDT, 39 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
818 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0817 PM Hail Wakonda 43.01N 97.11W
05/31/2026 E0.88 Inch Clay SD Trained Spotter
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 8:23 PM CDT, 34 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
823 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0811 PM Tornado 4 W Wall Lake 43.53N 97.03W
05/31/2026 Minnehaha SD NWS Employee
Radar confirmed tonado.
&&
TRMLocal storm report, May 31, 8:47 PM CDT, 10 minutes before
Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
847 PM CDT Sun May 31 2026
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0845 PM Hail Davis 43.26N 97.00W
05/31/2026 E1.00 Inch Turner SD Emergency Mngr
&&
TRMThe office that day
Everything else NWS Sioux Falls, SD issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 7:06 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | McCook, Minnehaha | 39 min |
| May 31, 7:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | McCook, Minnehaha | 52 min |
| May 31, 7:23 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Lincoln, Turner | 52 min |
| May 31, 7:42 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | McCook, Minnehaha | 23 min |
| May 31, 7:50 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | Turner | 40 min |
| May 31, 7:54 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Minnehaha | 51 min |
| May 31, 8:03 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | Minnehaha | 42 min |
| May 31, 8:21 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Lincoln, Turner | 54 min |
| May 31, 8:29 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | Lincoln, Turner | 46 min |
| May 31, 8:42 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Clay, Lincoln, Turner, Yankton | 63 min |
| May 31, 8:43 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | Minnehaha | 32 min |
| May 31, 9:11 PM CDT | Tornado Warning | FSD | Clay, Union | 49 min |
| May 31, 9:43 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Clay, Union | 47 min |
| May 31, 11:08 PM CDT | Severe Thunderstorm Warning | FSD | Union | 52 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; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.