South Dakota, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 23 to 24, 1997

June 23 to 24, 1997 · NWS UNR · 7 events in 1 county or zone

A severe thunderstorm with hail and winds up to 90 mph move through northwest South Dakota during the overnight hours. A roof was blown off a building, numerous power poles were downed, trees were stripped of big branches and many area farmers lost their crops due to wind driven hail.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$15,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS UNR wrote it up.

A severe thunderstorm with hail and winds up to 90 mph move through northwest South Dakota during the overnight hours. A roof was blown off a building, numerous power poles were downed, trees were stripped of big branches and many area farmers lost their crops due to wind driven hail. The crop damage over Perkins county could be seen on visible satellite images days after the event.

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 160 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:37 UTC.

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Event by event

5 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:40 PM MST to 11:50 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, 6 mi E of Bison
Measured
74 kt (85 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
45.520, -102.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:45 PM MST to 11:55 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, Meadow
Measured
74 kt (85 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
$25,000
Coordinates
45.530, -102.220

Crops were destroyed from wind driven hail.

Hail, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:45 PM MST to 11:55 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, Meadow
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.530, -102.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:50 PM MST to June 24, 12:05 AM MST
Where
Perkins County, 1 mi N of Meadow
Measured
74 kt (85 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
45.550, -102.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:50 PM MST to June 24, 12:05 AM MST
Where
Perkins County, 1 mi N of Meadow
Measured
75 kt (86 mph)
Crop damage
$25,000
Coordinates
45.550, -102.220

Crops were destroyed from wind driven hail.

Hail, Perkins

When
June 23, 11:52 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, 3 mi N of Meadow
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.580, -102.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
June 24, 12:00 AM MST to 12:05 AM MST
Where
Perkins County, 6 mi N of Meadow
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.620, -102.220

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, June 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5603726, 5603727, 5603728, 5603729, 5603809, 5603810, 5603811.