South Dakota, 1999

Flooding in South Dakota, May 9 to 31, 1999

May 9 to 31, 1999 · NWS FSD · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

following generally heavy rains in the middle and upper portions of the basin from the end of April through the 10th of May. Crests at the gaging stations were 2 to 3 feet above flood stage.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 FSD wrote it up.

Minor to moderate flooding occurred on the lower and middle portions of the James River...following generally heavy rains in the middle and upper portions of the basin from the end of April through the 10th of May. Crests at the gaging stations were 2 to 3 feet above flood stage. Significant damage was not reported other than flooded cropland and other lowland near the river. Damage due to the inability to plant crops could not be determined.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Beadle

When
May 9, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Beadle forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
44.415, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sanborn

When
May 11, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Sanborn forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
44.023, -98.091 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Davison

When
May 12, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Davison forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.675, -98.146 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hanson

When
May 12, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hanson forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.675, -97.787 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hutchinson

When
May 12, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Hutchinson forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.335, -97.754 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Yankton

When
May 12, 6:00 AM CST to May 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Yankton forecast zone
Reported by
OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates
43.009, -97.395 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, May 1999

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5693410, 5693414, 5693411, 5693412, 5693413, 5693415.