South Dakota, 2001

Damaging Winds in South Dakota, May 1, 2001

May 1, 2001 · NWS UNR · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

A potent upper level short wave was moving across eastern Montana and into northwestern South Dakota. With a moist and unstable atmosphere in place, a line of thunderstorms developed along the Montana and Wyoming border and moved into northwestern South Dakota.

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
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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 potent upper level short wave was moving across eastern Montana and into northwestern South Dakota. With a moist and unstable atmosphere in place, a line of thunderstorms developed along the Montana and Wyoming border and moved into northwestern South Dakota. Strong outflow from these thunderstorms produced a strong and persistent gust front that moved across northwestern South Dakota.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Rapid City, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 30, 8:10 PM MST, 5 hours 34 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 30, 8:10 PM MST, 5 hours 34 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
910 PM MDT MON APR 30 2001

CURRENT FCST ON TRACK. WL UPDATE FOR TIMING OF CLOUDS AND WL TWEEK
WINDSa ABIT.

.UNR...NONE.

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 172 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:37 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harding

When
May 1, 1:44 AM MST to 2:24 AM MST
Where
Harding County, Buffalo
Measured
66 kt (76 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
45.583, -103.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Butte

When
May 1, 2:19 AM MST
Where
Butte County, Belle Fourche
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.667, -103.867

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When
May 1, 2:30 AM MST
Where
Lawrence County, Deadwood
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.383, -103.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
May 1, 2:40 AM MST
Where
Meade County, Sturgis
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
44.417, -103.500

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2001Every state in 2001This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, May 2001

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: 5246913, 5246912, 5246914, 5246915.