Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, May 24, 2010

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, May 24, 2010
Start: 2010-05-24T00:00
End: 2010-05-24T20:35
Location: South Dakota

May 24, 2010 · NWS ABR · 45 events in 17 counties and zones

A strong surface low pressure area lifting northward across the western plains along with a strong warm front surging northward brought many severe thunderstorms to the region. Large hail up to the size of golfballs along with damaging winds up to 80 to 90 mph affected parts of central and north central 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 45

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 ABR wrote it up.

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 Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 23, 2:42 PM CST, 9 hours 18 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 23, 2:42 PM CST, 9 hours 18 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 23, 4:33 AM CST, 19 hours 27 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
533 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2010

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-241045-
TRAVERSE-BIG STONE-CORSON-CAMPBELL-MCPHERSON-BROWN-MARSHALL-
ROBERTS-WALWORTH-EDMUNDS-DAY-DEWEY-POTTER-FAULK-SPINK-CLARK-
CODINGTON-GRANT-HAMLIN-DEUEL-STANLEY-SULLY-HUGHES-HYDE-HAND-JONES-
LYMAN-BUFFALO-
533 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2010 /433 AM MDT SUN MAY 23 2010/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA...NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHEAST SOUTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO FORM ACROSS THE AREA
LATE TONIGHT...SOME OF WHICH MAY BECOME SEVERE. THE BIGGEST THREAT
FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE LIKELY AGAIN ON MONDAY AND MONDAY EVENING AS
WELL. SEVERE STORMS ARE ALSO A GOOD POSSIBILITY. THUNDERSTORMS ARE
ALSO IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BUT THE
SEVERE THREAT DURING THIS TIME DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AS GREAT.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED TODAY OR TONIGHT.

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 120 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:58 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 thunderstorm wind, 19 hail, 1 funnel cloud. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Codington

When: May 24, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Codington County, Watertown
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.900, -97.100

Hail, Hughes

When: May 24, 12:14 AM CST
Where: Hughes County, 0.85 mi SE of Pierre
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.360, -100.320

Hail, Hughes

When: May 24, 12:20 AM CST
Where: Hughes County, Pierre
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.370, -100.330

Hail, Brown

When: May 24, 12:47 AM CST
Where: Brown County, Groton
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 45.450, -98.100

Hail, Buffalo

When: May 24, 12:10 PM CST
Where: Buffalo County, 4.48 mi W of Shelby
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.950, -99.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: May 24, 12:40 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 0.49 mi W of Miller
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.520, -98.990

Fifty-nine mph winds were measured by the emergency manager in Miller.

Hail, Lyman

When: May 24, 1:10 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 3.72 mi NE of Kennebec
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.940, -99.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulk

When: May 24, 1:25 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, 4.17 mi S of Chelsea
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.110, -98.740

Seventy mph winds were estimated south of Chelsea.

Hail, Faulk

When: May 24, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, 1.47 mi SSE of Chelsea
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 45.150, -98.740

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: May 24, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 9 mi N of Kennebec
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.030, -99.860

Sixty mph winds were estimated north of Kennebec.

Hail, Buffalo

When: May 24, 3:05 PM CST
Where: Buffalo County, 11.07 mi N of Gann Vly
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates: 44.190, -98.990

Hail, Buffalo

When: May 24, 3:13 PM CST
Where: Buffalo County, 7.32 mi WNW of Gann Vly
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.080, -99.130

Hail, Lyman

When: May 24, 3:16 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 0.85 mi NW of Vivian
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.930, -100.290

Hail, Edmunds

When: May 24, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 0.69 mi S of Ipswich
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.440, -99.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: May 24, 3:45 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 3.45 mi W of Miller
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.520, -99.050

A semi was tipped over and damaged by seventy mph winds west of Miller.

Hail, Hughes

When: May 24, 3:54 PM CST
Where: Hughes County, 0.49 mi E of Pierre
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.370, -100.320

Hail, Hughes

When: May 24, 3:57 PM CST
Where: Hughes County, 0.49 mi E of Pierre
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.370, -100.320

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: May 24, 3:57 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 2.4 mi SW of Polo
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.760, -99.140

Seventy mph winds ripped some steel off an outbuilding and also took the deck off of the house.

Hail, Edmunds

When: May 24, 4:00 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 0.69 mi S of Ipswich
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.440, -99.030

Hail, Edmunds

When: May 24, 4:06 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 11.28 mi NNE of Ipswich Taylor Arpt
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.590, -98.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulk

When: May 24, 4:09 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, Faulkton
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 45.030, -99.130

Eighty mph winds downed many trees in Faulkton along with damaging shingles and the roofs of several buildings. The high winds also caused power outages in Faulkton for several hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulk

When: May 24, 4:09 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, 4.23 mi NW of Orient
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.950, -99.130

Sixty mph winds occurred south of Faulkton with no damage reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulk

When: May 24, 4:10 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, Faulkton
Measured: 64 kt (74 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.030, -99.130

Thunderstorm Wind, Edmunds

When: May 24, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 4.15 mi S of Ipswich
Measured: 78 kt (90 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.390, -99.030

A ninety mph wind was measured at Pembrook Colony.

Thunderstorm Wind, Edmunds

When: May 24, 4:30 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 0.69 mi S of Ipswich
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.440, -99.030

Eighty mph winds downed many trees in Ipswich.

Funnel Cloud, Potter

When: May 24, 4:41 PM CST
Where: Potter County, 5.56 mi WNW of Gorman
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.940, -100.190

Hail, McPherson

When: May 24, 4:41 PM CST
Where: McPherson County, 0.48 mi E of Leola
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.720, -98.940

Thunderstorm Wind, Potter

When: May 24, 4:58 PM CST
Where: Potter County, 13.62 mi NW of Gettysburg
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.150, -100.160

Sixty mph winds were estimated by the public.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: May 24, 5:30 PM CST
Where: Campbell County, Pollock
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: County Official
Coordinates: 45.900, -100.280

Sixty-five mph winds were estimated in Pollock.

Hail, Stanley

When: May 24, 4:50 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 4.94 mi E of Hayes Airstrip
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.370, -100.900

Hail, Stanley

When: May 24, 4:52 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 5.1 mi SE of Hayes Airstrip
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.310, -100.940

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: May 24, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Jones County, 1.65 mi ESE of Draper
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.910, -100.500

Seventy mph winds overturned a semi truck on Interstate-90 east of Draper.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanley

When: May 24, 5:01 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 4.94 mi E of Hayes Airstrip
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.370, -100.900

Sixty mph winds downed several tree branches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: May 24, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Campbell County, 1.19 mi NE of Mound City
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.730, -100.050

Sixty mph winds were estimated near Mound City.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanley

When: May 24, 5:32 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 3.71 mi NW of Ft Pierre
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.390, -100.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Hughes

When: May 24, 6:38 PM CST
Where: Hughes County, (Pir)pierre Arpt
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 44.380, -100.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Corson

When: May 24, 5:57 PM MST
Where: Corson County, 2.81 mi N of Little Eagle
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.710, -100.810

Sixty-five mph winds occurred south of McLaughlin along Highway 63.

Hail, Corson

When: May 24, 6:05 PM MST
Where: Corson County, 1.19 mi NE of Little Eagle
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.680, -100.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: May 24, 7:05 PM CST
Where: Walworth County, (Y26)mobridge Arpt
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 45.550, -100.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Hughes

When: May 24, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Hughes County, 12 mi SSW of Harrold
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.359, -99.823

A horse trailer carrying two horses was pushed to the side by the high winds in southeast Hughes county. The leaning horse trailer caused the pickup pulling it to lift off the ground. The horse trailer hit the side of the pickup and damaged it.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: May 24, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Walworth County, 8 mi WSW of Selby
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 45.456, -100.183

Eighty mph winds southwest of Selby destroyed a 60 by 120 foot pole barn and took off the top half of a silo. Two grain bins were also blown away along with several trees uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: May 24, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 0.49 mi W of Highmore
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.520, -99.440

Thunderstorm Wind, Edmunds

When: May 24, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 4.38 mi SW of Mina
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.390, -98.840

Thunderstorm Wind, Edmunds

When: May 24, 8:18 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 4.38 mi SW of Mina
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.390, -98.840

Thunderstorm Wind, Spink

When: May 24, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Spink County, Mellette
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.150, -98.500

The birdnest at the high school football field was blown down along with numerous branches downed in town.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Funnel Cloud: A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2010 Every state in 2010 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, May 2010

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: 236281, 236283, 236284, 236286, 236287, 236310, 236288, 236716, 236290, 236717, 236292, 236293, 236294, 236295, 236305, 236296, 236297, 236306, 236298, 236299, 236307, 236698, 236701, 236702, 236703, 236278, 236300, 236715, 237689, 236301, 236302, 236308, 236705, 236712, 236706, 236708, 236709, 236303, 236710, 237692, and more.