Damaging Wind in South Dakota, July 21, 2012

Name: Damaging Wind in South Dakota, July 21, 2012
Start: 2012-07-21T22:30
End: 2012-07-21T22:30
Location: South Dakota

July 21, 2012 · NWS UNR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A cluster of thunderstorms over south central South Dakota produced wind gusts near 60 mph over portions of Todd County.

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: 1

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 cluster of thunderstorms over south central South Dakota produced wind gusts near 60 mph over portions of Todd County.

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 Jul 21, 7:30 PM CST, 3 hours earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 21, 7:30 PM CST, 3 hours before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
730 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

.AVIATION...00Z TAFS
SCT-ISO THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHEASTERN WY INTO WESTERN
AND CENTRAL SD...LASTING INTO THE EVENING. SOME STORMS COULD BE
SEVERE PRODUCING DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL. OTHERWISE...VFR
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE AVIATION FORECAST PERIOD. A
CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE FORECAST AREA SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 148 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012/

DISCUSSION...19Z SURFACE ANALYSIS HAD LOW NEAR WHITE RIVER WITH
BOUNDARY TO THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST...EXTENDING WEST INTO WY
AND THEN BACK NORTH INTO SOUTH CENTRAL MT. 60S DEW POINTS WRAPPING
AROUND LOW BEHIND BOUNDARY INTO WESTERN SD WITH MOISTURE JUST
BELOW CUSTER PER 53F DEW POINT AT KCUT. LATEST SPC MESOANALYSIS
HAD 1-2KJ/KG MLCAPE OVER WESTERN SD WITH CAP SLOWLY ERODING. 18Z
RAP SHOWED CAP EROSION CONTINUING THIS AFTERNOON...WORKING SOUTHWEST
INTO THE BLACK HILLS/NORTHEAST WY. WATER VAPOUR LOOP HAD MONSOONAL
MOISTURE PLUME STREAMING OVER THE CWA WITH A COUPLE OF EMBEDDED
SHORTWAVES. AS SOLAR INSOLATION CONTINUES THIS AFTERNOON AND
SHORTWAVES APPROACH...EXPECT TSRA TO ERUPT OVER THE WEST AND
SPREAD EAST THIS EVENING. 0-6KM BULK SHEAR PROFILES SUPPORTIVE OF
SUPERCELLS AND SUBSEQUENT LARGE HAIL/DAMAGING WIND THREAT. WIND
THREAT MORE LIKELY ALONG THE SURFACE BOUNDARY IN FAR SOUTH CENTRAL
SD. CONVECTIVE CLUSTER WILL MOVE EAST OVERNIGHT WITH MAJORITY OF
SYSTEM EXITING CWA BY 06Z. TEMPERATURES NEAR GUIDANCE TONIGHT.

SUNDAY/MONDAY...UPPER RIDGE WILL REMAIN OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS
SUNDAY AND THEN FLATTEN SOME BY MONDAY AS UPPER LOW MOVES FROM WA
INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA MONDAY. SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL
SUPPORT THERMAL RIDGE ACROSS THE CWA AND A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES.
SURFACE BOUNDARY CURRENTLY OVER CWA WILL SLOWLY LIFT NORTH SUNDAY
IN THE WEST AND THEN PUSH EAST INTO FAR WESTERN SD MONDAY. THE
RESULT WILL BE A DAILY CHANCE OF TSRA...SOME OF WHICH WILL BE
ACTIVE/SEVERE AT TIMES. HOT TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE.

EXTENDED...A STRONG UPPER LOW MOVING EASTWARD THROUGH SOUTHERN
CANADA DURING THE MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK WILL TRIGGER SOME
ADJUSTMENTS IN THE CENTRAL U.S. UPPER RIDGE POSITION.  THE RIDGE IS
FORECAST TO LOSE A LITTLE AMPLITUDE AND SHIFT WESTWARD BRIEFLY TO
THE CONTDVD FOR WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.  THIS CHANGE PUTS THE
FORECAST AREA UNDER A SLIGHTLY MORE ACTIVE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT...BUT
NO MAJOR WEATHER SYSTEMS ARE APPARENT IN THE MODELS AT THIS TIME.
THE RIDGE IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO NEAR ITS CURRENT POSITION BY THE
END OF THE WEEK...REESTABLISHING THE VERY HOT AIRMASS OVER THE
PLAINS STATES.  THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE DURING THE
TRANSITION LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WHEN A FEW WEAK IMPULSES
GET SQUEEZED OUT ACROSS THE DAKOTAS BETWEEN THE UPPER LOW IN CANADA
AND THE HIGH CENTER OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES.  TEMPERATURES WILL
REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...NONE.
WY...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM...WFO UNR
LONG TERM....WFO UNR
AVIATION...BARDALAMAS

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 21, 11:11 AM CST, 11 hours 19 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
1111 AM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ054>058-
071-221300-
BENNETT-BUTTE-CENTRAL BLACK HILLS-CUSTER CO PLAINS-FALL RIVER-HAAKON-
HARDING-HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-JACKSON-MELLETTE-NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
NORTHERN BLACK HILLS-NORTHERN CAMPBELL-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS-
NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-PERKINS-RAPID CITY-
SHANNON-SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS-SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-TODD-TRIPP-
WESTERN CROOK-WESTON-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-ZIEBACH-
1111 AM MDT (1211 PM CDT) SAT JUL 21 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND
NORTHEASTERN WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP OVER NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND
WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON AND SPREAD EAST THIS EVENING.
THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER FAR
NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND FAR WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. DAMAGING WINDS
AND LARGE HAIL WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT.

HOT WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...WITH HEAT INDEX READINGS
OF 100 TO 105 DEGREES OVER PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. WIDESPREAD
SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 21, 7:15 PM CST, 3 hours 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
715 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0600 PM     HAIL             1 E BUCKHORN            44.15N 104.08W
07/21/2012  E1.00 INCH       WESTON             WY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL COVERED ROAD ABOUT 6 INCHES DEEP, ESTIMATED WIND
            GUSTS OF 50 MPH

&&

JBARDALA

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 7:48 PM CST, 2 hours 42 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
748 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

SDZ027-041-220230-
FALL RIVER SD-SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS SD-
748 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR FALL RIVER COUNTY UNTIL 830 PM
MDT...

AT 747 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES WEST OF PROVO...OR 10 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
EDGEMONT...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
PROVO AROUND 755 PM MDT.
EDGEMONT AROUND 800 PM MDT.
ANGOSTURA RESERVOIR AROUND 820 PM MDT.
MAVERICK JUNCTION AROUND 825 PM MDT.
ORAL AROUND 830 PM MDT.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4310 10407 4324 10407 4348 10356 4347 10302
      4332 10300 4305 10403
TIME...MOT...LOC 0148Z 246DEG 41KT 4318 10392

CARPENTER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 8:22 PM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
822 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0815 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 SW OGLALA             43.13N 102.80W
07/21/2012  E60 MPH          SHANNON            SD   PUBLIC

&&

ME

Special weather statement, Jul 21, 8:26 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
826 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

SDZ026-028-031-220315-
CENTRAL BLACK HILLS SD-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS SD-RAPID CITY SD-
826 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL PENNINGTON COUNTY UNTIL
915 PM MDT...

AT 824 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR ROCKERVILLE...OR 9 MILES SOUTHWEST OF
DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY...MOVING EAST AT 20 MPH.

HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE
EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT
DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.

THIS STORM WILL BE NEAR...
RAPID CITY AIRPORT AROUND 910 PM MDT.

THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV
STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS...FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

TORRENTIAL RAIN...WHICH MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES AND
UNDERPASSES...IS ALSO LIKELY. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ON A FLOODED
ROADWAY.

&&

LAT...LON 4408 10306 4395 10300 4390 10339 4399 10344
TIME...MOT...LOC 0226Z 257DEG 17KT 4398 10331

CARPENTER

Local storm report, Jul 21, 9:34 PM CST, 56 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
934 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0918 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 E PORCUPINE           43.23N 102.23W
07/21/2012  E60 MPH          SHANNON            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

ME

Local storm report, Jul 21, 10:23 PM CST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
1023 PM MDT SAT JUL 21 2012

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0551 PM     TSTM WND GST     2 NE SUNDANCE           44.43N 104.35W
07/21/2012  E60 MPH          CROOK              WY   PUBLIC

&&

JBARDALA

The radar

The North Platte radar (KLNX), 158 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Todd

When: July 21, 10:30 PM CST
Where: Todd County, 6 mi W of Parmelee
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 43.320, -101.139

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

Every storm in South Dakota in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, July 2012

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: 389501.