A long-lived supercell thunderstorm developed over western Haakon County and moved south-southeast across south central South Dakota. Very large hail was reported in some areas, along with strong wind gusts, and a small tornado near Philip.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS UNR wrote it up.
A long-lived supercell thunderstorm developed over western Haakon County and moved south-southeast across south central South Dakota. Very large hail was reported in some areas, along with strong wind gusts, and a small tornado near Philip. The wind-driven hail caused extensive damage to houses from Corn Creek to Parmelee.
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 30, 1:13 PM MST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD 213 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 .SHORT TERM...THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT ISSUED AT 159 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 WATER VAPOR SHOWS SHORT WAVE TROF EXTENDING FROM SWRN ND/NWRN SD THROUGH SERN WY. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE IS NOTED MOVING THROUGH SCNTRL MT/NCNTRL WY. AT THE SURFACE...COLD FRONT/BOUNDARY IS PUSHING SWD THROUGH NWRN SD AND NEARING THE BLKHLS...WHERE A BROAD LOW IS LOCATED. THIS AFTN/TONIGHT...EXPECT STORMS TO CONTINUE FIRING THIS AFTN FROM AROUND THE BLKHLS EWD AS COLD FRONT CONTINUES TO PUSH SOUTH. MLCAPE OF AROUND 1500J/KG LOCATED FROM NWRN SD INTO NCNTRL NEB COMBINED WITH EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR OF 40-60KTS MORE THAN SUFFICIENT FOR STRONG ROTATING UPDRAFTS IN THAT CORRIDOR...WITH INSTABILITY AXIS SHIFTING SLOWLY EWD THIS EVE. THE UPSTREAM SHORTWAVE (NEAR THE BIGHORNS) WILL ALSO AID IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. ACTIVITY WILL LIKELY LINGER MUCH OF THE NIGHT ON THE SD PLAINS FOR BEFORE PUSHING EAST OF THE CWFA. WEDNESDAY...SURFACE HIGH BUILDS INTO THE CWFA BEHIND THIS AFTNS/TONIGHTS CONVECTION BRINGING MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS AND COOLER TEMPS. RETURN FLOW LATE IN THE DAY IN OUR WRN ZONES WILL COMBINE WITH MLCAPE AROUND 500J/KG FOR A FEW LATE DAY STORMS IN NERN WY AND THE BLKHLS...ALTHOUGH SVR STORMS NOT EXPECTED. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY IS POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT IN NERN WY AND SWRN SD AS A WEAK PERTURBATION IN THE WNW FLOW ALOFT MOVES THROUGH. && .LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ISSUED AT 159 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 UNSETTLED PATTERN CONTINUES THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND AS SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES MOVE THROUGH W/NW FLOW BRINGING CONTINUED CHANCES FOR STORMS THROUGH THE PERIOD. SLIGHTLY COOLER THAN AVERAGE TEMPS WILL REMAIN THROUGH THIS WEEK WITH A MODEST WARMING TREND POSSIBLE EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ISSUED AT 159 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING. A FEW STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE. OTHERWISE...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. WY...NONE. && SHORT TERM...JOHNSON LONG TERM...13 AVIATION...13
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD 500 AM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ054>058- 071-311300- 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- 500 AM MDT (600 AM CDT) TUE JUL 30 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHEASTERN WYOMING. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER WESTERN AND SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA INTO FAR NORTHEASTERN WYOMING. THE PRIMARY THREAT FROM THESE STORMS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...SEVERE WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED. SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN WYOMING AND SOUTHWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA... WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND GUSTS BEING THE PRIMARY THREATS. CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY WITH WIDESPREAD SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES... OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
126 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
SDZ001-012-302015-
BUTTE SD-HARDING SD-
126 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM MOVING OVER FAR NORTHERN BUTTE AND SOUTHERN
HARDING COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM MDT...
AT 123 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF REDIG...OR 26 MILES SOUTH OF
BUFFALO...MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 15 MPH.
HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
HOOVER...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY OVER THE NEXT HOUR.
&&
LAT...LON 4530 10343 4521 10316 4509 10326 4498 10346
4512 10368 4521 10378 4532 10366
TIME...MOT...LOC 1926Z 291DEG 12KT 4520 10358
BUNKERSSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
158 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
SDZ073-302045-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS SD-
158 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CENTRAL MEADE COUNTY UNTIL 245 PM MDT...
AT 155 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR UNION CENTER...OR 40 MILES NORTHWEST OF
WALL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 10 MPH.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
ELM SPRINGS...
THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN
EFFECT FOR THIS AREA.
&&
LAT...LON 4447 10278 4458 10273 4458 10250 4446 10226
4443 10229 4443 10231 4441 10231 4425 10246
TIME...MOT...LOC 1957Z 310DEG 10KT 4450 10262
BUNKERSPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
207 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0155 PM HAIL 9 W HOOVER 45.11N 103.45W
07/30/2013 M1.75 INCH BUTTE SD PUBLIC
&&
KCLARKSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD 223 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 SDZ030-031-302115- CUSTER CO PLAINS SD-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS SD- 223 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS MOVING OVER NORTHEASTERN CUSTER AND CENTRAL PENNINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 315 PM MDT... AT 220 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR FARMINGDALE...OR 16 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 20 MPH. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF NICKELS IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... FARMINGDALE... FOLSOM... THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...AND A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS AREA. && LAT...LON 4397 10245 4372 10276 4395 10307 4410 10293 TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 305DEG 19KT 4398 10290 BUNKERS
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
236 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0230 PM HAIL 7 SE ENNING 44.51N 102.46W
07/30/2013 M1.00 INCH MEADE SD PUBLIC
&&
KCLARKPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
313 PM MDT TUE JUL 30 2013
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0309 PM HAIL 3 NNE CREIGHTON 44.29N 102.18W
07/30/2013 M1.00 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
KCLARKThe Rapid City radar (KUDX), 77 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:16 UTC.
8 hail, 8 thunderstorm wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
Large hail and strong wind damaged a house, vehicles, tractors, and a baler.
The combination of large hail and wind caused extensive damage to buildings and vehicles around town.
A small tornado briefly touched down in a field southwest of Philip. It caused no damage.
Hail damaged vehicles along Interstate 90 near Kadoka.
Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
The combination of large hail and wind broke the windows of a house and caused other minor damage.
Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Dakota, 2013Warnings in South Dakota, July 2013
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: 466874, 466875, 466877, 466878, 470758, 466879, 466880, 471078, 466881, 466882, 466883, 466884, 466886, 466887, 466888, 466890, 466889.