Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 27, 2015

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 27, 2015
Start: 2015-07-27T13:28
End: 2015-07-27T16:35
Location: South Dakota

July 27, 2015 · NWS UNR · 14 events in 3 counties and zones

A severe thunderstorm developed over the northeast slopes of the Black Hills and tracked northeastward across portions of northwest South Dakota, with many reports of large hail and strong wind gusts across northeastern Lawrence and western Meade Counties.

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: 14

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.

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 27, 1:06 PM MST, 22 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 27, 1:06 PM MST, 22 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR WESTERN SD AND NORTHEASTERN WY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
206 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

.SHORT TERM...THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT
ISSUED AT 144 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

WATER VAPOR SHOWS INTENSE UPPER LOW OVER NRN ID WITH STRONG SHORT
WAVE EJECTING NEWD THRU WY. AT THE SFC...LOW CENTER IS OVER SERN
MT WITH TROF EXTENDING SWD THROUGH ERN WY...AND CDFNT LAGGING
BEHIND ABOUT 100NM. ELEVATED CONVECTION HAS BEEN ONGOING ACRS ERN
WY AND IS BEGINNING TO ROOT IN THE BL EARLY THIS AFTN.

THIS AFTN/TONIGHT...EXPECT CONVECTION TO CONTINUE FIRING ALONG SFC
TROF AS IT ADVANCES FROM ERN WY INTO WRN SD. CAP IS STILL IN PLACE
ACRS THE WRN SD PLAINS...BUT WILL ERODE AS THE AFTN PROGRESSES WHERE
MLCAPE IN THE 1000-2000J/KG IS EXPECTED AND EFFECTIVE BULK SHEAR
RANGES FROM 30-50KTS. WHILE A FEW STRONG TO SVR STORMS ARE
POSSIBLE IN NERN WY...THE BEST CONVECTIVE PARAMETERS RESIDE OVER
WRN SD AND ESPECIALLY INTO NWRN SD. ACTIVITY WILL QUICKLY
PROGRESS THROUGH THE CWFA THIS EVENING AND END IN MOST PLACES BY
MIDNIGHT. AS THE CDFNT SURGES INTO THE CWFA LATE THIS
AFTN/EVE...EXPECT A PERIOD OF GUSTY NW WINDS GIVEN 4-8MB/3HR PRES
RISES. WINDS MAY BRIEFLY RISE INTO THE ADVISORY CATEGORY WHEN THE
CDFNT FIRST PUSHES THROUGH...BUT ARE NOT EXPECTED TO LAST VERY
LONG SO WILL NOT ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY AT THIS TIME.

TUESDAY...DRY AND MUCH COOLER AIR WILL WORK ACRS THE CWFA WITH
STACKED UPPER LOW TRACKING EWD ALONG THE CNDN/ND BORDER. 850MB
WINDS WILL INCREASE INTO THE 40-50KT RANGE ACRS NWRN SD...WITH
GOOD MIXING RESULTING IN ADVISORY/WARNING TYPE WINDS AND WILL KEEP
THE HIGH WIND WATCH IN PLACE. HIGH TEMPS IN THE 70S TO LOWER
80S...GENERALLY 60S IN THE BLKHLS.

.LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY
ISSUED AT 144 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

REGION WILL REMAIN UNDER NORTHWEST FLOW FOR THE REST OF
THE WEEK AS UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN CONUS...RESULTING IN
MAINLY DRY WEATHER AND A GRADUAL WARMING TREND. A COUPLE WEAK
DISTURBANCES MAY RESULT IN SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND STORMS OVER THE
SOUTHERN CWA THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL BE NEAR TO SLIGHTLY
ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

&&

.AVIATION...FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z TUESDAY
ISSUED AT 144 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

THUNDERSTORMS WILL REDEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON AS A STRONG
SYSTEM CROSSES THE REGION. MVFR CONDS WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH TS AS
WELL AS LARGE HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH
THROUGH THE REGION TONIGHT WITH GUSTY NW WINDS DEVELOPING TONIGHT.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
ISSUED AT 144 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

A DEEP UPPER LOW WILL MOVE ACROSS MT/ND TNGT AND TUES. AHEAD OF
THE LOW...VERY WARM SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO BRING DRIER
AIR INTO NERN WY. GUSTY SOUTH WINDS...HIGH TEMPERATURES...AND LOW
HUMIDITIES WILL CONTINUE RED FLAG CONDITIONS INTO THE EVNG. ISOLD-
SCT TSRA ALSO WILL CROSS THE AERA...AND COULD RESULT IN DRY
LIGHTNING BEFORE THEY MOVE INTO WRN SD. A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP
ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT BRINGING GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS.

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...HIGH WIND WATCH FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING
     FOR SDZ001-002-012>014-073.
WY...RED FLAG WARNING UNTIL MIDNIGHT MDT TONIGHT FOR
     WYZ259-297-298.

&&

SHORT TERM...JOHNSON
LONG TERM...13
AVIATION...13
FIRE WEATHER...13

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 27, 2:12 AM MST, 11 hours 16 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
312 AM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ054>058-
071-281300-
HARDING-PERKINS-BUTTE-NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-ZIEBACH-
NORTHERN BLACK HILLS-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS-RAPID CITY-
SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS-CENTRAL BLACK HILLS-SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS-
CUSTER CO PLAINS-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-HAAKON-FALL RIVER-SHANNON-
JACKSON-BENNETT-MELLETTE-TODD-TRIPP-STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-NORTHERN CAMPBELL-
SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-WESTERN CROOK-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-WESTON-
NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
312 AM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

...RED FLAG WARNING FOR NORTHEASTERN WYOMING THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING...
...HIGH WIND WATCH FOR NORTHWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA TUESDAY...

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OVER NORTHEASTERN
WYOMING THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN MOVE ACROSS WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE
STORMS ACROSS THE AREA...WITH AN ENHANCED RISK OF SEVERE STORMS
OVER NORTHWESTERN INTO WEST-CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA. LARGE HAIL...
DAMAGING WINDS...AND A FEW TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE STORMS
SHOULD EXIT THE AREA AROUND MIDNIGHT.

TODAY ALSO WILL BE HOT...DRY...AND WINDY ACROSS NORTHEASTERN
WYOMING...AND THEN A COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP THROUGH THE AREA EARLY
THIS EVENING. WHEN COMBINED WITH DRY FUELS...THIS WILL LEAD TO
CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR WILDFIRE GROWTH...AND THUS A RED FLAG
WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE PLAINS OF NORTHEASTERN WYOMING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

VERY STRONG AND GUSTY WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY
BEHIND A COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHWESTERN
SOUTH DAKOTA...WHERE GUSTS TO 60 MPH MAY OCCUR.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR FURTHER DETAILS OR UPDATES...
OR CHECK OUR WEB SITE AT WEATHER.GOV/RAPIDCITY

BUNKERS

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 27, 1:20 PM MST, 8 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jul 27, 1:23 PM MST, 5 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
223 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

SDZ024-025-072-073-272100-
NORTHERN FOOT HILLS SD-NORTHERN BLACK HILLS SD-
SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS SD-STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS SD-
223 PM MDT MON JUL 27 2015

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL LAWRENCE AND WEST CENTRAL
MEADE COUNTIES UNTIL 300 PM MDT...

AT 223 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER
CENTRAL CITY...OR OVER LEAD...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

NICKEL SIZE HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
SPEARFISH...STURGIS...LEAD...DEADWOOD...WHITEWOOD...SAINT ONGE...
CENTRAL CITY...BROWNSVILLE...GALENA...CHEYENNE CROSSING...SPEARFISH
CANYON...BEAR BUTTE STATE PARK...TERRY PEAK AND FORT MEADE.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 IN SOUTH DAKOTA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 9
AND 37.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FREQUENT CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING IS OCCURRING WITH THIS STORM.
LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE 15 MILES AWAY FROM A THUNDERSTORM. SEEK A SAFE
SHELTER INSIDE A BUILDING OR VEHICLE.

&&

LAT...LON 4441 10400 4461 10381 4461 10361 4460 10348
      4442 10328 4418 10372
TIME...MOT...LOC 2023Z 219DEG 32KT 4436 10380

CALDERON

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 73 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lawrence

When: July 27, 1:28 PM MST to 1:38 PM MST
Where: Lawrence County, 3.53 mi WSW of Galena
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.320, -103.710

Thunderstorm Wind, Lawrence

When: July 27, 1:35 PM MST
Where: Lawrence County, 2.41 mi SW of Galena
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.310, -103.680

The spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 mph.

Hail, Lawrence

When: July 27, 1:37 PM MST to 1:52 PM MST
Where: Lawrence County, 3.67 mi E of Deadwood
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.385, -103.656

Hail, Lawrence

When: July 27, 1:45 PM MST to 2:00 PM MST
Where: Lawrence County, 4.96 mi NNE of Galena
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.391, -103.587

Hail, Meade

When: July 27, 1:54 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 2.17 mi WNW of Sturgis
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.427, -103.547

Hail, Lawrence

When: July 27, 2:00 PM MST to 2:10 PM MST
Where: Lawrence County, 4.7 mi SSE of Whitewood
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.396, -103.608

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When: July 27, 2:10 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 3.46 mi NNW of Sturgis Muni Arpt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 44.468, -103.421

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph at Bear Butte State Park.

Hail, Butte

When: July 27, 2:26 PM MST
Where: Butte County, Vale
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.620, -103.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Butte

When: July 27, 2:26 PM MST
Where: Butte County, Vale
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.620, -103.400

Strong wind gusts blew down a fence.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butte

When: July 27, 2:35 PM MST
Where: Butte County, 4.95 mi NE of Newell
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.763, -103.352

The spotter estimated wind gusts at 60 mph.

Hail, Butte

When: July 27, 2:57 PM MST to 3:02 PM MST
Where: Butte County, 4.47 mi E of Newell
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.720, -103.330

Hail, Meade

When: July 27, 3:15 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 2.08 mi WNW of Fairpoint
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.766, -102.836

Hail, Meade

When: July 27, 4:00 PM MST to 4:17 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 3.33 mi WNW of Stoneville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: SHAVE Project
Coordinates: 44.744, -102.715

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When: July 27, 4:35 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 3.41 mi N of Stoneville
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 44.779, -102.656

Six inch diameter tree branches were broken off trees onto Stoneville Road.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, July 2015

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: 593511, 592405, 593513, 592408, 593515, 592409, 593517, 593520, 593521, 593522, 593523, 593524, 593525, 593526.