Damaging Wind in South Dakota, August 8, 2016

Name: Damaging Wind in South Dakota, August 8, 2016
Start: 2016-08-08T18:30
End: 2016-08-08T18:30
Location: South Dakota

August 8, 2016 · NWS UNR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A thunderstorm briefly became severe over central Meade County and produced wind gusts to 60 mph near Union Center.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

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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 thunderstorm briefly became severe over central Meade County and produced wind gusts to 60 mph near Union Center.

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 Aug 8, 1:19 PM MST, 5 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 8, 1:19 PM MST, 5 hours 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
219 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening Through Tuesday Night)
Issued at 218 PM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016

Upper air analysis shows an upper low across the Pac NW with active
SW flow extending into the nrn Plains. A series of weak waves across
crossing WY into the CWA with storms developing over the last hour
over cntrl to ern WY. Surface analysis shows a weak and nearly
stationary cool front across nw SD as surface low pres crosses nrn
ND. South of the frontal boundary...MLCAPE is ranging from 1000 to
2500 J/kg over cntrl SD to the Black Hills and ne WY. Storms will
continue to develop over the next few hours and cross the CWA
through the late afternoon/evening hours. HRRR/NAM shows storms
developing across ne WY and the Black Hills...moving east into the
SD plains east of the Hills. Shear is strong enough for a few storms
to become strong to severe. Storms will shift east of the CWA late
this evening with activity quieting down overnight. Upper low will
drift eastward into the nrn Rockies Tuesday with sw flow aloft
deepening over the nrn Plains. Surface low is progged to develop
across the WY/MT border and approaching wrn SD through the day.
Gusty sw flow will develop across ne WY into the BH and sw SD with a
dry line pushing through into the SD plains east of the BH. Models
showing the best instability will be within this axis of moisture
extending into nw SD and the nrn BH...which is where the focus of
convection is likely to be along with the best shear. At this time
expecting storms to develop in the afternoon across the BH...then
transition into nw SD and east of the CWA as the dry line continues
to push through. Strong shear will likely make some of these storms
severe especially through the evening hours. Highs Tuesday will
reach well into the 90s...then drop to the 60s to lower 70s for
overnight lows.

.LONG TERM...(Wednesday Through Monday)
Issued at 218 PM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016

The upper low/trough located over the western CONUS on Wednesday
will shift east into the northern plains on Thursday. The surface
low will be centered over western SD on Wednesday afternoon,
moving eastward across South Dakota into Wednesday night and then
lifting into northern WI by 12z Friday. Significant instability
will be present Wednesday with shear sufficient for severe
thunderstorms over parts of western South Dakota on Wednesday
afternoon and evening. Less instability will be present on
Thursday, but the combination of frontal boundaries and synoptic
forcing will be sufficient for another chance of showers and
thunderstorms both Thursday and Friday. Temperatures Wednesday
will be hot with be noticeably cooler high temps on Thursday and
Friday. The upper ridge will build over the area again bringing
dry weather for the weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Tuesday)
Issued At 218 PM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016

VFR conditions expected today and tonight. Isolated to scattered
thunderstorms will develop this afternoon and evening with locally
gusty winds.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued At 218 PM MDT Mon Aug 8 2016

A dry and hot airmass will settle over much of northeasten WY
Tuesday afternoon, behind a dry line and ahead of a cold front
located to the north of the area. Relative humidities will drop to
10 to 15 percent across much of the northeasten WY plains. Winds
will become southwesterly in the afternoon, with breezy conditions
expected, especially near and south of Interstate 90. Red flag
conditions could develop during the afternoon and persist into the
early evening. A fire weather watch has been issued for the
northeastern WY plains for Tuesday afternoon and early evening.

&&

.UNR Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
SD...None.
WY...Fire Weather Watch from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday
     evening for WYZ259-297-298.

&&

SHORT TERM...13
LONG TERM...10
AVIATION...10
FIRE WEATHER...10

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 8, 5:49 AM MST, 12 hours 41 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
649 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016

WYZ054>056-058-071-091300-
NORTHERN CAMPBELL-SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-WESTERN CROOK-WESTON-
NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
649 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
THE AREA. THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS LATE THIS
AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. THE MAIN THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE
STORMS WILL BE STRONG WIND GUSTS...WITH HAIL ALSO POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

A FIRE WEATHER WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EARLY
EVENING. A VERY DRY AND HOT AIRMASS WILL SETTLE OVER MUCH OF
NORTHEAST WYOMING TUESDAY AFTERNOON...BEHIND A DRY LINE AND AHEAD
OF A COLD FRONT TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL
DROP TO 10 TO 15 PERCENT ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHEAST WYOMING
PLAINS. WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST IN THE
AFTERNOON...WITH BREEZY CONDITIONS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY NEAR AND
SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 90. CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD
DEVELOP DURING THE AFTERNOON AND PERSIST INTO THE EARLY EVENING.

THERE IS A DAILY CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA
THIS WEEK. THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ACROSS FAR
NORTHEAST WYOMING LATE TUESDAY...WITH STRONG WIND GUSTS THE MAIN
THREAT FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

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

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ057-
091300-
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-
OGLALA LAKOTA-JACKSON-BENNETT-MELLETTE-TODD-TRIPP-
STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-
HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-
649 AM MDT MON AUG 8 2016 /749 AM CDT MON AUG 8 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
SOUTH DAKOTA...THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA...WESTERN SOUTH
DAKOTA...AND THE BLACK HILLS OF WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS
THE AREA. THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS...WITH THE
MAIN THREATS FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS BEING LARGE HAIL AND STRONG
WIND GUSTS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY

THERE IS A DAILY CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA
THIS WEEK. THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING FROM NORTHWEST TO WEST CENTRAL SOUTH
DAKOTA...WITH LARGE HAIL AND STRONG WIND GUSTS THE MAIN THREATS
FROM ANY SEVERE STORMS. A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS IS
EXPECTED OVER THE REST OF THE AREA ON TUESDAY. THERE IS ALSO A
MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ON WEDNESDAY TO THE EAST OF THE
BLACK HILLS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 8, 5:40 PM MST, 50 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
640 PM MDT MON AUG 08 2016

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

0639 PM     TSTM WND GST     RAPID CITY AIRPORT      44.05N 103.06W
08/08/2016  M83 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   ASOS

            VERIFIED WITH TOWER

&&

FFF

Local storm report, Aug 8, 6:02 PM MST, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
702 PM MDT MON AUG 08 2016

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

0650 PM     TSTM WND GST     12 E OELRICHS           43.19N 103.00W
08/08/2016  M67 MPH          FALL RIVER         SD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

FFF

Local storm report, Aug 8, 6:03 PM MST, 27 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
703 PM MDT MON AUG 08 2016

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

0653 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 WNW NEW UNDERWOOD     44.12N 102.93W
08/08/2016  M58 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

KCLARK

Special weather statement, Aug 8, 6:11 PM MST, 19 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
711 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016

SDZ031-032-042>044-090200-
PENNINGTON CO PLAINS SD-OGLALA LAKOTA SD-HAAKON SD-BENNETT SD-
JACKSON SD-
711 PM MDT MON AUG 8 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL BENNETT...
NORTHEASTERN OGLALA LAKOTA...WESTERN JACKSON...SOUTHEASTERN
PENNINGTON AND SOUTHWESTERN HAAKON COUNTIES UNTIL 800 PM MDT...

AT 711 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ALONG
A LINE EXTENDING FROM BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK TO NEAR ROCKYFORD.
MOVEMENT WAS EAST AT 40 MPH.

DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF 50 TO 55 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THESE STORMS.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
PHILIP...KYLE...WALL...POTATO CREEK...INTERIOR...SCENIC...QUINN...
HISLE...CEDAR PASS...ROCKYFORD...CACTUS FLAT...COTTONWOOD...
MINUTEMAN MISSILE SITE...MINUTEMAN MISSILE SILO...
BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK AND PINNACLES RANGER STATION.

THIS INCLUDES INTERSTATE 90 IN SOUTH DAKOTA BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 110
AND 144.

LAT...LON 4407 10161 4334 10170 4348 10265 4397 10259
TIME...MOT...LOC 0111Z 274DEG 34KT 4390 10243 4354 10248

CALDERON

Local storm report, Aug 8, 6:23 PM MST, 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
723 PM MDT MON AUG 08 2016

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

0710 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 NNW SCENIC            43.82N 102.58W
08/08/2016  M53 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

FFF

Local storm report, Aug 8, 6:24 PM MST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
724 PM MDT MON AUG 08 2016

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

0720 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 E WICKSVILLE          44.10N 102.50W
08/08/2016  M78 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

FFF

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 49 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When: August 8, 6:30 PM MST
Where: Meade County, 3 mi W of Union Center
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.560, -102.731

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 2016 Every state in 2016 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, August 2016

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: 653733.