Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, July 16, 2016

Name: Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, July 16, 2016
Start: 2016-07-16T16:30
End: 2016-07-16T18:20
Location: South Dakota

July 16, 2016 · NWS UNR · 6 events in 3 counties and zones

A cluster of severe thunderstorms developed over eastern Fall River and Oglala Lakota Counties and moved eastward into Jackson and Bennett Counties. The storms produced large hail and strong wind gusts.

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: $10,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 16, 1:40 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 16, 1:40 PM MST, 2 hours 50 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
240 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening Through Sunday Night)
Issued at 238 PM MDT Sat Jul 16 2016

20z analysis shows a 1006mb low over Eastern Wyoming. Cold front
just starting to enter the NW SD and NE WY, while a weak surface
trough is extending across portions of Southwest SD. Satellite
reveals mainly clear skies across NE WY with some convection
starting to form near the bighorns, while some low to mid level
clouds are still lingering over parts of Western SD. TCu and even
some convection have already gone up over the Black Hills and
along the cold front in NW SD at this hour.

Forecast for strong to severe thunderstorms still on track this
afternoon and evening. As mentioned earlier, convection has already
started to go up along the cold front and the Black Hills, though
convection over the Black Hills has struggled to survive. Cold front
in NW SD and NE WY will continue to move southeast across the CWA
through the rest of the day. The front, surface trough, and any old
outflow boundaries from this morning's convection will serve as a
focal point for additional convection across the region this
afternoon as cap slowly erodes.

More storms will move into the NW SD and NE WY by late afternoon
ahead of a mid-level shortwave currently in Central MT. High
resolution models differ somewhat on the convective mode once the
storms reach our CWA, but nearly all models have the storms
transitioning into a QLCS once it gets into Central SD. Most of the
convective activity should push east of the CWA after 06z Sunday.

High pressure slides east of the area during the day Sunday, veering
the winds from the northeast during the morning to the southeast by
late afternoon. Current Day 2 SPC outlook only highlights a marginal
risk for severe storms across the region, as NWP guidance shows
rather meager return flow with little in the way of moisture and
instability advecting into the region. 0-6km shear will be strong
though, with models showing 50kts to 60kts, easily enough to support
supercells. Should storms develop and hold together, expect them to
move into the CWA after 21z given latest model guidance output.
Showers and storms should end around 06z Monday.

.LONG TERM...(Monday Through Saturday)
Issued at 238 PM MDT Sat Jul 16 2016

Main fcst challenge facing the extended deals with just how warm
its going to get through the week...along with any minor pcpn
chances that develop.

Monday starts of with building 500hpa ridge into central plains with
nice 850hpa jet pushing higher dwpt air into the western sd/ern wy
plains. Coupled with models showing a 700hpa theta-e ridge nosing in
across the western part of SD, can't rule out isold/sct tsra
developing during the aftn mon. left what blended model soln offered
up.

Weather wise for the rest of the extended...with the building
ridge...models do try to push some stronger waves through the body
of the ridge. Trying to time the waves...determine strength and
available moisture under strengthening mid-CONUS ridge a bit
difficult...so left blended pops in place and will fine tune as
those days draw near.

Temp wise...it still appears that wednesday/thursday time frames
will be the warmest with threat of triple digit heat still a good
possibility. 850hpa temps warm above to +30C by 00z Wed and only
climb. SB temps might be a little low but again will fine tune as
periods draw near.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Sunday)
Issued At 238 PM MDT Sat Jul 16 2016

currently isold tsra has pushed east of krap and kgcc aerodromes
and vfr conds are expected through 17/0000z. an area of low
pressure located across ern wy/western sd will be the focusing
mechanism for further tsra development later this aftn/evening
across the taf area. while vfr conds are expected through valid
taf period...isold mvfr vsby is psbl in close proximity to tsra
due to isold hvry rain. look for any tsra to move out kgcc
aerodrome aft 03z...and out of krap aerodrome aft 07z.

&&

.UNR Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
SD...None.
WY...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...McKemy
LONG TERM...Hintz
AVIATION...Hintz

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 16, 4:16 AM MST, 12 hours 14 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
516 AM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

SDZ012-024>031-041-042-072>074-WYZ056-057-071-171300-
BUTTE-NORTHERN BLACK HILLS-NORTHERN FOOT HILLS-RAPID CITY-
SOUTHERN FOOT HILLS-CENTRAL BLACK HILLS-SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS-
CUSTER CO PLAINS-PENNINGTON CO PLAINS-FALL RIVER-OGLALA LAKOTA-
STURGIS/PIEDMONT FOOT HILLS-SOUTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-
HERMOSA FOOT HILLS-WESTERN CROOK-WYOMING BLACK HILLS-
NORTHEASTERN CROOK-
516 AM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

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

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 100 PM AND 700 PM. VERY LARGE
HAIL GREATER THAN 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND SEVERE WIND GUSTS
GREATER THAN 60 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT. AN ISOLATED TORNADO
IS POSSIBLE NORTH AND EAST OF THE BLACK HILLS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.
THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

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

SDZ001-002-013-014-032-043-044-046-047-049-171300-
HARDING-PERKINS-NORTHERN MEADE CO PLAINS-ZIEBACH-HAAKON-JACKSON-
BENNETT-MELLETTE-TODD-TRIPP-
516 AM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016 /616 AM CDT SAT JUL 16 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL
SOUTH DAKOTA...AND WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON AND
EARLY EVENING...ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 200 PM AND 800 PM. VERY LARGE
HAIL GREATER THAN 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER AND SEVERE WIND GUSTS
GREATER THAN 60 MPH WILL BE THE MAIN THREAT. AN ISOLATED TORNADO
IS POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FROM BUFFALO TO PHILIP.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY
NIGHT...BUT ORGANIZED SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT EXPECTED AT
THIS TIME.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED TODAY.

&&

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

WYZ054-055-058-171300-
NORTHERN CAMPBELL-SOUTHERN CAMPBELL-WESTON-
516 AM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHEAST
WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS EVENING. THERE IS A
MARGINAL RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING
WINDS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SUNDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT.
THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WITH LARGE HAIL
AND DAMAGING WINDS.

.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

Special weather statement, Jul 16, 3:46 PM MST, 44 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
446 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

SDZ029-162300-
SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS SD-
446 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN CUSTER COUNTY UNTIL
500 PM MDT...

AT 446 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR
DEWEY...OR 20 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEWCASTLE...MOVING EAST AT 45 MPH.

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

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
DEWEY...PRINGLE...SANATOR...ARGYLE AND JEWEL CAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
SOUTHWESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA.

LAT...LON 4351 10404 4370 10404 4375 10358 4348 10356
TIME...MOT...LOC 2246Z 266DEG 38KT 4360 10399

MCKEMY

Local storm report, Jul 16, 3:53 PM MST, 37 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
453 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

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

0435 PM     FUNNEL CLOUD     4 ESE SUNDANCE          44.38N 104.31W
07/16/2016                   CROOK              WY   FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

&&

MLS

Special weather statement, Jul 16, 3:56 PM MST, 34 minutes before

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
456 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

WYZ054-056-162315-
WESTERN CROOK WY-NORTHERN CAMBELL WY-
456 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHEASTERN CAMPBELL AND
NORTHWESTERN CROOK COUNTIES UNTIL 515 PM MDT...

AT 455 PM MDT...DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 13
MILES WEST OF ROCKYPOINT...OR 38 MILES SOUTH OF BROADUS...MOVING EAST
AT 35 MPH.

HALF INCH HAIL AND WINDS IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH
THIS STORM.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
LIGHTNING FLAT AND ROCKYPOINT.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM MDT FOR
NORTHEASTERN WYOMING.

LAT...LON 4500 10545 4500 10499 4466 10503 4481 10550
TIME...MOT...LOC 2255Z 287DEG 31KT 4488 10537

MCKEMY

Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:02 PM MST, 28 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
502 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

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

0430 PM     HAIL             15 NNW RECLUSE          44.94N 105.79W
07/16/2016  E1.00 INCH       CAMPBELL           WY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            0.21 OF RAIN AND MAINLY 1/2 HAIL. SOME PIECES WERE
            LARGER.

&&

MLS

Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:16 PM MST, 14 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
516 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

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

0508 PM     HAIL             6 NNE ALADDIN           44.71N 104.15W
07/16/2016  E1.25 INCH       CROOK              WY   TRAINED SPOTTER

            HAIL BROKE A WINDOW ON THE HOUSE.

&&

MLS

Local storm report, Jul 16, 4:25 PM MST, 5 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
525 PM MDT SAT JUL 16 2016

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

0518 PM     TSTM WND GST     6 SSE BROWNSVILLE       44.20N 103.65W
07/16/2016  E60 MPH          LAWRENCE           SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VERY STRONG WINDS AS THE STORM BEGAN AND THEN HAD HAIL
            FROM PEA TO QUARTER SIZE.

0518 PM     HAIL             6 SSE BROWNSVILLE       44.20N 103.65W
07/16/2016  E1.00 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VERY STRONG WINDS AS THE STORM BEGAN AND THEN HAD HAIL
            FROM PEA TO QUARTER SIZE.

&&

MLS

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 87 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Fall River

When: July 16, 4:30 PM MST
Where: Fall River County, 6.69 mi NE of Smithwick
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.376, -103.138

Tornado, Oglala Lakota

When: July 16, 5:27 PM MST to 5:29 PM MST
Where: Oglala Lakota County, 6 mi SE of Porcupine
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.169, -102.246

The spotter observed a tornado southeast of Porcupine for about two minutes before it became rain wrapped.

Hail, Oglala Lakota

When: July 16, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Oglala Lakota County, 5 mi E of Porcupine
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.230, -102.231

Hail to golf ball size covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oglala Lakota

When: July 16, 5:30 PM MST
Where: Oglala Lakota County, 2.69 mi SE of Porcupine
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 43.206, -102.288

A newly-built house was shifted off its foundation by strong wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: July 16, 6:10 PM MST
Where: Jackson County, 12.02 mi ENE of Wanblee
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.640, -101.450

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: July 16, 6:20 PM MST
Where: Jackson County, 7.54 mi E of Wanblee
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 43.580, -101.520

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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 The tornado archive for South Dakota, 2016 Warnings in South Dakota, July 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: 644553, 649042, 644554, 649040, 644556, 644558.