Damaging Winds and High Wind in South Dakota, July 6, 2016

Name: Damaging Winds and High Wind in South Dakota, July 6, 2016
Start: 2016-07-06T16:46
End: 2016-07-06T20:30
Location: South Dakota

July 6, 2016 · NWS ABR · 19 events in 9 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms developed along a warm front in very unstable air in west central South Dakota. These storms merged together into a small severe bow as they moved east into central South Dakota.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 19

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 ABR wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms developed along a warm front in very unstable air in west central South Dakota. These storms merged together into a small severe bow as they moved east into central South Dakota. As the bow moved east, damaging winds from 60 to over 80 mph occurred across central South Dakota through the evening hours.

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 Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 6, 1:23 PM MST, 3 hours 23 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 6, 1:23 PM MST, 3 hours 23 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
323 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday Night)
Issued at 323 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

This afternoon/evening the focus is west river as a weak wave across
western Wyoming provides the impetus for convection. A narrow tongue
of moisture on return flow will provide the CAPE, and with southeast
low level flow and westerly flow aloft shear is favorable for
supercell development. Westerly flow down to around 700mb also
supports the CAM solutions for evolution into some form of fast
moving/forward propagating MCS, which should track east/southeast
across the southern half of the CWA. The environment is much less
favorable to the northeast of the 1630Z SPC moderate risk area, with
significantly lower CAPE, though cant rule out some stronger
isolated convection for this area.

An upper trof will continue across the Dakotas into Thursday.
Overnight convection will have an impact on how far east the surface
front ends up before thunderstorm re-initialization can occur but
NAM/GFS support more storms for far eastern South Dakota into
western Minnesota. 0-6km shear of 30 to 50kts supports an additional
severe weather threat before storms move east of the CWA.  Aside
from some wrap around shower activity as the upper trof continues
east late Thursday the rest of the short term is expected to be dry.

.LONG TERM...(Saturday through Wednesday)
Issued at 323 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

A number of shortwaves will move through the upper ridge this
weekend as lee side troughing sets up. Models differ significantly
on moisture availability with these shortwaves with the ECMWF
keeping the region dry while the GFS develops showers and
thunderstorms Sat evening through Sunday night. Stuck with
Superblend which is more reflective of the wetter GFS solution.

Models come into better agreement late Monday with pops when an
upper low and the sfc cold front track into eastern SD. The ECMWF
exits the upper low more quickly than the GFS which is more in line
with Superblend temps which don't fall off through the week. High
will be in the 80s and 90s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Thursday Afternoon)
Issued at 1201 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

VFR conditions are expected at all locations through Thursday
morning. However thunderstorms will be possible near KPIR this
evening so vsby may fall in moderate rain. Other sites will see some
brief showers through tonight. Brief fog may develop toward morning,
but too difficult to pinpoint at this time for tafs.

&&

.ABR Watches/Warnings/Advisories...
SD...NONE.
MN...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...Connelly
LONG TERM...Wise
AVIATION...Wise

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 6, 12:17 PM MST, 4 hours 29 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
217 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

SDZ015>020-022-023-033>037-045-048-051-071930-
DEWEY-POTTER-FAULK-SPINK-CLARK-CODINGTON-HAMLIN-DEUEL-STANLEY-
SULLY-HUGHES-HYDE-HAND-JONES-LYMAN-BUFFALO-
217 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 /117 PM MDT WED JUL 6 2016/

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

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE STATE. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE
STORMS ALONG AND SOUTH OF US HIGHWAY 14. THE POTENTIAL FOR A
LONG-LIVED LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING WIDESPREAD WIND DAMAGE
IS BECOMING MORE LIKELY. WHILE STRONG WINDS ARE THE MAIN THREAT,
LARGE HAIL AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING MAY ALSO OCCUR.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

STRONG THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY MORNING INTO EARLY
AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS REQUESTED.

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-021-071930-
TRAVERSE-BIG STONE-CORSON-CAMPBELL-MCPHERSON-BROWN-MARSHALL-
ROBERTS-WALWORTH-EDMUNDS-DAY-GRANT-
217 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016 /117 PM MDT WED JUL 6 2016/

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF WEST CENTRAL
MINNESOTA...NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND NORTHEAST SOUTH
DAKOTA.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT

THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ACROSS WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA
AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE STATE. THE STRONGEST STORMS ARE EXPECTED
TO REMAIN SOUTH OF US HIGHWAY 14. HOWEVER...THERE IS STILL AN
ISOLATED SEVERE RISK FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. LARGE HAIL...DAMAGING
WINDS AND FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED.

SERR

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jul 6, 2:58 PM MST, 1 hour 48 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ABERDEEN SD
458 PM CDT WED JUL 6 2016

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

0229 PM     HAIL             2 SSW ARTICHOKE         45.37N 96.17W
07/05/2016  E2.00 INCH       BIG STONE          MN   PUBLIC

            RADAR ESTIMATED TIME. DELAYED REPORT.

&&

RL

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 147 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:48 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 thunderstorm wind, 2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanley

When: July 6, 4:46 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 8.34 mi ENE of Hayes Hamilton Arpt
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.670, -101.140

Thunderstorm Wind, Stanley

When: July 6, 4:56 PM MST
Where: Stanley County, 1.47 mi NNE of Hayes
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.390, -101.010

High Wind, Corson

When: July 6, 6:06 PM CST
Where: Corson forecast zone
Measured: 53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.709, -101.197 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to over sixty mph behind exiting thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sully

When: July 6, 6:18 PM CST
Where: Sully County, 5.43 mi SSE of Fielder
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.550, -100.480

Seventy mph winds moved a mobile home three to four feet off of its foundation.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jones

When: July 6, 6:50 PM CST
Where: Jones County, 2.03 mi SE of Van Metre
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.130, -100.770

Sixty mph winds caused some minor shingle damage along with knocking the grill off of the deck.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 7:12 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 4.48 mi WSW of Mc Clure
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.050, -100.330

Eighty-four mph winds were measured at this station.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 3.71 mi NW of Mc Clure
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.120, -100.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: July 6, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 1.47 mi SSW of Highmore
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.500, -99.440

Seventy mph winds dented multiple grain bins along with slightly pulling them from their base.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: July 6, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 0.85 mi SW of Highmore
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.510, -99.440

The roof on a metal machine shed was lost due to seventy mph winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: July 6, 7:25 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 0.49 mi W of Highmore
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.520, -99.440

Several trees along with many large tree branches were downed in Highmore. There was also some power outages from the trees falling onto the lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: July 6, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 0.99 mi W of Ree Hgts
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.520, -99.220

Sixty mph winds were estimated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 1.7 mi NE of Lyman
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.900, -99.710

Sixty mph winds rolled several hay bales.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: July 6, 7:45 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 9.4 mi SSE of Ree Hgts
Measured: 59 kt (68 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.400, -99.110

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: July 6, 7:47 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 0.85 mi NE of Stephan
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.260, -99.440

High Wind, Walworth

When: July 6, 7:47 PM CST
Where: Walworth forecast zone
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.430, -100.032 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winds gusted to near sixty mph behind exiting thunderstorms.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 0.5 mi E of Reliance Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.850, -99.560

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 2.07 mi N of Oacoma
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.830, -99.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Buffalo

When: July 6, 8:20 PM CST
Where: Buffalo County, 1.64 mi ENE of Gann Vly
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 44.040, -98.970

Sixty-five mph winds downed numerous tree branches in and around Gann Valley.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: July 6, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 1 mi E of Oacoma
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.800, -99.380

Estimated seventy mph winds occurred at Oacoma.

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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

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, 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: 650658, 650659, 650719, 650654, 650663, 650668, 650675, 650655, 650656, 650657, 650676, 650679, 650683, 650690, 650721, 650692, 650693, 650706, 650718.