Damaging Wind in South Dakota, May 17, 2018

Name: Damaging Wind in South Dakota, May 17, 2018
Start: 2018-05-17T16:39
End: 2018-05-17T16:39
Location: South Dakota

May 17, 2018 · NWS UNR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A thunderstorm briefly became severe over eastern Pennington County, producing wind gusts over 60 mph in the Scenic area.

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
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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 eastern Pennington County, producing wind gusts over 60 mph in the Scenic area.

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 May 17, 4:15 PM MST, 24 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 17, 4:15 PM MST, 24 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
515 PM MDT Thu May 17 2018

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Thursday)
Issued at 205 PM MDT Thu May 17 2018

An upper level trough covers the western CONUS, and a
weak wave is pushing through the northern plains. Showers and
thunderstorms have developed across parts of far western SD.
Surface trough is moving into the CWA, and winds ahead of the
trough are breezy across west central SD. Temperatures are rising
into the 80s, and dew points are in the 50s and lower 60s.

A potent shortwave associated with the upper trough will cross the
CWA this afternoon and evening, sparking thunderstorms across much
of the area. MLCAPE is already 1500-2000 J/kg over much of the area,
and 0-6 km shear is 30-40 kts across northwestern SD. Hi-res
convective models are showing thunderstorms expanding around the
SD/WY border early this afternoon, forming an MCS as the wave shifts
eastward. Inverted-V soundings support strong wind gusts, and large
hail will also be a possibility. PW values of 150-200% of normal
suggest heavy rain, and flooding may be a concern, especially for
areas that have recently received plentiful moisture. Storms will
shift into eastern SD after midnight.

Low-level trough will linger over the region Friday. Cooler air will
start to push into the CWA from the northwest with a cold front,
while southerly flow across southern and central SD will keep
temperatures warm, allowing instability to redevelop. Another round
of thunderstorms is expected along and southeast of the front.
Decent CAPE and shear will allow for a few marginally strong storms,
especially across southwestern to central SD.

Showers will persist across mainly the southeastern half of the CWA
Saturday, as the low very slowly transitions from eastern CO into KS
and eastern NE. As cold air wraps into the low, highs Saturday will
be only in the 50s, with lows Saturday night dipping into the 30s
and 40s.

The low finally starts moving out of the region Sunday, and a
warming trend will begin as ridging develops. Meanwhile, another
strong low pressure system will develop over the western states,
which will bring more storm activity to the region towards the
middle of next week.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Friday Evening)
Issued At 508 PM MDT Thu May 17 2018

Thunderstorms will continue across much of the area tonight,
gradually shifting eastward. Severe storms are expected, with
large hail and damaging wind gusts. Some MVFR ceilings will move
into the northwestern CWA Friday morning, and northwesterly winds
will become breezy. Showers and thunderstorms will redevelop
across much of the area in the afternoon. Some storms could be
strong to severe again.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
WY...None.
&&

DISCUSSION...Pojorlie
AVIATION...Pojorlie

Hazardous weather outlook, May 17, 3:04 AM MST, 13 hours 35 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
404 AM MDT Thu May 17 2018

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>026-028-029-072>074-WYZ056>058-071-181300-
Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-
Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot Hills-Rapid City-
Central Black Hills-Southern Black Hills-
Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills-Southern Meade Co Plains-
Hermosa Foot Hills-Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-
Northeastern Crook-
404 AM MDT Thu May 17 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern
South Dakota...southwestern South Dakota...the Black Hills of
South Dakota...northeast Wyoming...and the Black Hills of
Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and
evening. The main threats will be large hail and damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

There is a chance for thunderstorms on Friday and then again early next
week. Widespread severe weather is not expected, but a stronger
storm or two is possible with gusty winds and hail.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

SDZ027-030>032-041>044-046-047-049-181300-
Southern Foot Hills-Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-Haakon-
Fall River-Oglala Lakota-Jackson-Bennett-Mellette-Todd-Tripp-
404 AM MDT Thu May 17 2018 /504 AM CDT Thu May 17 2018/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central
South Dakota...and southwestern South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and
evening. The main threats will be large hail and damaging winds.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

There is a chance for additional severe storms on Friday. Some of
these storms may contain large hail and strong winds. Otherwise,
the next chance for thunderstorms will be early next week.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

WYZ054-055-181300-
Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-
404 AM MDT Thu May 17 2018

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and evening.
Widespread severe storms are not expected, but small hail and
gusty winds are possible with stronger storms.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected through
next week. At this time, the threat for severe thunderstorms
looks to be low.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation will not be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

In the hours before

Local storm report, May 17, 3:57 PM MST, 42 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
457 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0443 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NNE FAITH             45.04N 102.02W
05/17/2018  M68 MPH          MEADE              SD   ASOS

&&

EAGAN

Local storm report, May 17, 4:01 PM MST, 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
501 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0456 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 E ROCKERVILLE         43.96N 103.21W
05/17/2018  M53 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   PUBLIC

&&

AFOSCATO

Local storm report, May 17, 4:10 PM MST, 29 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
510 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0447 PM     TSTM WND GST     ELLSWORTH AFB           44.15N 103.10W
05/17/2018  M52 MPH          MEADE              SD   OTHER FEDERAL

&&

AFOSCATO

Local storm report, May 17, 4:24 PM MST, 15 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
524 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0504 PM     TSTM WND GST     7 SSE MEADOW            45.44N 102.17W
05/17/2018  M63 MPH          PERKINS            SD   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

EAGAN

Local storm report, May 17, 4:26 PM MST, 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
526 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0456 PM     TSTM WND GST     1 NNE FAITH             45.04N 102.02W
05/17/2018  M55 MPH          MEADE              SD   ASOS

&&

EAGAN

Local storm report, May 17, 4:38 PM MST, 1 minute before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
538 PM MDT THU MAY 17 2018

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

0537 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 N THUNDER BUTTE       45.28N 101.67W
05/17/2018  E50 MPH          ZIEBACH            SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

AFOSCATO

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:38 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pennington

When: May 17, 4:39 PM MST
Where: Pennington County, 3 mi NNW of Scenic
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.820, -102.573

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 2018 Every state in 2018 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, May 2018

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: 747363.