Hail in South Dakota, August 17, 2019

Name: Hail in South Dakota, August 17, 2019
Start: 2019-08-17T16:35
End: 2019-08-17T17:00
Location: South Dakota

August 17, 2019 · NWS UNR · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Hail to golf ball size developed with a severe thunderstorm over Mellette County.

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: 2

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.

Hail to golf ball size developed with a severe thunderstorm over Mellette County.

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 17, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 17, 3:15 PM CST, 1 hour 20 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
315 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Saturday)
Issued at 315 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

Strong upper low continues to march across central Canada with a
series of shortwaves crossing Montana through the northern Great
Plains. A strong shortwave is pushing across the CWA at this time,
with thunderstorms ahead of the wave crossing western to central
South Dakota. A cold front has pushed across much of the CWA...now
pushing through KPHP through the Badlands to near KIEN. Aside from
an isolated severe storm across the southern Black Hills, the
strongest storms have slid into central SD east of the CWA border
and this de-escalating trend is expected to continue through the
next few hours. A secondary shortwave is progged to cross the
northwest SD area late this evening into the overnight hours. Can't
rule out a few showers late tonight, but most areas will remain dry.
Upper ridging will build into the western CONUS Sunday, bringing
warmer and drier weather Sunday and Monday. Highs Monday are
expected to reach the upper 80s to upper 90s. Upper waves within the
weakening ridge are progged to cross the area Tuesday, bringing the
next chance for thunderstorms through midweek. The second half of
the week looks dry again with highs in the 80s.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Sunday)
Issued At 1145 AM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

A cold front dropping southeast across the region today will bring
scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could be
severe with large hail and gusty winds. MVFR conditions are
possible through 18/06z with the storms. Aft 18/06z the showers
and storms are expected to have pushed east out of the area.

&&

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

DISCUSSION...13
AVIATION...Hintz

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 17, 11:02 AM CST, 5 hours 33 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
1102 AM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

SDZ014-024-026>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-181315-
Ziebach-Northern Black 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-
1102 AM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019 /1202 PM CDT Sat Aug 17 2019/

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

.DAY ONE...This Afternoon

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop along and ahead of
a cold front crossing the area. Severe thunderstorms are
possible, with large hail and damaging wind gusts. An isolated
tornado is also possible...mainly east of a Haakon to Oglala-
Lakota County line.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Isolated thunderstorms are possible each day from Tuesday through
Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is possible after 1pm MDT this afternoon.

&&

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

SDZ001-002-012-013-025-WYZ054>058-071-181315-
Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-
Northern Foot Hills-Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-
Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook-
1102 AM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected this afternoon
and evening behind a cold front crossing the area. A few strong to
severe are possible, with large hail and damaging wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

Isolated thunderstorms are possible each day from Tuesday through
Friday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be possible this afternoon.

&&

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, Aug 17, 1:46 PM CST, 2 hours 49 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
146 PM MDT SAT AUG 17 2019

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

0141 PM     HAIL             1 NNW SHERIDAN LAKE     43.98N 103.47W
08/17/2019  E0.75 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EAGAN

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 1:47 PM CST, 2 hours 48 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
147 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

SDZ026-028-072-172015-
Central Black Hills SD-Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills SD-Rapid City SD-
147 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHERN MEADE AND CENTRAL
PENNINGTON COUNTIES UNTIL 215 PM MDT...

At 147 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Hisega, or 5 miles west of Rapid City, moving east at 20 mph.

Nickel size hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Rapid City, western Rapid Valley, Black Hawk, Hisega, Rockerville,
Bear Country, Hart Ranch, Black Gap and Reptile Gardens.

This includes Interstate 90 in South Dakota between Mile Markers 52
and 62.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for
west central South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4396 10343 4414 10344 4418 10316 4396 10311
TIME...MOT...LOC 1947Z 262DEG 18KT 4407 10335

Eagan

Local storm report, Aug 17, 1:49 PM CST, 2 hours 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
149 PM MDT SAT AUG 17 2019

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

0146 PM     HAIL             HISEGA                  44.06N 103.40W
08/17/2019  E0.70 INCH       PENNINGTON         SD   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

CALDERON

Local storm report, Aug 17, 1:56 PM CST, 2 hours 39 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
156 PM MDT SAT AUG 17 2019

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

1125 AM     HAIL             1 NE DEADWOOD           44.38N 103.72W
08/17/2019  E1.75 INCH       LAWRENCE           SD   PUBLIC

            DAMAGE TO CARS AND WINDOWS

&&

EAGAN

Special weather statement, Aug 17, 2:10 PM CST, 2 hours 25 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
210 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

SDZ029-074-172045-
Hermosa Foot Hills SD-Southern Black Hills SD-
210 PM MDT Sat Aug 17 2019

...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTH CENTRAL CUSTER COUNTY UNTIL
245 PM MDT...

At 209 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
eastern Custer State Park, or 11 miles east of Custer, moving east at
25 mph.

Penny size hail and winds in excess of 30 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Fairburn, Blue Bell, Center Lake, Stockade Lake, Custer State Park,
Mount Coolidge, Legion Lake, State Game Lodge and Black Hills
Playhouse.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for
southwestern South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4370 10352 4380 10352 4383 10313 4364 10315
TIME...MOT...LOC 2009Z 274DEG 21KT 4375 10336

Eagan

Local storm report, Aug 17, 2:49 PM CST, 1 hour 46 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
249 PM MDT SAT AUG 17 2019

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

0227 PM     HAIL             8 S NEWCASTLE           43.74N 104.23W
08/17/2019  E1.75 INCH       WESTON             WY   PUBLIC

&&

EAGAN

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 160 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:35 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Mellette

When: August 17, 4:35 PM CST
Where: Mellette County, 4 mi NE of Cedar Butte
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.621, -100.963

Hail, Mellette

When: August 17, 5:00 PM CST
Where: Mellette County, White River
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.570, -100.750

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2019 Every state in 2019 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, August 2019

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: 846515, 846516.