Flood, Jones
- When
- May 22, 6:00 AM CST to May 29, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Jones County, 3.71 mi NW of Capa to 7.47 mi NNE of Draper
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 44.160, -101.030
Flooding in South Dakota, May 22 to 29, 2019
Two periods of heavy rainfall totaling 4 to nearly 8 inches occurred across Jones and Lyman counties at the end of May leading to widespread flooding. The first three-day period of heavy rainfall occurred as the result of a powerful low pressure system that slowly moved from the four corners region northward through the Plains.
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
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 ABR wrote it up.
Two periods of heavy rainfall totaling 4 to nearly 8 inches occurred across Jones and Lyman counties at the end of May leading to widespread flooding. The first three-day period of heavy rainfall occurred as the result of a powerful low pressure system that slowly moved from the four corners region northward through the Plains. The second period was the result of a series of disturbances associated with a persistent area of low pressure over the western half of the U.S. that produced several rounds of heavy rain. Both of these rainfalls, coupled with already saturated soils, resulted in widespread flooding across both counties particularly on Medicine Creek.
Numerous roads were flooded and damaged across the region with several culverts washed out. Many farms and homes were also flooded and damaged with many people unable to get out due to washed out roads. A home 10 miles west of Presho had 4 feet of water flow right through it. Presho and Kennebec received the brunt of the flooding on the Medicine Creek with a lot of property damage. Also, some cattle were lost in the flooding.
Rainfall amounts from the two periods of rain were substantial ranging from 4 to nearly 8 inches. Some of the rainfall amounts include 4.40 inches 6 miles southwest of Oacoma; 5.67 inches 5 miles north of Vivian; 6.10 inches 14 miles northwest of Presho; 6.82 inches at Kennebec; 7.72 inches at Murdo; and 7.96 inches 3 miles northwest of Okaton.
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 May 22, 5:18 AM CST, 42 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 22, 5:18 AM CST, 42 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 618 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 .SHORT TERM...(Today through Thursday Afternoon) Issued at 340 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 The very short term looks to calm down a bit over the next day or so. Strong system currently entering southeast South Dakota will continue to move north and east and fill as the day progresses. As that occurs, winds will diminish, and waa band of pcpn will have rotated mostly out of the cwa by noon. However, sct pcpn will remain possible through the day as the upper low shears across the region. With plenty of clouds around today, temperatures will only slightly recover from Tuesday's levels. For tonight and most of Thursday, sfc high pressure builds south over the area. This should bring a reduction in clouds, but perhaps not complete clearing. Light winds settle in over the region tnt, but probably will be offset some by clouds, so didn't tank temperatures, especially over the James valley. With some sun, the mercury should recover some on Thursday afternoon. .LONG TERM...(Thursday Evening through Tuesday) Issued at 340 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 Next wave of low pressure moves northeast across the area Thursday night into Friday morning, with more rainfall almost a certainty once again over a widespread area. This system will be moving through quicker than the current one over us, so expect amounts to be generally less than an inch. Friday is shaping up to be an interesting day, as initially, we'll still be dealing with clouds and precip in the morning, especially over the northern CWA. But, by afternoon, models are in good agreement in bringing a surge of dry air into the region as southwest winds and strong warm air advection take over. Clouds should depart rapidly to the north throughout the day. This sets the stage for a decent warmup by afternoon, with highs in the 60s to low 70s. In fact, would not be surprised if forecast highs come up a few degrees over the next few forecast shifts. Saturday still appears to be a dry day for right now as surface high pressure moves across the area. The pattern continues to be active as we head into early next week, with another decent looking system moving in Monday night into Tuesday. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Thursday Morning) Issued at 616 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 A mix of IFR/MVFR cigs is expected through today at all terminals. Vsbys may occasionally dip into the 3-5sm range during rain showers today. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && SHORT TERM...TDK LONG TERM...TMT AVIATION...TDK
Hazardous weather outlook, May 22, 2:16 AM CST, 3 hours 44 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 316 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-230830- Traverse-Big Stone-Corson-Campbell-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts- Walworth-Edmunds-Day-Dewey-Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant- Hamlin-Deuel-Stanley-Sully-Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Jones-Lyman-Buffalo- 316 AM CDT Wed May 22 2019 /216 AM MDT Wed May 22 2019/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Minnesota, central South Dakota, north central South Dakota and northeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Occasional showers and thunderstorms are possible through the upcoming weekend. Currently no severe weather is expected during that time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Flood, Lyman
- When
- May 22, 6:00 AM CST to May 29, 12:00 PM CST
- Where
- Lyman County, 8.5 mi NW of Mc Clure to 12.6 mi ENE of Mc Clure
- Cause
- Heavy Rain
- Reported by
- Newspaper
- Coordinates
- 44.180, -100.350
What these are
- Flood
- Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Tornadoes and Hail in Missouri, May 22 to 23, 2019
- Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, May 22, 2019
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Oklahoma, May 22 to 23, 2019
- Flooding in Arkansas, May 22 to 31, 2019
- Heat in South Carolina, May 22, 2019
- Flooding in Iowa, May 22 to 31, 2019
- Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, May 22 to 23, 2019
- High Wind and Strong Wind in Wisconsin, May 22, 2019
- Tornado and Hail in Oklahoma, May 22, 2019
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 22, 2019
- Flooding in Iowa, May 22 to 31, 2019
- Damaging Winds in Illinois, May 22 to 23, 2019
More
Every storm in South Dakota in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, May 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: 828745, 828754.