Thunderstorm Wind, Harding
- When
- July 2, 2:29 PM MST to 2:34 PM MST
- Where
- Harding County, 7 mi NNE of Ralph
- Measured
- 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
- Reported by
- Mesonet
- Coordinates
- 45.874, -103.014
Damaging Wind in South Dakota, July 2, 2020
Wind gusts to 60 mph accompanied a severe thunderstorm over northern Harding 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
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.
Wind gusts to 60 mph accompanied a severe thunderstorm over northern Harding 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 Jul 2, 11:17 AM MST, 3 hours 12 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 2, 11:17 AM MST, 3 hours 12 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1217 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Thursday) Issued at 1217 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 NW CONUS upper trough will remain anchored in the period, supporting active SW flow over the region through the period at times, as deep moisture wavers over the region at times. One such impulse and moisture plume will impact the region today, supporting a cluster of strong to severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Sfc trough stalled over the region fro NW SD into SW SD. Pretty sig axis of abundant ML CAPE from just north of the Black Hills and south. Diurnal de-stabilization with an advancing weak impulse will support convective initiation over the Black Hills and a sfc trough across NW SD, with convection expected to grow upscale given ample CAPE and increasing bulk shear. Should be plenty of CAPE/SHEAR (3500 J/kg with 30-40 knots of 0-6 km Shear) for supercells and potential bowing cells. Convection will push off the hills and onto the plains late this afternoon and evening with a lingering severe threat into the later evening. LL moisture will recycle over the region Friday as southerly flow becomes established. Another impulse will support another round of thunderstorms in the late afternoon and evening as convection develops per a weakening cap. Convection will likely develop over portions of NE WY where capping will be weakest, with other convection possible on the Black Hills and on the Pine Ridge over northern Neb and/or scentral SD per weak CIN. Convention will likely grow upscale in the evening and carry east across NW SD per a strengthening LLJ, supporting a severe threat. Otherwise, convection will be possible nearly every day in the remainder of the period as a sfc trough wavers over the region in unsettled SW flow with seasonal temps. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Friday) Issued At 1116 AM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 Breezy southerly winds across much of the region today. Generally VFR conditions are expected through the day; however, MVFR/local IFR conditions will be possible in any storms that develop this afternoon and evening, along with gusty/erratic winds. Storms will shift to the east by late evening. With light southeasterly winds and high RH, some low clouds/patchy fog may develop across portions of the western SD plains early Friday morning. && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued at 1217 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 Breezy and very dry southwest winds have developed across southern Campbell County and is moving into Weston County. Minimum relative humidity has dropped to 10-15% across several sites. Critical fire weather conditions are now being met. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...Red Flag Warning until 8 PM MDT this evening for WYZ315-317. && DISCUSSION...JC AVIATION...Eagan FIRE WEATHER...13
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 2, 10:20 AM MST, 4 hours 9 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1120 AM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ056>058- 071-031300- Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach- Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot 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-Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston- Northeastern Crook- 1120 AM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 /1220 PM CDT Thu Jul 2 2020/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern South Dakota...south central South Dakota...southwestern South Dakota...the Black Hills of South Dakota...northeast Wyoming... and the Black Hills of Wyoming. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Large hail and damaging winds will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Daily chances for thunderstorms continue through early next week. Strong to severe storms will be possible at times. On Friday, severe weather is more likely across northwestern South Dakota, where there is a slight risk. .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 WYZ054-055-031300- Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell- 1120 AM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast Wyoming. .DAY ONE...This Afternoon and Tonight Thunderstorms are possible today, but severe weather is not expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday Daily chances for thunderstorms continue through early next week. Strong to severe storms will be possible at times. .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, Jul 2, 2:04 PM MST, 25 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
304 PM MDT THU JUL 02 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0255 PM HAIL 3 N SHERIDAN LAKE 44.02N 103.48W
07/02/2020 M0.88 INCH PENNINGTON SD PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER UNR2002163
UNRLocal storm report, Jul 2, 2:09 PM MST, 20 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
309 PM MDT THU JUL 02 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0305 PM HAIL 1 N HISEGA 44.07N 103.40W
07/02/2020 E0.70 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER UNR2002164
KDSSpecial weather statement, Jul 2, 2:09 PM MST, 20 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Rapid City SD 309 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 SDZ013-073-022200- Southern Meade Co Plains SD-Northern Meade Co Plains SD- 309 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CENTRAL MEADE COUNTY... At 309 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles northwest of Union Center, or 38 miles northeast of Sturgis, moving northeast at 35 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Union Center, Enning, Fairpoint, Marcus, White Owl, Stoneville, Opal and Red Owl. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for west central South Dakota. LAT...LON 4445 10292 4480 10295 4498 10244 4460 10223 TIME...MOT...LOC 2109Z 238DEG 30KT 4463 10280 Eagan
Local storm report, Jul 2, 2:10 PM MST, 19 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
310 PM MDT THU JUL 02 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0309 PM HAIL 2 W HAYWARD 43.87N 103.38W
07/02/2020 E1.50 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER
LOTS OF 3/4 TO INCH HAIL
&&
EVENT NUMBER UNR2002165
AFOSCATOLocal storm report, Jul 2, 2:22 PM MST, 7 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
322 PM MDT THU JUL 02 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0300 PM HAIL 7 W HERMOSA 43.84N 103.33W
07/02/2020 E1.00 INCH CUSTER SD NWS EMPLOYEE
TIME OF LARGEST HAIL ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
&&
EVENT NUMBER UNR2002166
KDSSpecial weather statement, Jul 2, 2:26 PM MST, 3 minutes before
Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Rapid City SD 326 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 SDZ002-013-022200- Perkins SD-Northern Meade Co Plains SD- 326 PM MDT Thu Jul 2 2020 ...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTH CENTRAL MEADE AND SOUTHWESTERN PERKINS COUNTIES... At 325 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 4 miles west of Maurine, or 32 miles west of Faith, moving northeast at 20 mph. Nickel size hail and wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph will be possible with this storm. Locations impacted include... Maurine. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 800 PM MDT for northwestern and west central South Dakota. LAT...LON 4484 10282 4514 10290 4530 10255 4498 10241 TIME...MOT...LOC 2125Z 243DEG 16KT 4502 10269 Eagan
The radar
The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 195 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:27 UTC.
Event by event
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
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
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Texas, July 2, 2020
- Tornadoes and Hail in Nebraska, July 2, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, July 2, 2020
- Damaging Winds in Massachusetts, July 2, 2020
- Damaging Winds in Missouri, July 2, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Florida, July 2, 2020
- Damaging Winds in New York, July 2, 2020
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, July 2, 2020
- Dense Fog in Kentucky, July 2, 2020
- Damaging Wind in Rhode Island, July 2, 2020
- Dense Fog in Illinois, July 2, 2020
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Kansas, July 2, 2020
More
Every storm in South Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, July 2020
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: 902951.