South Dakota, 2020

Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 20, 2020

June 20, 2020 · NWS FSD · 21 events in 3 counties and zones

Scattered thunderstorms developed along a weak convergence axis across central South Dakota in the late afternoon hours. Slow moving storms made use of up to 3000 J/kg MLCAPE and marginal deep-layer shear around 30 knots to produce considerable large hail and spotty damaging winds through early evening.

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
$22,000
Crop damage
$176,000
Events
21

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 FSD wrote it up.

Scattered thunderstorms developed along a weak convergence axis across central South Dakota in the late afternoon hours. Slow moving storms made use of up to 3000 J/kg MLCAPE and marginal deep-layer shear around 30 knots to produce considerable large hail and spotty damaging winds through early evening.

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 Sioux Falls, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jun 20, 1:47 PM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 20, 1:47 PM CST, 3 hours 11 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
247 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Sunday)
Issued at 246 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

Challenging forecast for tonight into tomorrow with weak forcing
across the region.  At least partial clearing across South Dakota
has lead to ample destabilization with 1500-2000 J/KG of CAPE west
of the James River. Veering wind profile with speed shear mainly
focused in the mid levels of the atmosphere leading to 25-30 knots
of 0-6 km bulk shear late this afternoon, but as convection is
expected to develop along a weak surface trough extending from
eastern North Dakota into central South Dakota, 0-6 km bulk shear is
expected to increase into the 35-40 knot range allowing for better
organization.  Tough to say how things will evolve this evening,
with CAMs offering a variety of solutions based on organization to
the west.  Best chances for storms this evening appears to be across
central South Dakota along the highway 14 corridor closer to the
surface trough and upper level wave to the north.  As convection
spreads east, it should become less and less organized as instability
and shear weakens, especially east of I-29.

Low level warm air advection lingers east of I-29 through the
overnight hours, but instability is very conditional on low level
saturation.  Have dry forecast after 06Z, but if low level saturation
persists, the potential for an isolated shower exists.

Surface trough across central South Dakota across central South
Dakota is expected to inch eastward on Sunday.  Airmass ahead of the
boundary becomes increasingly unstable with surface heating. Veering
wind profile, but wind shear is a bit weaker with 25-30 knots of 0-6
km.  With weaker shear, expect storms to struggle to organize.
Instability is a bit greater than today, so could see storms
periodically pulse up to severe levels. West of the trough, it is
possible to get an elevated storm or two with only weakly capped
environment. Corfidi vectors are fairly short, and with precipitable
water values approaching 1.5 inches (90 percent of moving average)
east of the surface boundary, slow moving storms could produce heavy
rainfall.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday Night through Saturday)
Issued at 246 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

Cyclonic flow aloft continues across the western Great Lakes region
into Monday leading to below normal temperatures and additional
chances of showers and thunderstorms as short waves rotate into the
region. Instability and shear should keep storms in the non-severe
range.  Temperatures warm midweek back to climatological norms with
relatively quiet conditions.  Another shortwave trough works through
the Northern Plains Thursday into Friday creating additional chances
for storms and severe weather.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday afternoon)
Issued at 1248 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

VFR conditions should prevail through the period. Scattered
cumulus deck across the area should raise through the afternoon
hours. Could see convection after 00Z Sunday along and west of the
James. Have added a tempo group for KHON TAF, but confidence is
not as high on impact or timing further east. Additional showers
and thunderstorms are possible Sunday, but mainly after 18Z.

&&

.FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...NONE.
MN...NONE.
IA...NONE.
NE...NONE.
&&

SHORT TERM...BT
LONG TERM...BT
AVIATION...BT
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 20, 2:30 PM CST, 2 hours 28 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
330 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

SDZ038-039-050-052>054-057>061-063>065-068-069-211045-
Beadle-Kingsbury-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Brule-Aurora-Davison-
Hanson-McCook-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Bon Homme-Yankton-
330 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, east
central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast
South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Scattered thunderstorms will develop mid to late afternoon across
central South Dakota, and move toward the James River areas during
the evening. A few storms could produce hail to ping-pong ball size
and winds to 70 mph from very late afternoon through the evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Scattered thunderstorms will develop during the later afternoon and
early evening hours on Sunday. An isolated severe storm is possible
with hail to half-dollar size and winds to 60 mph.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed between 6 pm and 11 pm.

IAZ001>003-014-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-SDZ040-055-056-062-
066-067-211045-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Clay-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-
Pipestone-Rock-Brookings-Lake-Moody-Minnehaha-Turner-
330 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, southwest
Minnesota, east central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

A few thunderstorms are possible tonight, but the probability for
widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

Thunderstorms will develop again mid to late afternoon Sunday,
especially from around Interstate 90 and south. A few storms could
become severe through the early evening with large hail to ping-pong
ball size and damaging wind to 70 mph.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

IAZ012-013-020>022-031-032-NEZ013-014-SDZ070-071-211045-
Sioux-O'Brien-Plymouth-Cherokee-Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Dixon-
Dakota-Clay-Union-
330 PM CDT Sat Jun 20 2020

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central
Iowa, northeast Nebraska and southeast South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

A few thunderstorms are possible tonight, but the probability for
widespread hazardous weather is low.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday.

A few thunderstorms during the morning could produce brief heavy
rainfall or even some small hail, but a more significant threat for
severe storms will evolve by late afternoon and evening. Scattered
thunderstorms will develop rapidly between 4 and 7 pm, some of which
will become severe with large hail to hen egg size and winds to 70
mph. Thunderstorms should taper off in intensity toward midnight.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 20, 11:37 AM CST, 5 hours 21 minutes before
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The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 197 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 hail, 2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 4:58 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 0.69 mi N of Chamberlain
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
43.810, -99.330

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 5:12 PM CST to 5:14 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 1 mi W of (9v9)chamberlain Arp
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.770, -99.340

The ground was covered by walnut to golf ball size hail.

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 5:18 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 0.5 mi E of (9v9)chamberlain Arp
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.770, -99.310

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 5:20 PM CST to 5:22 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 2 mi E of (9v9)chamberlain Arp
Measured
1.75 in hail
Crop damage
$100,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.770, -99.280

Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 5:32 PM CST to 5:34 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 9.6 mi WNW of Lyonville
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.920, -99.150

Several cars were damaged by falling hail. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 6:04 PM CST to 6:06 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 5.05 mi E of Eagle
Measured
1.5 in hail
Crop damage
$40,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.560, -98.980

Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 6:30 PM CST to 6:32 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 7.67 mi N of Lucas
Measured
2.75 in hail
Crop damage
$10,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
43.390, -99.240

Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 6:37 PM CST to 6:39 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 5.88 mi NNE of Lucas
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.360, -99.180

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 6:39 PM CST to 6:41 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 7.75 mi NNW of Lucas
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.380, -99.290

Hail damaged several cars. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Hail, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 6:48 PM CST to 6:50 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 9.39 mi SW of Platte
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.290, -98.990

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 6:53 PM CST to 6:55 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 5.05 mi E of Eagle
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.560, -98.980

Hail from pea to quarter size fell for a couple minutes.

Hail, Brule

When
June 20, 7:03 PM CST to 7:05 PM CST
Where
Brule County, 11.84 mi ESE of Eagle
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$12,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.530, -98.850

Some damage was noted to corn fields. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Hail, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 7:11 PM CST to 7:13 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 9.35 mi SW of Platte
Measured
1 in hail
Crop damage
$14,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
43.300, -99.000

Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Hail, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 7:25 PM CST to 7:27 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 5.52 mi E of Platte Muni Arpt
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.400, -98.710

Pea to ping-pong ball size hail covered the ground.

Hail, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 7:30 PM CST to 7:32 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 5.24 mi SSE of Academy
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
43.380, -99.040

Thunderstorm Wind, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 7:30 PM CST to 7:33 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 5.24 mi SSE of Academy
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.380, -99.040

Wind gust of 65 mph was measured by a personal weather station.

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 7:39 PM CST to 7:41 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 4.99 mi ENE of Bonesteel
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.100, -98.860

Hail, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 7:54 PM CST to 7:56 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 9.35 mi SW of Platte
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
43.300, -99.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Charles Mix

When
June 20, 8:15 PM CST to 8:18 PM CST
Where
Charles Mix County, 6.24 mi N of Ravinia
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.220, -98.420

Several limbs from 4 to 5 inches in diameter were removed from trees. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 8:18 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 0.86 mi SE of Ft Randall
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.010, -98.620

Hail, Gregory

When
June 20, 8:45 PM CST to 8:47 PM CST
Where
Gregory County, 5.6 mi W of Ft Randall
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.010, -98.740

Hail of various size covered the ground.

What these are

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

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, June 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 905616, 905617, 905618, 905619, 905620, 905621, 905622, 905623, 905624, 905625, 905626, 905627, 905628, 905629, 905630, 905636, 905631, 905632, 905635, 905633, 905634.