Hail and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, June 7, 2020

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, June 7, 2020
Start: 2020-06-07T15:50
End: 2020-06-07T17:45
Location: South Dakota

June 7, 2020 · NWS UNR · 5 events in 3 counties and zones

A supercell thunderstorm developed and tracked northeast across eastern Bennett, western Todd, and Mellette Counties. The storm produced hail around quarter size and gusty winds.

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: 5

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 supercell thunderstorm developed and tracked northeast across eastern Bennett, western Todd, and Mellette Counties. The storm produced hail around quarter size and gusty winds.

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 Jun 7, 1:41 PM MST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 7, 1:41 PM MST, 2 hours 9 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
241 PM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Sunday)
Issued at 135 PM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

Upper trough remains to the west this afternoon producing fast
southwesterly flow over the forecast area. A jet streak has
rounded the base of the trough and is headed toward the forecast
area from the southwest. A surface front is currently located from
east of KMBG to east of KIEN. With dewpoints to the east of the
front in the upper 50s to mid-60s and temperatures in the 90s the
MLCAPE has risen to 2000-3000J/KG. CU field on the vis sat depicts
this area well. So far convection to the east of the boundary has
been limited due to an inversion around 650mb. Expect the
inversion there will be overcome by late aftn as upper forcing
increases with the approaching jet max. Supercells capable of
large hail and damaging winds will be possible. While relatively
high LCLs may limit potential, a few tornadoes cannot be ruled
out. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for our south
central SD zones.

Observations over northeastern Wyoming show a very dry boundary
layer due to southwesterly downslope flow. Dewpoints over much of
northeastern Wyoming are only in the 30s, although temperatures
there remain mostly in the mid to upper 70s. MLCAPE there is very
low with somewhat higher readings around 500J/KG toward the WY/MT
border. Any storms that do develop over the higher terrain and
move into northeastern Wyoming will likely produce strong to
severe gusts due to the relatively fast low and mid-level flow
over the area.

19Z KUNR sounding shows relatively steep lapse rates capped by an
inversion above 640mb. Dewpoints over the Black Hills are
currently falling but with increasing upper lift, may see a few
storms able to form over the hills this aftn and eve.

The upper trough will remain to the west on Monday. While the
surface front will be mainly to the east of the forecast area, a
few storms may clip Todd and Tripp counties during the aftn and
evening. Storms may also develop over northeastern Wyoming and
southwestern South Dakota Monday afternoon and evening as another
jet steak affects the region in the fast southwesterly flow
aloft. Any precip would then spread eastward Monday night as the
upper trough shifts eastward. Mainly dry weather is then expected
through the rest of the week with warming temperatures as an
upper ridge builds over the area.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Monday)
Issued At 1055 AM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms, some strong to severe, will
develop after 20Z and will continue until around 06Z. Mainly VFR
conditions are expected through the period. The exception will be
in or near any TSRA, especially east of the Black Hills where
local IFR conditions may develop with the strongest storms.

&&

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

DISCUSSION...10
AVIATION...10

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 7, 9:01 AM MST, 6 hours 49 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
1001 AM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ054>058-
071-081300-
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-Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-
Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook-
1001 AM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020 /1101 AM CDT Sun Jun 7 2020/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for western South Dakota and
northeastern Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a slight risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and
evening, mainly between 300 pm and 900 pm. Golfball size hail or
larger and 60 MPH wind gusts or greater will be the main threats.
An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday

Isolated thunderstorms are possible Monday and Tuesday, but
organized severe thunderstorms are not expected.

.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

Special weather statement, Jun 7, 2:14 PM MST, 1 hour 36 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
414 PM CDT Sun Jun 7 2020

SDZ046-047-049-072200-
Tripp SD-Todd SD-Mellette SD-
414 PM CDT Sun Jun 7 2020

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER NORTHEASTERN TODD...NORTHWESTERN TRIPP
AND SOUTHEASTERN MELLETTE COUNTIES...

At 413 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 3
miles northeast of Haystack Butte, or 9 miles east of Mission, moving
northeast at 60 mph.

Penny size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Okreek, Wood, Mosher and Haystack Butte.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio
stations and available television stations for additional information
and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.

&&

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
south central South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4331 10063 4374 10038 4371 10034 4372 10031
      4370 10029 4371 10023 4369 10021 4371 10018
      4368 10011 4369 10007 4323 10041
TIME...MOT...LOC 2113Z 205DEG 52KT 4335 10047

Bunkers

Special weather statement, Jun 7, 2:38 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
338 PM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

SDZ043-044-072215-
Jackson SD-Bennett SD-
338 PM MDT Sun Jun 7 2020

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHEASTERN JACKSON AND EASTERN BENNETT
COUNTIES...

At 338 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Tuthill, or 9 miles east of Martin, moving northeast at 55 mph.

Half inch hail and winds in excess of 40 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Tuthill, Vetal and northeastern Lacreek Wildlife Refuge.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 900 PM MDT for
south central and southwestern South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4312 10169 4355 10143 4348 10122 4337 10123
      4304 10147
TIME...MOT...LOC 2138Z 205DEG 49KT 4316 10154

Bunkers

Special weather statement, Jun 7, 2:59 PM MST, 51 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
459 PM CDT Sun Jun 7 2020

SDZ047-072230-
Todd SD-
459 PM CDT Sun Jun 7 2020

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER CENTRAL TODD COUNTY...

At 459 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 5
miles southwest of Lakeview, or 18 miles northwest of Valentine,
moving northeast at 55 mph.

Nickel size hail and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with
this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Mission, Okreek, Lakeview and Haystack Butte.

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch remains in effect until 1000 PM CDT for
south central South Dakota.

LAT...LON 4302 10097 4339 10074 4339 10036 4300 10070
      4300 10090
TIME...MOT...LOC 2159Z 205DEG 48KT 4305 10082

Bunkers

Local storm report, Jun 7, 3:18 PM MST, 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
418 PM MDT SUN JUN 07 2020

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

0415 PM     TSTM WND GST     3 SE ROSEBUD            43.20N 100.81W
06/07/2020  E60 MPH          TODD               SD   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER UNR2001910

ME

Local storm report, Jun 7, 3:26 PM MST, 24 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
426 PM MDT SUN JUN 07 2020

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

0415 PM     HAIL             4 NW WOOD               43.54N 100.54W
06/07/2020  E1.00 INCH       MELLETTE           SD   PUBLIC

0415 PM     TSTM WND GST     4 NW WOOD               43.54N 100.54W
06/07/2020  E60 MPH          MELLETTE           SD   PUBLIC

&&

EVENT NUMBER UNR2001911
EVENT NUMBER UNR2001912

ME

Local storm report, Jun 7, 3:28 PM MST, 22 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
428 PM MDT SUN JUN 07 2020

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

0413 PM     NON-TSTM WND GST WEWELA                  43.01N  99.78W
06/07/2020  M60 MPH          TRIPP              SD   MESONET

0419 PM     TSTM WND GST     15 SSE MISSION          43.10N 100.60W
06/07/2020  M53 MPH          TODD               SD   MESONET

&&

EVENT NUMBER UNR2001913
EVENT NUMBER UNR2001914

ME

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 155 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:50 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Bennett

When: June 7, 3:50 PM MST
Where: Bennett County, 10.36 mi NE of Vetal
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.330, -101.240

Hail, Todd

When: June 7, 4:54 PM CST
Where: Todd County, 4 mi NW of Parmelee
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.361, -101.076

Hail, Mellette

When: June 7, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Mellette County, 4 mi W of White River
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.570, -100.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Mellette

When: June 7, 5:17 PM CST
Where: Mellette County, 4 mi W of White River
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.570, -100.830

Wind gusts were estimated at 60 mph.

Hail, Mellette

When: June 7, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Mellette County, 7.8 mi NW of Wood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.580, -100.590

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

Every storm in South Dakota in 2020 Every state in 2020 This day in weather history Warnings 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 893648, 893649, 893650, 893651, 893652.