South Dakota, 2020

Flooding in South Dakota, March 27 to 31, 2020

March 27 to 31, 2020 · NWS FSD · 11 events in 5 counties and zones

A significant early spring storm wrapped up while moving from Kansas on the morning of Saturday, March 28 to Wisconsin early morning March 29. While temperatures were, in general, too warm for snowfall with the exception of some higher elevation locations receiving 1 to 3 inches of snowfall during the afternoon and evening of March 28, there was appreciable rainfall from 1 to 2 inches from far…

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
11

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.

A significant early spring storm wrapped up while moving from Kansas on the morning of Saturday, March 28 to Wisconsin early morning March 29. While temperatures were, in general, too warm for snowfall with the exception of some higher elevation locations receiving 1 to 3 inches of snowfall during the afternoon and evening of March 28, there was appreciable rainfall from 1 to 2 inches from far eastern South Dakota into parts of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.

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 Mar 27, 6:13 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 27, 6:13 PM CST, 1 hour 47 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 27, 3:44 AM CST, 16 hours 16 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD
444 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020

IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-NEZ013-014-SDZ038-039-050-
052>054-057>061-063>071-280945-
Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee-
Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Dixon-Dakota-Beadle-Kingsbury-Gregory-
Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson-McCook-
Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Turner-Lincoln-Bon Homme-Yankton-
Union-
444 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered showers will begin to move northward after dark tonight.
Isolated thunderstorms will be possible along and south of the
Missouri River and eastwards into portions of western Iowa.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Storm total rainfall on Saturday into Saturday night could reach
1 to 2 inches in locations from southwest Minnesota and far
northwest Iowa, through southeast South Dakota and extreme
northeast Nebraska. Portions of east central South Dakota could
see rain totals approach 3 inches.  Rainfall could result in
ponding of water in poor drainage areas and certainly rises in
area rivers and streams.

A few thunderstorms are possible on Saturday across areas east of a
Sioux City to Spencer line, but severe storms are not expected.

North to northwest winds will increase Saturday into Saturday
night, gusting up to 35 to 50 mph.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097-098-SDZ040-055-056-062-280945-
Lincoln-Lyon-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson-Pipestone-Rock-
Brookings-Lake-Moody-Minnehaha-
444 AM CDT Fri Mar 27 2020

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Scattered showers will begin to move northward Friday evening.
Isolated thunderstorms will be possible along and south of the
Missouri River and eastwards into portions of western Iowa
overnight.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday

Storm total rainfall on Saturday into Saturday night could reach 1
to 3 inches by Sunday morning. Rainfall could result in ponding
of water in poor drainage areas and certainly rises in area rivers
and streams.

Snow may mix with the rain at times Saturday afternoon into
Saturday night. Snow accumulations may be possible, especially in
portions of southwest Minnesota along the Buffalo Ridge.

North to northwest winds will increase Saturday into Saturday
night, gusting up to 35 to 50 mph at times.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Moody

When
March 27, 8:00 PM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Moody County, 12.93 mi NW of Flandreau to 13.36 mi NW of Flandreau
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
44.170, -96.780

With rainfall of 0.91 inches 2 miles south southeast of Astoria, 0.43 inches near White and 0.33 inches 4 miles northeast of Bruce, the Big Sioux River near Brookings (gage site BRKS2) returned to flood at the end of the month. The river crested 0.68 feet above flood stage on March 31, inundating several rural roads and a great deal of agricultural land. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month.

Flood, Minnehaha

When
March 28, 9:00 PM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Minnehaha County, 2.6 mi WNW of Brandon to 3 mi W of Brandon
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.590, -96.650

With rainfall which averaged 1.00 to 1.50 inches around the Sioux Falls area, the Big Sioux River at Brandon (gage site BBSS2) returned to flood late month. The river crested at 0.66 feet above flood stage on March 29, resulting in extensive flooding of agricultural land near the river and flooding the north access road to the Big Sioux Recreation Area. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Lincoln

When
March 28, 9:00 PM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 2.47 mi NNE of Shindler to 3.28 mi SSE of Shindler
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.500, -96.623

With rainfall which averaged 1.00 to 1.50 inches around the Sioux Falls area, the Big Sioux River at Brandon (gage site BBSS2) returned to flood late month. The river crested at 0.66 feet above flood stage on March 29, resulting in extensive flooding of agricultural land near the river and flooding the north access road to the Big Sioux Recreation Area. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Minnehaha

When
March 28, 10:00 PM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Minnehaha County, 3.14 mi NNW of Renner to 2.94 mi SW of Renner
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.690, -96.760

With rainfall of 1.55 inches 14 miles north northeast of Sioux Falls, 1.13 inches 7 miles west of Garretson and 0.85 inches 4 miles northwest of Renner, the Big Sioux River at Sioux Falls I-90 returned to flood late month. The river crested 0.62 feet above flood stage on March 31, resulting in flooding of agricultural lands near the river north of Sioux Falls. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Brookings

When
March 29, 8:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Brookings County, 8.34 mi NNW of Bruce to 7.91 mi N of Bruce
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
44.544, -96.937

With rainfall of 0.91 inches 2 miles south southeast of Astoria and 0.43 inches near White, the Big Sioux River near Estelline (gage site BSES2) returned to flood at the end of the month. The river crested 0.38 feet above flood stage on March 29, flooding agricultural land near the river. Minor flooding continued at the end of the month.

Flood, Union

When
March 29, 9:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Union County, 6.93 mi NE of Alcester to 10.62 mi SE of Big Spgs
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.080, -96.540

With rainfall of 1.58 inches at Rock Valley, 1.51 inches at Canton and an average of 1.00 to 1.50 inches around Sioux Falls, the Big Sioux River above Hawarden (gage site HWDI4) returned to flood at the end of the month. The river crested at 2.52 feet above flood stage on March 30, resulting in significant flooding of crop and pasture land. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Union

When
March 29, 11:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Union County, 1.71 mi SE of Big Spgs to 3.43 mi NW of Richland
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
42.910, -96.580

With rainfall of 1.58 inches at Rock Valley, 1.51 inches at Canton and 1.37 inches at Akron, the Big Sioux River at Akron (gage site AKRI4) returned to flood at the end of the month. The river crested at 1.66 feet above flood stage on March 31, resulting in significant flooding of crop and pasture land. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Lincoln

When
March 29, 2:00 PM CST to March 30, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 4.2 mi N of Canton Muni Arpt to 4.98 mi N of Canton
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.380, -96.557

With rainfall of 1.51 inches at Canton and which averaged 1.00 to 1.50 inches around Sioux Falls, the Big Sioux River above Canton (gage site CBSS2) rose to minor flood briefly late month. The river crested at 0.23 feet above flood stage on March 30, resulting in minor flooding of crop and pasture land.

Flood, Lincoln

When
March 29, 2:00 PM CST to March 31, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Lincoln County, 6.66 mi NNW of Hudson to 6.64 mi NNW of Hudson
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.218, -96.524

With rainfall of 1.51 inches at Canton and which averaged 1.00 to 1.50 inches around Sioux Falls, the Big Sioux River at Fairview (gage site FVWS2) rose to minor flood briefly late month. The river crested at 0.51 feet above flood stage on March 30, resulting in minor flooding of crop and pasture land.

Flood, Minnehaha

When
March 29, 3:00 PM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Minnehaha County, 1 mi W of Dell Rapids to 0.69 mi NNW of Baltic
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
43.820, -96.740

With rainfall of 1.55 inches 14 miles north northeast of Sioux Falls, the Big Sioux River below Dell Rapids (gage site DERS2) returned to flood late month. The river crested at 0.13 feet above flood stage with flooding of agricultural lands near the river. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

Flood, Union

When
March 30, 7:00 AM CST to March 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where
Union County, 0.86 mi NW of Richland to 0.37 mi NNE of Elk Pt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
River/Stream Gage
Coordinates
42.780, -96.640

With rainfall of 1.72 inches 6 miles north northeast of Elk Point, 1.58 inches at Rock Valley, 1.51 inches at Canton and 1.37 inches at Akron, the Big Sioux River near Richland (gage site BSRS2) rose above flood stage late month. The river crested at 1.62 feet above flood stage on March 31, resulting in significant flooding of agricultural land. The river remained at minor flood stage at the end of the month.

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

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, March 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: 875519, 875522, 875523, 875521, 875518, 875530, 875533, 875527, 875528, 875520, 875534.