Hail, Custer
- When
- August 14, 12:20 PM MST
- Where
- Custer County, 6 mi SW of Fairburn
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 43.629, -103.295
Hail in South Dakota, August 14, 2021
A thunderstorm quickly became severe along the eastern foothills of the Black Hills and tracked south-southeast into southwestern South Dakota before weakening. The storm produced hail to quarter size along its path.
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
- 3
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 thunderstorm quickly became severe along the eastern foothills of the Black Hills and tracked south-southeast into southwestern South Dakota before weakening. The storm produced hail to quarter size along its path.
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 Aug 14, 11:39 AM MST, 41 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Aug 14, 11:39 AM MST, 41 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 1239 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Saturday) Issued at 1237 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 With broad upper ridging over the western CONUS, upper- level smoke is drifting into northeastern WY and western SD. Morning clouds dissipated, but cumulus are popping up across the CWA, most pronounced over the Black Hills. A couple blips on radar have appeared, then fizzled, but one storm is trying to intensify. Surface map shows low pressure to the east, resulting in southerly winds across the CWA - breezy over south central SD. Temperatures this afternoon are warming into the 80s and 90s. Still plenty of discrepancy among CAMs for thunderstorm action this afternoon. Not seeing much for upper-level support in WV or models, but Black Hills will be the focus for any development, with storms then spreading onto the eastern plains. Buoyancy and shear ingredients are still forecast to be sufficient for storms to become severe. A shortwave currently over northeastern MT is progged to slide through central SD overnight. With the nose of the low-level jet pushing into south central SD, storms will be possible in the presence of 1000 J/kg MLCAPE. Shear will be weak to marginal, so cannot rule out the possibility of a strong to severe storm early Sunday morning. Hot weather will continue Sunday through Tuesday, as thermal ridge axis gradually slides over our area. Highs in the 90s to around 100 can be expected each day. However, the return of smoke/haze to the area could limit these highs. An occasional storm will be possible, but weather will be dry overall during this time. Midweek, and approaching low pressure system from the Pacific Northwest will begin to affect the region. Timing appears a bit slower than previous runs, with the associated cold front now moving through Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms will be possible Thursday/Friday as the trough pushes through. Models diverge after that, so confidence in next weekend's forecast is low. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS Through 18Z Sunday) Issued At 1111 AM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 VFR conditions are expected through the forecast period. Isold storms are possible from the Black Hills to south central SD && .FIRE WEATHER... Issued At 1237 PM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 Hot and dry conditions are expected through early next week, with highs in the 90s, and relative humidity dipping into the teens. On Sunday and Monday, winds are expected to be fairly light over the driest areas. The most likely place for breezy winds will be across south central SD, where relative humidity will be around 30 to 40 percent. However, on Tuesday, southerly winds may increase ahead of an approaching trough, then change directions and become gusty behind the trough. Anticipating Tuesday as the day to watch for potential headlines. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && DISCUSSION...Pojorlie AVIATION...MLS FIRE WEATHER...Pojorlie
Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 14, 3:03 AM MST, 9 hours 17 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Rapid City SD 403 AM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 SDZ001-002-012>014-025-WYZ054>058-071-151300- Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach- Northern Foot Hills-Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell- Western Crook-Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook- 403 AM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northwestern South Dakota...northeast Wyoming...and the Black Hills of Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms will be possible at times in the period. Widespread severe weather is not expected at this time. .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 SDZ024-026>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-151300- Northern Black 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- 403 AM MDT Sat Aug 14 2021 /503 AM CDT Sat Aug 14 2021/ This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of western South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight There is a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon. An isolated strong to severe storm or two will be possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday Thunderstorms will be possible at times in the period. Widespread severe weather is not expected at this time. .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
The radar
The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 67 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:18 UTC.
Event by event
3 hail. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Custer
- When
- August 14, 12:35 PM MST
- Where
- Custer County, 2 mi NW of Buffalo Gap
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 43.511, -103.338
The ground was covered with hail.
Hail, Fall River
- When
- August 14, 1:10 PM MST
- Where
- Fall River County, 3 mi SSW of Oral
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- Public
- Coordinates
- 43.360, -103.293
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
The same day elsewhere
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Virginia, August 14, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in New Mexico, August 14, 2021
- Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Virginia, August 14, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, August 14 to 15, 2021
- Hail and Damaging Winds in North Carolina, August 14, 2021
- Damaging Winds in Virginia, August 14, 2021
- Flash Flooding in Arizona, August 14, 2021
- Hail in Nebraska, August 14, 2021
- Flash Flood and Hail in North Carolina, August 14, 2021
- Excessive Heat and Heat in California, August 14 to 16, 2021
- Hail in Nebraska, August 14, 2021
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Virginia, August 14 to 15, 2021
More
Every storm in South Dakota in 2021Every state in 2021This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, August 2021
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: 971947, 971948, 971949.