Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 17, 2021

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 17, 2021
Start: 2021-07-17T16:35
End: 2021-07-17T18:00
Location: South Dakota

July 17, 2021 · NWS UNR · 6 events in 2 counties and zones

A severe thunderstorm developed over the southern Black Hills and tracked southeast through far southwest South Dakota, producing very large hail initially, then strong wind gusts as it moved onto the plains.

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: 6

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.

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 17, 3:54 PM MST, 41 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 17, 3:54 PM MST, 41 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
454 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Saturday)
Issued at 1241 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

The latest water vapor satellite and associated RAP
500-mb analysis showed an upper high over NM with anticyclonic flow
extending northward across the CWA. Very weak and subtle short-wave
troughs were embedded in the flow across the Rockies, but Q-vectors
and negative CVA indicated weak subsidence for the CWA. The latest
MLCAPE was 250-1250 J/kg from west to east across the CWA, but MLCIN
also was -100 to -250 J/kg for much of the CWA. Given the minimal
upper forcing and capping, expect thunderstorm coverage/development
to be hindered this afternoon/evening. CAMs have agreement on weak
storms firing over the BLKHLS by 21z, with additional storms near a
psuedo dryline/surface trough over northeastern WY after 21z --
eventually moving over southwestern SD. This is supported by a very
subtle short-wave trough moving through central WY ATTM. The 0-6km
bulk shear will be favorable for a few supercells given modest
midlevel northwest flow atop low-level southeast flow, with
southerly RM motions and east-northeasterly LM motions. A low-level
jet of 25-30kt and the weak upper wave may help sustain storms over
southwestern SD into mid-evening. CAMs also suggest a few storms
over northwestern SD late this afternoon and especially into the
evening, but confidence in this is somewhat lower.

The overall upper pattern will not change appreciably for the
upcoming 5-7 days as high pressure remains over the central/southern
Rockies and anticyclonic flow mostly dominates over our CWA. Decent l
apse rates and MLCAPE still will be present on Sunday, but again
with very weak forcing (likely subsidence) and notable capping.
However, will add small chances for storms over the BLKHLS where
heating and upslope flow may favor some convective development, and
also will keep PoPs for south-central SD where richer moisture,
higher MLCAPE, and weak surface convergence may favor a few storms.

Midlevel lapse rates decrease for Monday and Tuesday with minimal
chances for storms, except for possibly northeastern WY on Tuesday
where lapse rates are steeper and PWAT values reach 150-200 percent
of average. Tracking upper waves beyond 1-2 days will be difficult
in this weak flow pattern, but cannot rule out storms completely,
especially toward the end of next week when the ridge may break down
a little. Otherwise, the low-level thermal ridge will remain mostly
just to the west of the CWA, and considerable smoky haze at times
will persist. Thus, although temperatures will be above-average, it
may be difficult to reach the 100s.

Finally, although RHs will be low at times, winds will be light
overall, and the intersection of low RH and high winds greater
than 25 mph appears unlikely at this time.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Sunday Evening)
Issued At 452 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

Scattered TSRA over the Black Hills will shift into southwest SD
early this evening then dissipate. Areas may experience localized
MVFR conditions in storms as well as potential for strong erratic
winds and hail. Outside of any thunderstorms, VFR conditions are
expected through the period.

&&

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

DISCUSSION...Bunkers
AVIATION...Johnson

Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 17, 4:40 AM MST, 11 hours 55 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
540 AM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-046-047-049-072>074-WYZ057-071-
181145-
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-Wyoming Black Hills-Northeastern Crook-
540 AM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021 /640 AM CDT Sat Jul 17 2021/

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are possible this afternoon
and evening. Some storms may become severe with damaging winds
and hail the primary hazards.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

No hazardous weather is 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

WYZ054>056-058-181145-
Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-Western Crook-Weston-
540 AM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

Isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and
evening, but storms are not expected to become severe.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

No hazardous weather is 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

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 2:06 PM MST, 2 hours 29 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
306 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

SDZ024-028-172145-
Northern Black Hills SD-Central Black Hills SD-
306 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHWESTERN LAWRENCE AND WEST CENTRAL
PENNINGTON COUNTIES...

At 306 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 4 miles northeast of O'Neil Pass to 4 miles
southeast of Mystic. Movement was southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail will be possible with these storms.

Locations impacted include...
Hill City, Johnson Siding, Silver City, Hisega, Rochford, Mystic,
Pactola Reservoir, Crooks Tower, Roubaix Lake and Black Fox
Campground.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms, and may lead
to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 4424 10367 4407 10335 4392 10359 4424 10404
      4431 10403
TIME...MOT...LOC 2106Z 290DEG 16KT 4427 10396 4402 10359

Bunkers

Local storm report, Jul 17, 2:41 PM MST, 1 hour 54 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
341 PM MDT SAT JUL 17 2021

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

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       2 SW HAMILL             43.59N  99.71W
07/17/2021  M1.21 INCH       TRIPP              SD   COCORAHS

            24-HOUR RAINFALL.

0700 AM     HEAVY RAIN       3 NE NORRIS             43.49N 101.16W
07/17/2021  M0.85 INCH       MELLETTE           SD   COCORAHS

            24-HOUR RAINFALL.

&&

NWS

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 3:05 PM MST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
405 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

SDZ024-028-172245-
Northern Black Hills SD-Central Black Hills SD-
405 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTH CENTRAL LAWRENCE AND WEST CENTRAL
PENNINGTON COUNTIES...

At 405 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Rochford, or 14 miles south of Lead, moving southeast at 15 mph.

Half inch hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Silver City, Rochford, Flag Mountain, Mystic, Black Fox Campground
and Pactola Reservoir.

LAT...LON 4411 10389 4420 10389 4424 10376 4411 10350
      4397 10371
TIME...MOT...LOC 2205Z 310DEG 11KT 4414 10377

Bunkers

Local storm report, Jul 17, 3:28 PM MST, 1 hour 7 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
428 PM MDT SAT JUL 17 2021

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

0351 PM     TSTM WND GST     5 WNW NEW UNDERWOOD     44.12N 102.93W
07/17/2021  M52 MPH          PENNINGTON         SD   MESONET

&&

MLS

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 3:40 PM MST, 55 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
440 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

SDZ029-172330-
Southern Black Hills SD-
440 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER WESTERN CUSTER COUNTY...

At 440 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 3
miles north of Jewel Cave National Monument, or 12 miles west of
Custer, moving south at 25 mph.

Penny size hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Jewel Cave National Monument.

LAT...LON 4385 10400 4385 10375 4356 10356 4353 10390
TIME...MOT...LOC 2240Z 340DEG 23KT 4378 10385

Bunkers

Special weather statement, Jul 17, 4:25 PM MST, 10 minutes before

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
525 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

SDZ027-029-180000-
Southern Foot Hills SD-Southern Black Hills SD-
525 PM MDT Sat Jul 17 2021

...STRONG THUNDERSTORM OVER SOUTHWESTERN CUSTER AND NORTHWESTERN FALL
RIVER COUNTIES...

At 525 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 6
miles west of Argyle, or 16 miles southwest of Custer, moving south
at 20 mph.

Nickel size hail will be possible with this storm.

Locations impacted include...
Argyle.

LAT...LON 4359 10390 4362 10369 4341 10355 4336 10383
TIME...MOT...LOC 2325Z 338DEG 19KT 4357 10378

Bunkers

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 103 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Hail, Custer

When: July 17, 4:35 PM MST
Where: Custer County, 9.04 mi W of Argyle
Measured: 2.25 in hail
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 43.540, -103.830

Hail, Custer

When: July 17, 4:46 PM MST
Where: Custer County, 8 mi E of Dewey
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.530, -103.880

Hail, Fall River

When: July 17, 4:55 PM MST
Where: Fall River County, 9.67 mi N of Edgemont
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.440, -103.830

Hail, Fall River

When: July 17, 5:55 PM MST
Where: Fall River County, 4.53 mi E of Provo
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.180, -103.760

Thunderstorm Wind, Fall River

When: July 17, 5:55 PM MST
Where: Fall River County, 4.53 mi E of Provo
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.180, -103.760

A roof was blown off a barn.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fall River

When: July 17, 6:00 PM MST
Where: Fall River County, 7 mi S of Hot Springs
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.329, -103.480

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 2021 Every state in 2021 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, July 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: 969308, 969310, 969311, 969317, 969319, 969322.