A volatile environment featured a warm front from parts of east central South Dakota into western Minnesota, with a dryline extending to the southwest into Nebraska. With a very strong wave moving northeast through Nebraska into a highly unstable and highly sheared environment, scattered storms initiated and quickly grew upscale to a broad linear structure with damaging winds.
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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.
The episode as NWS FSD wrote it up.
A volatile environment featured a warm front from parts of east central South Dakota into western Minnesota, with a dryline extending to the southwest into Nebraska. With a very strong wave moving northeast through Nebraska into a highly unstable and highly sheared environment, scattered storms initiated and quickly grew upscale to a broad linear structure with damaging winds. With crop development well behind schedule and many fields yet to be planted, there was ample dirt available to be lofted into the leading edge of the storms, which took on the characteristics of a haboob reducing visibility to near zero at the onset of high winds.
A broad swath of winds from 70 to 100 mph devastated much of southeast South Dakota, and portions of southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska and northwest Iowa, causing extensive tree and structural damage and scores of injuries. The highest observed wind gust was 107 mph near Tripp, SD. In addition, vehicles and high profile vehicles were blown off several roads, shutting down traffic on Interstates 29 and 90. Two (direct) fatalities occurred in vehicles impacted by debris as the storms moved into the Sioux Falls area. Power was disrupted in a widespread area, with estimates of over 45,000 customers impacted at one time. Many schools were closed due to damage and power issues. The South Dakota Governor requested and was granted a Presidential Disaster Declaration for damage to public infrastructure at an estimated cost of 6.7 million dollars across 20 counties and two reservations. Private losses were a much higher toll, and just one of the impacted counties (McCook) estimated at least 150 to 175 million dollars in damage. Presidential Disaster Declarations were also granted in Dixon County, Nebraska and Lincoln County, Minnesota.
Following the afternoon line of storms, a secondary band of storms developed near the core of the upper level jet across eastern Nebraska in the early evening hours. These storms also quickly become severe, with a mix of large hail, damaging wind, and even an isolated tornado near Sioux City. This cluster of storms moved through far southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota during the evening.
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 May 12, 1:20 PM CST, 2 hours 5 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 220 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Friday) Issued at 219 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022 Dealing with another interesting and challenging severe weather threat for this afternoon and evening. A strong upper level wave in Wyoming was spreading cooler and drier air aloft into central NE this afternoon with elevated convection develop in central NE which was lifting fairly quickly northward. Still some question on supercell vs. linear development and the last few runs of the HRRR are leaning a little more towards a supercell/multicell set up vs the earlier expectation of a strong bowing segment. Still not completely buying into this but there will be a little concern if the ACCAS/showers and thunderstorms moving north move through just before peak heating which might limit the ability to get surface based storms going and generate a more organized jet and cold pool. Current WoFS output still suggesting that the storms that move into areas near and west of the James Valley through 23z will have a good chance at producing 50 knot or higher wind gusts. With the 0-3km bulk shear vector running about 35-40 knots from 210 degrees will need to watch any linear segment that move northeast for possible QLCS spinups. The other thought is that with the wave and front a touch slower than it appeared yesterday is that this initial more cellular activity will wrap north fairly quickly mid to late afternoon then after about 0-3z this evening a more linear system will try to develop in north central and eastern NE and lift northeast as the cooler and drier air aloft punch east with the upper wave, bringing a bit higher threat for the strongest winds to areas near and east of Interstate 29. Deep west to southwest flow will develop tonight into Friday and bring much drier air to the region and drop temperatures about 15 to 20 degrees. Expecting highs mostly in the lower to mid 70s on Friday with wind gusts about 20 to 30 mph, likely closer to 40 mph north of Interstate 90. .LONG TERM...(Friday Night through Thursday) Issued at 219 PM CDT Thu May 12 2022 Saturday through Monday low pressure will rotate across central Canada which will keep a dry westerly flow across the Northern Plains. This will bring mostly dry conditions with seasonally mild temperatures as well as seasonally breezy conditions. Morning lows likely to be from the lower 40s to lower 50s with afternoon highs from about 65 to 75. Troughiness over the western United States Tuesday into Thursday will spread into the Northern Rockies by Thursday and bring a series of waves into the Northern and Central Plains. Too far out to determine timing and strength of any storms but for now does not look like a great set up for heavier rain or severe weather. Overall temperatures will remain seasonally mild. && .AVIATION...(For the 12Z TAFS through 12Z Friday morning) Issued at 646 AM CDT Thu May 12 2022 Isolated convection may linger near/north of Hwy 14 early in the period, but otherwise expecting VFR conditions with increasing southerly winds through mid afternoon. After 21Z-22Z, expecting rapid development of thunderstorms into southeast SD, developing into a line which moves quickly east into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota this evening. Large hail and strong/damaging winds will be possible with any thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening, along with at least brief MVFR-IFR conditions. Storm timing is somewhat uncertain, but tried to narrow down a 2-4 hour window of best chances in the TAFs. After storms move through, a return to VFR conditions is expected. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && SHORT TERM...08 LONG TERM...08 AVIATION...JH
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 505 AM CDT Thu May 12 2022 SDZ038-050-052-053-057>060-063>065-068-069-131015- Beadle-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Brule-Aurora-Davison-Hanson- Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Bon Homme-Yankton- 505 AM CDT Thu May 12 2022 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. Thunderstorms are expected to develop late this afternoon. Large hail up to 2 inches in diameter, wind gusts to 60 mph and an isolated tornado are possible. As the storms move east in the early evening, the greater threat will transition to damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, while hail up to ping pong ball size and perhaps a tornado are still possible. The strongest storms should move east of the James River Valley by 8 pm this evening. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely between 4 pm and 8 pm. IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ039-040-054>056-061-062-066-067-070-071-131015- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Kingsbury-Brookings-Miner-Lake-Moody- McCook-Minnehaha-Turner-Union- 505 AM CDT Thu May 12 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northwest Iowa, west central Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, east central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...Today and tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop west of I-29 in the late afternoon. Storms should evolve into a squall line which will move quickly east toward I-29, and into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota in the early evening. Damaging wind gusts to 75 mph will be the primary threat, while hail up to ping pong ball size and perhaps a tornado are also possible. The strongest storms should move east of out of southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa by 11pm or midnight. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is likely between 5 pm and 11 pm.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
356 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0345 PM TSTM WND GST 9 SW PLATTE 43.29N 98.96W
05/12/2022 M61 MPH CHARLES MIX SD MESONET
MESONET STATION FW5808 PLATTE.
&&
STPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
414 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0330 PM TSTM WND DMG BONESTEEL 43.08N 98.95W
05/12/2022 GREGORY SD TRAINED SPOTTER
MULTIPLE 3 INCH BRANCHES DOWN.
&&
STPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
416 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0401 PM TSTM WND GST 3 S CORSICA 43.38N 98.41W
05/12/2022 M62 MPH DOUGLAS SD MESONET
MESONET STATION 304 SD RWIS CORSICA.
&&
TRMPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SIOUX FALLS SD
423 PM CDT THU MAY 12 2022
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0410 PM TSTM WND DMG SPRINGFIELD 42.85N 97.89W
05/12/2022 BON HOMME SD PUBLIC
TRAINED SPOTTER REPORTS MULTIPLE BRANCHES
(ESTIMATED 2 FT IN DIAMETER) ON THE GROUND.
&&
STThe Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 105 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:24 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Multiple powerlines were downed throughout Newcastle. Multiple buildings are also destroyed along state Highway 12 near mile markers 219 and 220.
Multiple trees and powerlines were downed throughout Ponca.
Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Multiple tree limbs were downed, with several on powerlines.
A brief gustnado developed along the storm outflow, but no damage was noted.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nebraska in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, May 2022
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: 1033891, 1033892, 1033894, 1033895, 1033896.