Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, April 22 to 23, 2022

Name: Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, April 22 to 23, 2022
Start: 2022-04-22T17:40
End: 2022-04-23T19:00
Location: South Dakota

April 22 to 23, 2022 · NWS ABR · 38 events in 17 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: 38

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 ABR wrote it up.

A powerful low pressure system produced several severe thunderstorms, high winds, a brief tornado, and freezing rain. The severe storms developed over south-central South Dakota during the evening hours of the 22nd and advanced northward along with a warm front into north-central and northeastern South Dakota into the early morning hours of the 23rd, bringing widespread damage to the area. The storms produced hail, up to two inches in diameter, 60 to 75 mph wind, and locally heavy rainfall. Strong thunderstorm winds rolled a camper on Highway 45 near Sunshine Bible Academy in Hand County. In addition, half-dollar size hail broke windows on a home seven miles southwest of Ridgeview, and two-inch hail broke vehicle and house windows near Ridgeview. Lightning caused some prairie and hay bale fires around the Highmore area. The center of the low-pressure system passed over Aberdeen on April 23rd at 12:20 AM CST, producing a mean sea level pressure of 983.5 mb. The pressure was just 3.5 mb shy of Aberdeen's 980 mb record for April. Additional severe storms developed during the afternoon hours of the 23rd. The storms produce small hail in Campbell County and a brief tornado in Edmunds County. High winds followed the back side of the surface low pressure during the late evening hours on April 22nd into the afternoon hours on April 23rd. Some of the highest wind reports include 79 mph at Herreid, 75 mph 5 miles east of Danforth, 69 mph at Webster, and 4 miles southwest of Mound City. Freezing rain in north-central South Dakota on the 23rd caused ice to accumulate on power lines. With ice accretion and high winds, many power lines went down, mainly in Corson and Dewey county. The storm system was the third significant storm system of April, which further delayed the agricultural planting season.

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 Aberdeen, SD wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 22, 5:29 PM CST, 11 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 22, 5:29 PM CST, 11 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
629 PM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

.UPDATE...
Issued at 623 PM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

See updated aviation discussion below.

&&

.SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Saturday Night)
Issued at 329 PM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

The main challenge for the short term will be overnight convection.
Sfc low over northeast Colorado will gradually shift into central SD
overnight. A warm front likely located along the NE/SD border will
shift north along with the sfc low overnight. Dewpoints in the 60s
over eastern NE will gradually advect north into eastern SD tonight
contributing to MUCAPES approaching 2k j/kg. For the time being
the atmosphere is likely capped given abundant forecast MLCIN.
However, as LLJ kicks in later this evening, elevated lift is
expected and lapse rates aloft are steep so should see some storms
develop. Main threat from the activity is likely to be hail,
although if any storms form early enough there'll also be a wind
threat. Any tornado threat is probably localized to SW/SC SD just
ahead of sfc low. On Saturday the sfc front edges toward the
eastern border with MN, and this is the most likely area for
convection Saturday afternoon and evening. Severe threat should be
minimal given advancing front will likely push most of the
activity out of the CWA by early evening. Winds will be strong
over SC SD tnt and thus hoisted an advisory for that area to match
up with adjacent offices. Also, over the northeast CWA will have
a wind advisory in effect for especially the Coteau where the
higher elevations will see some pretty good gusts.

.LONG TERM...(Sunday through Friday)
Issued at 329 PM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

At 12Z Sunday, models are showing the surface low near the
KFAR/northern MN vicinity. By this time, enough cold air will have
wrapped into the area to support snowfall over northern portions of
the CWA, mainly west of the James River. Although, any meaningful
accumulations look to be winding down Sunday morning. Given the
strong winds, any snowfall lingering will cause visibility issues
given the strong winds anticipated on the back side of the low.
Precip looks to be out of the region by Sunday afternoon or evening
as the low continues to move away from the region. Winds will be the
main story on Sunday, with at least advisory level speeds looking
likely over central SD towards the James River. Things get a little
more questionable further east. Still seems potential for high wind
criteria is possible, although we only mix to about 850-800mb across
central SD according to soundings, and 0.5km winds do show a
decrease through the day. More time needed to dive into the details
of wind headlines for Sunday. NBMEXP winds do show gusts over 50
knots though, so something to monitor.

Surface high pressure will pass through the region Monday into
Tuesday, with generally quiet conditions and cool temperatures.
There are still signs of warming temperatures Wednesday and
Thursday, with highs rebounding into the 60s for many areas.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS through 00Z Saturday Evening)
Issued at 623 PM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

Scattered showers and thunderstorms will affect a good portion of
the region this evening into the early overnight hours. IFR/MVFR
cigs will remain in place across the north, including at KABR and
KMBG. There will also be periods of MVFR vsbys with the
thunderstorms, as well as the potential for some hail. The
thunderstorm threat will come to an end overnight, then look for
windy conditions and scattered showers during the day Saturday.

&&

.ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Wind Advisory until 5 AM CDT /4 AM MDT/ Saturday for SDZ033-
     035>037-045-048-051.

     Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 7 PM CDT Saturday for SDZ006>008-011-
     018>023.

MN...Wind Advisory from 9 AM to 7 PM CDT Saturday for MNZ039-046.

&&

SHORT TERM...TDK
LONG TERM...TMT
AVIATION...Parkin

Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 22, 2:24 AM CST, 15 hours 16 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
324 AM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-230830-
Traverse-Big Stone-Corson-Campbell-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts-
Walworth-Edmunds-Day-Dewey-Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant-
Hamlin-Deuel-Stanley-Sully-Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Jones-Lyman-Buffalo-
324 AM CDT Fri Apr 22 2022 /224 AM MDT Fri Apr 22 2022/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for west central Minnesota,
central South Dakota, north central South Dakota and northeast
South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and tonight.

Severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon through
tonight. All threats are possible.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday.

As the storm system moves east through the weekend, north central SD,
specifically Corson county, could experience poor visibility in
strong, gusty winds and falling snow. Other areas will see breezy and
gusty winds increase on Saturday out of the southwest then
strengthen further on Sunday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 129 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 hail, 12 thunderstorm wind, 10 high wind, 1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Hand

When: April 22, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 6.8 mi NE of Danforth
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.330, -98.800

Hail, Hand

When: April 22, 5:45 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 8.35 mi S of Vayland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.360, -98.800

Hail, Buffalo

When: April 22, 6:08 PM CST
Where: Buffalo County, 11.49 mi NNW of Gann Vly
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.180, -99.100

Hail, Hyde

When: April 22, 6:28 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 6.91 mi S of Holabird
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.420, -99.580

Hail, Hyde

When: April 22, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 3.76 mi NNW of Stephan
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.300, -99.480

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: April 22, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 5.49 mi E of Danforth
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.240, -98.770

High Wind, Hand

When: April 22, 7:00 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Hand forecast zone
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Reported by: RAWS
Coordinates: 44.548, -99.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Hyde

When: April 22, 7:03 PM CST
Where: Hyde County, 0.85 mi NE of Stephan
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.260, -99.440

Thunderstorm Wind, Hand

When: April 22, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 6.84 mi NW of Danforth
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 44.310, -98.990

Severe winds tossed a camper on Highway 45.

Hail, Hand

When: April 22, 7:21 PM CST
Where: Hand County, 3.72 mi ESE of Vayland
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.460, -98.710

Hail, Dewey

When: April 22, 7:10 PM MST
Where: Dewey County, 1.47 mi E of Thatcher
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.020, -100.900

Hail, Spink

When: April 22, 8:15 PM CST
Where: Spink County, 4.86 mi S of Tulare
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.660, -98.510

Hail, Dewey

When: April 22, 7:25 PM MST
Where: Dewey County, 1.69 mi SW of Ridgeview
Measured: 2 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.060, -100.840

The large hail broke vehicle and house windows.

Hail, Brown

When: April 22, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Brown County, 2 mi SE of Claremont
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.650, -97.990

Hail, Spink

When: April 22, 8:44 PM CST
Where: Spink County, 2.4 mi SW of Tulare
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.710, -98.540

Thunderstorm Wind, Corson

When: April 22, 8:04 PM MST
Where: Corson County, 3.88 mi W of Trail City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.470, -100.810

Hail, Brown

When: April 22, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Brown County, 3.45 mi N of Claremont
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.720, -98.020

Hail, Potter

When: April 22, 10:00 PM CST
Where: Potter County, 11.74 mi W of Gorman
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.920, -100.320

High Wind, Campbell

When: April 22, 10:00 PM CST to April 23, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Campbell forecast zone
Measured: 69 kt (79 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.771, -100.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Campbell

When: April 22, 10:00 PM CST to April 23, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Campbell forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.771, -100.052 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: April 22, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Walworth County, 8.95 mi ENE of Lowry
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.380, -99.800

Wind destroyed a large outbuilding/chicken coop.

High Wind, Lyman

When: April 22, 11:00 PM CST to April 23, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Lyman forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.896, -99.847 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Faulk

When: April 22, 11:05 PM CST
Where: Faulk County, 5.18 mi ENE of Cresbard
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.210, -98.880

Estimated 70+ mph winds moved a grain cart around 15 feet.

Thunderstorm Wind, Walworth

When: April 23, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Walworth County, Glenham
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.530, -100.270

Damage to brick roof/facade on the old school building.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: April 23, 12:40 AM CST
Where: Campbell County, 0.96 mi E of Artas
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: COOP Observer
Coordinates: 45.880, -99.800

Shingle damage to the house, tin roof blown off machine shed. Residents slept through the storm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: April 23, 12:55 AM CST
Where: Campbell County, 3.96 mi SSW of Mound City
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.670, -100.110

Thunderstorm Wind, Campbell

When: April 23, 1:15 AM CST
Where: Campbell County, 1.93 mi W of Mound City
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.720, -100.110

The high winds damaged a grain bin and overturned a tractor-trailer.

Thunderstorm Wind, Potter

When: April 23, 1:59 AM CST
Where: Potter County, 1.38 mi S of Gorman
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.900, -100.080

High Wind, Clark

When: April 23, 2:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where: Clark forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.858, -97.729 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Spink

When: April 23, 2:46 AM CST
Where: Spink County, Mellette
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.150, -98.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Edmunds

When: April 23, 3:10 AM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 1.46 mi SSW of Ipswich
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.430, -99.040

High Wind, Spink

When: April 23, 12:00 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Spink forecast zone
Measured: 57 kt (66 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.938, -98.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Deuel

When: April 23, 12:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Deuel forecast zone
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 44.760, -96.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Day

When: April 23, 1:00 PM CST to 6:00 PM CST
Where: Day forecast zone
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.367, -97.607 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Grant

When: April 23, 1:00 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Grant forecast zone
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.172, -96.768 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Brown

When: April 23, 1:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Brown forecast zone
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: ASOS
Coordinates: 45.590, -98.352 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, Edmunds

When: April 23, 1:35 PM CST to 1:36 PM CST
Where: Edmunds County, 7.29 mi E of Hosmer to 7.31 mi E of Hosmer
Rating: EF0
Path length: 0.03 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.580, -99.330

A tornado briefly touchdown in an open pasture.

Hail, Campbell

When: April 23, 2:20 PM CST
Where: Campbell County, 3.56 mi NE of Mound City
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 45.750, -100.010

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.
High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2022 Every state in 2022 This day in weather history The tornado archive for South Dakota, 2022 Warnings in South Dakota, April 2022

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1022414, 1022415, 1022416, 1022417, 1022418, 1022441, 1022758, 1022442, 1022431, 1022419, 1022420, 1022422, 1022423, 1022424, 1022425, 1022444, 1022426, 1022427, 1022756, 1022763, 1022435, 1022770, 1022445, 1022437, 1022438, 1022446, 1022440, 1022447, 1022788, 1022428, 1022448, 1022765, 1022774, 1022761, 1022764, 1022782, 1022705, 1022429.