Thunderstorms developed toward midnight on leading elevated warm advection across south central South Dakota and progressed rapidly northeast through areas north of Interstate 90. Large amounts of DCAPE in the air mass resulted in spotty damaging wind.
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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.
Thunderstorms developed toward midnight on leading elevated warm advection across south central South Dakota and progressed rapidly northeast through areas north of Interstate 90. Large amounts of DCAPE in the air mass resulted in spotty damaging wind. A second cluster of storms developed on the tail end of the initial storms on the nose of an increasing low-level jet, using up to 2000 J/kg of elevated instability to rapidly become severe. Very large hail resulted as storms first developed supercellular characteristics, and then a mix of hail and damaging wind as short bowing segments evolved moving into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.
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 28, 10:06 PM CST, 1 hour 2 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 1106 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Sunday) Issued at 237 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 An upper level wave was moving east of the area this afternoon and was bringing a westerly component to the low level winds, thus keeping low level moisture to a minimum. With this in mind any potential instability that exists is unattainable as we are fully capped at all levels, so for now do not expect any late afternoon or early evening development. There will be another wave that will move onto the Western High Plains this evening which will enhance return flow and bring some cooling aloft which should support thunderstorm development west of the Missouri River. These storms will try to move into areas near and west of the James River from mid evening into the early overnight hours. Given the very dry low levels the main threat from these storms will mainly be strong wind gusts but also a smaller chance for hail. Confidence in this threat for severe weather is a bit low. After roughly midnight the low level jet will increase and bring some stronger forcing to area east of the James River. This forcing will also be fighting that drier air and the capping inversion, but some scattered potential will exist, with the better chance north of I-90 into southwest MN. Isolated severe storms will be possible with this activity and confidence in this is also on the lower side. Sunday will see the area remain in an enhanced risk for severe storms. Once again the late afternoon and early evening development may be tough as a fairly strong capping inversion looks to be in place and with some good indications for mid clouds enhanced heating seems unlikely. However after about 3z a stronger wave will lift north through eastern NE and help back the low level flow. A fairly solid elevated shear profile as well as moderate instability should support some fairly strong storms. Due to the timing of this potential, wind and hail will be the main threats, although some decent low level shear will be possible near and east of I-29, especially near northwest IA so if storms can develop before sunset there would be a possibility of a tornado. .LONG TERM...(Sunday Night through Saturday) Issued at 237 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 Later Sunday night into Monday confidence wanes a bit on development and potential as the models vary quite a bit on strength and placement of the upper level wave. This is a very dynamic wave with a strong boundary in the low levels. Much of Monday should see some fairly strong backed winds in the low levels which will bring good chances for rain and thunderstorms to locations west of Interstate 29. Ensemble output does not really give much of a chance for more than an inch of rain with this forcing but does indicate a decent chance for over a half an inch so that would be good for an area that needs some rainfall. A severe threat will linger for near and east of Interstate 29 as this upper level low lifts northeast. The capping may not be as strong Monday afternoon and early evening so with some pretty impressive shear and plenty of instability there will be a threat for supercells and tornadoes. Again, a lot will depend upon where the upper level low pressure move towards but the current trajectory would suggest the better chances for the higher end severe weather would be east of Interstate 29. Will have to wait and see. Once this wave moves through Monday night into Tuesday cooler air will settle in and the better instability will be south of the area through most of next week. The main story for next week will be temperatures at or below normal, but not too cool. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFS through 06Z Sunday night) Issued at 1105 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 Latest radar imagery shows showers and storms starting to drift eastward into portions of the James River Valley. As alluded to in the previous discussion, can't rule out the possibility of seeing a storm or two impact both KHON and KFSD between 06-11z, causing cigs and vsbys to briefly drop to MVFR levels. Winds during this time should largely remain out of the E/SE, with gusts ranging between 15 to 25 mph. Otherwise, look for quiet conditions to gradually return near daybreak, though MVFR cigs may linger along and north of I-90 though mid-morning. Showers and storms, a few of which could become severe, return Sunday evening as a cold front advances toward the region. However, due to lower confidence in exact location, have opted to only cover storm chances with a PROB30 Group for the time being. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && SHORT TERM...08 LONG TERM...08 AVIATION...SST
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Sioux Falls SD 400 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 SDZ038-039-050-052>054-057>061-063>065-068-292100- Beadle-Kingsbury-Gregory-Jerauld-Sanborn-Miner-Brule-Aurora-Davison- Hanson-McCook-Charles Mix-Douglas-Hutchinson-Bon Homme- 400 PM CDT Sat May 28 2022 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota, east central South Dakota, south central South Dakota and southeast South Dakota. .DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms return to the region this holiday weekend, beginning this evening as storms move across central and eastern South Dakota. The primary severe weather threat this evening will be damaging wind gusts in excess of 70 mph, with isolated hail up to half dollar size also possible. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Additional rounds of thunderstorms are possible by Sunday evening, and again late Monday. Although a few storms may become strong to severe, the greater severe weather threat appears to be near and east of Highway 81. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time. IAZ001>003-012>014-020>022-031-032-MNZ071-072-080-081-089-090-097- 098-NEZ013-014-SDZ040-055-056-062-066-067-069>071-292100- Lyon-Osceola-Dickinson-Sioux-O'Brien-Clay-Plymouth-Cherokee- Buena Vista-Woodbury-Ida-Lincoln-Murray-Cottonwood-Nobles-Jackson- Pipestone-Rock-Dixon-Dakota-Brookings-Lake-Moody-Minnehaha-Turner- Yankton-Union- 400 PM CDT Sat May 28 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...This afternoon and tonight. Showers and thunderstorms return to the region this holiday weekend, beginning tonight. Isolated strong to severe storms are possible, mainly after midnight. The strongest storms may produce hail up to half dollar size, and possibly a few wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. Additional rounds are severe weather are possible Sunday evening and overnight, and again late Monday into Monday evening. Each of these periods could see all modes of severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds, and perhaps a few tornadoes. Remain aware of the forecast and evolving severe weather risks this holiday weekend, especially if you have outdoor plans. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation is not expected at this time.
The Sioux Falls radar (KFSD), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:06 UTC.
20 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD553 5 miles west of Plankinton measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 71 mph.
South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD527 3 miles east-southeast of Forestburg measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 69 mph. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Thunderstorm wind gusts badly damaged a metal outbuilding, which caused it to collapse.
Hail was mostly of nickel size, with a few stones as large as a quarter. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Hail was mostly nickel size, with a few stones as large as ping-pong balls.
South Dakota Road Weather Information System site SD605 3 miles east-southeast of Parker measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 64 mph. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Wind-driven pea-sized hail caused damage to vegetation. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1032050, 1032051, 1032047, 1032028, 1032029, 1032030, 1032052, 1032031, 1032032, 1032033, 1032034, 1032035, 1032036, 1032037, 1032038, 1032039, 1032040, 1032041, 1032042, 1032043, 1032053, 1032044, 1032045, 1032046, 1032048.