Hail in South Dakota, May 6, 2023

Name: Hail in South Dakota, May 6, 2023
Start: 2023-05-06T14:57
End: 2023-05-06T14:57
Location: South Dakota

May 6, 2023 · NWS UNR · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A thunderstorm briefly became severe over portions of northern Haakon County, producing hail to ping pong ball size west of Milesville.

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: 1

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 briefly became severe over portions of northern Haakon County, producing hail to ping pong ball size west of Milesville.

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 May 6, 1:51 PM MST, 1 hour 6 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 6, 1:51 PM MST, 1 hour 6 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, May 6, 9:28 AM MST, 5 hours 29 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
1028 AM MDT Sat May 6 2023

SDZ013-014-026-030>032-042>044-046-047-049-072>074-071300-
Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-Rapid City-Custer Co Plains-
Pennington Co Plains-Haakon-Oglala Lakota-Jackson-Bennett-
Mellette-Todd-Tripp-Sturgis/Piedmont Foot Hills-
Southern Meade Co Plains-Hermosa Foot Hills-
1028 AM MDT Sat May 6 2023 /1128 AM CDT Sat May 6 2023/

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a chance for thunderstorms across much of the area today
and into this evening. There is a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of
severe thunderstorms this afternoon and early evening, meaning
that isolated severe storms are possible. Primary hazards include
large hail and strong wind gusts.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

An unsettled pattern will lead to near daily chances for showers
and thunderstorms through the period. At this time, storms are
not expected to become severe Sunday or Monday, but cannot rule
out isolated strong storms with small hail and gusty winds during
the afternoon and early evening hours. A stronger upper level
system
mid to late week could bring some areas of heavy rainfall.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation may be needed today.

&&

Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio for further updates...or check
our web site at weather.gov/rapidcity

SDZ001-002-012-024-025-027>029-041-WYZ054>058-071-071300-
Harding-Perkins-Butte-Northern Black Hills-Northern Foot Hills-
Southern Foot Hills-Central Black Hills-Southern Black Hills-
Fall River-Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-Western Crook-
Wyoming Black Hills-Weston-Northeastern Crook-
1028 AM MDT Sat May 6 2023

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a chance for thunderstorms across much of the area this
afternoon into early this evening. Severe thunderstorms are not
expected, but an isolated storm or two with small hail and gusty
winds is possible this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday

An unsettled pattern will lead to near daily chances for showers
and thunderstorms through the period. At this time, storms are
not expected to become severe Sunday or Monday, but cannot rule
out isolated strong storms with small hail and gusty winds during
the afternoon and early evening hours. A stronger upper level
system mid to late week could bring some areas of heavy rainfall.

.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, May 6, 12:03 PM MST, 2 hours 54 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 6, 12:12 PM MST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 6, 12:43 PM MST, 2 hours 14 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 6, 1:14 PM MST, 1 hour 43 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 6, 1:16 PM MST, 1 hour 41 minutes before

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Special weather statement, May 6, 2:27 PM MST, 30 minutes before

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The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 90 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:59 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Haakon

When: May 6, 2:57 PM MST
Where: Haakon County, 6 mi W of Milesville
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.450, -101.792

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

Every storm in South Dakota in 2023 Every state in 2023 This day in weather history Warnings in South Dakota, May 2023

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: 1086452.