A few compact thunderstorms developed along a warm front in eastern South Dakota. These low topped supercells tracked from just south of the Watertown area, towards Milbank and then on into western Minnesota between 430 and 630pm CDT before weakening.
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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 ABR wrote it up.
A few compact thunderstorms developed along a warm front in eastern South Dakota. These low topped supercells tracked from just south of the Watertown area, towards Milbank and then on into western Minnesota between 430 and 630pm CDT before weakening. Several storm chasers confirmed two tornado touchdowns with the strongest of these storms. These weak tornadoes passed through mostly open fields.
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 May 6, 2:44 PM CST, 1 hour 17 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 344 PM CDT Sat May 6 2023 .SHORT TERM...(This Evening through Sunday Night) Issued at 343 PM CDT Sat May 6 2023 Sfc low pressure remains centered across portions of south-east and east-central SD at mid afternoon. The upper level shortwave associated with this system continues to spiral over portions of north central SD. Rain with embedded rumbles of thunder continue to cover parts of the CWA from north central SD eastward into the James Valley and portions of the Glacial Lakes and east-central SD. The most significant rainfall from this system has fallen between the James and Missouri Valley's in central and northeast SD where a half inch to more than an inch has been reported. We'll continue to add to some of these totals the remainder of this afternoon into a portion of the evening. As anticipated, breaks in the clouds have developed across our southwest and southeast zones this afternoon. The next shortwave impulse across WY and southwest SD this afternoon is touching off convection across western parts of SD this afternoon. With the best instability positioned across our southwest and southeast zones and some decent shear expected to be present in our southwest, we anticipate a few scattered storms late this afternoon into the evening across these zones. Some of the storms could be on the stronger side with hail up to quarter size and locally strong wind gusts. This activity is expected to wane during the course of the early evening hours. Low pressure is progged to slowly shift north out of northeast SD later this evening and into eastern ND and northwest MN overnight. Rain chances will gradually come to an end from southwest to northeast basically from late this afternoon through this evening. Partly to mostly cloudy skies are expected overnight with lows falling back into the 40s to around 50. We'll have to watch for the potential for some patchy fog toward early tomorrow morning with the added llm now present, just depends on wind speeds. With weak shortwave ridging overhead on Sunday along with its sfc ridge reflexion, we should squeak out a mostly dry and mild day for most of the CWA. Daytime readings should warm back into the 60s to low 70s. Sfc lee troughing across the Black Hills should lead to afternoon convection developing off the higher terrain. Anticipate that perhaps some of the this convection could reach our far western zones by late afternoon into Sunday evening. This next wave responsible for this activity will spread chances for showers and storm chances farther east across the Missouri Valley and perhaps as far east as the James Valley through early Monday. .LONG TERM...(Monday through Saturday) Issued at 343 PM CDT Sat May 6 2023 Precipitation in the extended looks pretty spotty until Wednesday evening through Thursday evening when ensembles call for more widespread chances of .5 inch. That said, there are some weak forcing features in place prior to mid week. Late Monday afternoon/evening a shortwave trough will move through and could produce a few showers and thunderstorms especially in the northern half of the forecast area. Upper ridging builds in on Thursday with some scattered shortwaves aloft. There might be enough instability in the afternoon to kick off a shower or two, but this looks to be the driest time period for now. By Wednesday morning, a stacked lee side low will develop and southeast flow ahead of the low will draw up a moisture rich air mass that will slowly progress east into Friday morning before losing definition but not general instability. Temperatures will be dependent on the upper level flow AND the sfc precip timing/intensity. Warmer air will be available under the ridge, but may not be realized on a day like Thursday when more clouds and heavier rain are possible. Still, highs in the 70s will be prevalent during the next week. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Sunday Afternoon) Issued at 1241 PM CDT Sat May 6 2023 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG MVFR to IFR cigs will continue to persist through the remainder of this afternoon as chances for showers and embedded thunderstorms continue. MVFR vsbys can also be expected, especially from KMBG to KABR and KATY through this afternoon. Some heavier pockets of rainfall will drive vsbys down to IFR at times. Improvements to cigs/vsbys are expected by late this afternoon into early this evening at KPIR and KMBG with VCTS or VCSH possible respectively. The showers and storms will come to an end at KABR and KATY early this evening. Expect VFR conditions to return to KPIR and KMBG this evening with MVFR cigs hanging on at KABR and KATY into the overnight. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && SHORT TERM...Vipond LONG TERM...Wise AVIATION...Vipond
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 344 AM CDT Sat May 6 2023 MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-070845- 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- 344 AM CDT Sat May 6 2023 /244 AM MDT Sat May 6 2023/ 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. Thunderstorms can be expected today through tonight. While lightning will be the main threat, some thunderstorms may produce half inch hail and gusty winds. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible, mainly over north central South Dakota. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Sunday through Friday. No hazardous weather is expected at this time. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be requested. Weather spotters are encouraged to submit reports to the National Weather Service in Aberdeen. The public can submit reports on our web page, Facebook page, or our Twitter feed. SD
The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 141 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:58 UTC.
2 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A storm spotter posted photos of a rope tornado moving through pasture south of Strandburg.
A storm chaser posted photos of a rope tornado moving through pasture and an open field. The tornado may have clipped some trees as well before dissipating.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2023Every state in 2023This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for South Dakota, 2023Warnings in South Dakota, May 2023
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: 1085713, 1085714.