A boundary moving across southern Meade County produced a brief landspout tornado northeast of Ellsworth Air Force Base.
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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 UNR wrote it up.
A boundary moving across southern Meade County produced a brief landspout tornado northeast of Ellsworth Air Force Base.
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, 4:25 PM MST, 2 hours 43 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY National Weather Service Rapid City SD 525 PM MDT Sat May 6 2023 .DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Saturday) Issued at 251 PM MDT Sat May 6 2023 Main forecast challenge in the near term is the potential for a few strong to marginally severe storms this afternoon into the evening. Ongoing showers/storms should continue to grow upscale as they gradually shift northeastward over the next several hours. Locally stronger updrafts in the vicinity of a stationary boundary stretching northwest to southeast across the area could lead to marginally severe hail or wind gusts later this afternoon. Daily chances for showers and storms are anticipated through much of next week. Water vapor imagery this afternoon depicts a midlevel vorticity maximum associated with last night/this morning's convection settling into the central Dakotas, while a second wave approaches the area from the southwest. This secondary wave is supporting arcing, broken bands of convection from northern WY and southeastern MT through southwestern SD. Near the intersection of a stationary front and outflow from a lead cell across Meade County, a landspout was observed earlier this afternoon. With convection filling in along the length of the boundary and outflow accelerating southeastward away from ongoing convection, the window for landspouts is likely closing. Deep-layer shear and low-level SRH is also likely maximized within this zone, which could support the development of some at least transient rotating updrafts. MLCAPE of 500-1000 J/kg per SPC mesoanalysis fields, much of which is focused in the hail growth zone, may suffice for marginally severe hail in stronger updrafts, while increasing DCAPE later this afternoon could support some stronger gusts, particularly south of the stationary boundary across south central SD. As shower and storm activity ends from southwest to northeast this evening, areas of fog may develop in its wake as subsidence overspreads the region. A qualitatively similar setup is expected tomorrow as another shortwave crosses the region. Convective initiation is probable in the late morning to early afternoon across northeastern WY and western SD, with convection shifting eastward/northeastward thru the afternoon hours. Slightly longer midlevel hodographs and weaker large-scale ascent may allow for the organization and maintenance of some discrete cells tomorrow afternoon. This is supported by the 12z HREF, which depicts a few stronger UH tracks across northwestern SD in the 21-00z time frame, consistent with the SPC's marginal risk. Across southwestern portions of our area (mainly southern portions of northeastern WY into far southwestern SD), elevated fire weather conditions will be the primary concern owing to downslope southwesterly flow and deep, dry boundary layers. Unsettled conditions will persist over the next several days as numerous shortwaves/vort maxima traverse the Rockies and Plains within a broad western trof. Fairly good agreement among global guidance and ensembles in the main trof ejecting toward the High Plains in the late Wednesday to early Thursday time frame. However, evolution thereafter remains somewhat uncertain. Nonetheless, well above normal PWATs (200%+ in spots), persistent synoptic-scale forcing for ascent, and likely slow storm/shower motions could support locally heavy rainfall across northeastern WY and western SD Wednesday through Thursday. Ensembles support this potential, with EPS and GEFS both suggesting ~50% probabilities of 24-hour QPF greater than or equal to 1" over much of the area. && .AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Sunday Evening) Issued At 521 PM MDT Sat May 6 2023 VFR conditions are generally expected through the forecast period most places from NE WY into SW SD. MVFR-IFR cigs and patchy fog will be possible across NW SD early Sunday morning as a cool front sags south into the region. Otherwise, conds will improve through Sunday, with more ISOLD-SCT SHRA/TS possible in the afternoon. && .UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. WY...None. && DISCUSSION...Sherburn AVIATION...JC
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
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
552 PM MDT SAT MAY 06 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0531 PM HAIL 10 NW IDEAL 43.66N 100.04W
05/06/2023 M0.88 INCH TRIPP SD NWS EMPLOYEE
MAINLY PEA TO DIME SIZE HAIL WITH A FEW NICKLES. WINDS
ESTIMATED AT 30 MPH.
&&
CORRECTED SOURCE
JCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
615 PM MDT SAT MAY 06 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0549 PM NON-TSTM WND GST 7 NW ROCKYPOINT 44.99N 105.19W
05/06/2023 M53 MPH CAMPBELL WY MESONET
&&
JCSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
626 PM MDT Sat May 6 2023
SDZ073-070100-
Southern Meade Co Plains SD-
626 PM MDT Sat May 6 2023
...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Meade
County through 700 PM MDT...
At 626 PM MDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southeast of Bear Butte State Park, or 11 miles east of
Sturgis, moving east at 20 mph.
HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
possible.
This storm will remain over mainly rural areas of southwestern Meade
County, east of Sturgis.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4440 10333 4449 10336 4451 10308 4434 10307
TIME...MOT...LOC 0026Z 270DEG 19KT 4443 10328
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
JCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
627 PM MDT SAT MAY 06 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 AM HEAVY RAIN 3 E MIDLAND 44.08N 101.10W
05/06/2023 M0.88 INCH HAAKON SD COCORAHS
24-HOUR RAINFALL.
&&
JCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
742 PM MDT SAT MAY 06 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0700 PM HEAVY RAIN 5 NE MILESVILLE 44.51N 101.61W
05/06/2023 M1.35 INCH HAAKON SD CO-OP OBSERVER
24-HOUR RAINFALL.
&&
JCPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD
752 PM MDT SAT MAY 06 2023
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0600 PM HAIL 3 N HAMILL 43.64N 99.68W
05/06/2023 M1.00 INCH TRIPP SD TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
JCThe Rapid City radar (KUDX), 17 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:07 UTC.
1 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.
A landspout tornado formed over rangeland northeast of Ellsworth Air Force Base. It did not cause damage.
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: 1101097.