South Dakota, 2024

Flash Flooding and Flood in South Dakota, June 2, 2024

June 2, 2024 · NWS ABR · 30 events in 8 counties and zones

Low pressure crossing from west to east across the state provided the support for numerous, widespread severe thunderstorms. The main threat from these storms was large hail, with several reports of hail at or greater than golfball size.

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
30

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.

Low pressure crossing from west to east across the state provided the support for numerous, widespread severe thunderstorms. The main threat from these storms was large hail, with several reports of hail at or greater than golfball size. Emergency management for Brown county observed hail from golfball to baseball size 3 miles north northwest of Barnard, and hail to the size of baseballs was observed at multiple locations in Hand County. Peak thunderstorm wind gusts measured 65 mph 4 miles west of Waubay, and thunderstorm winds were responsible for knocking over some campers along Lake Poinsett. In addition to the large hail and winds, heavy rain produced overland flooding, with water reported over the roads in Hand, Hamlin, Codington and Clark counties. Observed 24 hour rainfall totals measured 6.25 inches 2 miles north of Willow Lake (Clark county), 3.84 inches 7 miles southwest of Estelline (Hamlin county), 2.4 inches 4 miles west of Hayti (Hamlin county) and 2.4 inches 2 miles west of Rauville (Codington county) . This heavy rain then translated into river flooding on June 3rd.

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 Jun 2, 1:07 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • A slight risk of severe weather (level 2 on a scale of 5) will develop late this afternoon through the evening hours as a cold front sweeps across the area. All severe weather hazards are possible, including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
  • There is a 30-80% chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday night through Tuesday.
Area forecast discussion, Jun 2, 1:07 PM CST, 3 hours 50 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
207 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A slight risk of severe weather (level 2 on a scale of 5) will
develop late this afternoon through the evening hours as a cold
front sweeps across the area. All severe weather hazards are
possible, including large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

- There is a 30-80% chance of showers and thunderstorms Monday night
through Tuesday.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
Issued at 207 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024

Showers continue to linger east of the Coteau this afternoon with
ample cloud cover trailing back as far west as the James Valley.
This will impede destabilization across the east as temperatures
struggle to rise. That said, KABR did jump 8 degrees in the last
hour to rise into the upper 70s, so any clearing at all will quickly
push up temps. The best parameters for severe convection fall in the
warm frontal zone extending off the sfc low and approximately
stretching along the Hwy 14 corridor. Bulk shear around 40 kts, sig
severe nearing 30 (80), and dewpoints in the mid 60s with CAPE up
around 3000 J/kg support the HRRR's development between 22z and 23z
of cells in Lyman/Buffalo/southern Hand and Hyde.

There is less support the farther north you go apart from the
shortwaves and cold front later this evening. Shear falls to 30 kts
and CAPE to around 1500 J/kg with limited downdraft CAPE (700 to
800) as well. Still may see some stronger portions of a line develop
and march east into Minnesota after 0z.

Winds shift to the southeast on Monday ahead of the next approaching
low. Showers and thunderstorms move back in with this next low
Monday night, but storms are expected to remain sub-severe.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
Issued at 207 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024

An area of low pressure and associated frontal boundary will push
eastward across the forecast area on Tuesday, bringing a 30-70%
chance for showers and thunderstorms, mainly east of the James
River. The front appears to push into MN during the mid afternoon
hours, with the severe threat east of this CWA.

Beyond Tuesday, the weather pattern will feature northwesterly flow
aloft with mostly dry conditions prevailing. The northerly flow
should produce favorable mixing winds with gusts of 25 to 40 mph
possible throughout most of the period. Wednesday and Thursday
should be the windiest days as the NBM has a 40-90% chance of seeing
gusts exceed 40 mph. The probability of seeing 40 mph wind gusts
drops below 45% Friday and Saturday.

Temperatures will favor near average Wednesday and Thursday, with a
cooling trend possible Friday and Saturday. The EC ensemble mean and
the GEFS suggest highs in the upper 60s, to the mid 70s Friday
through Saturday, while the GEPS is an outlier with highs in the 70s
and 80s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1219 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

VFR conditions are expected except in or near thunderstorms
between 22z and 6z this evening. TSRA will mainly affect KABR and
KATY.

&&

.ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...None.
MN...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...Wise
LONG TERM...SD
AVIATION...Wise
Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 2, 12:22 PM CST, 4 hours 35 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
122 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024

MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-031830-
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-
122 PM CDT Sun Jun 2 2024 /1222 PM MDT Sun Jun 2 2024/

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

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase in intensity this
afternoon and evening, with a slight risk of severe weather (level 2
on a scale of 5) as cold front sweeps across the area. All severe
weather hazards are possible, including large hail over 2 inches in
diameter, damaging winds of 60 to 70 mph, and tornadoes. Frequent
lightning and heavy rain are also expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Monday through Saturday.

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 X
feed.

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:57 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

21 hail, 5 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 4:57 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 5.35 mi W of Barnard
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.720, -98.610

Hail, Hand

When
June 2, 5:11 PM CST
Where
Hand County, 11.27 mi SSE of Ree Hgts
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.370, -99.110

Hail, Hand

When
June 2, 5:16 PM CST
Where
Hand County, 9.4 mi SSE of Ree Hgts
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.400, -99.110

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 5:21 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 2.81 mi N of Barnard
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.770, -98.510

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 1.38 mi N of Barnard
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.750, -98.500

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 5.08 mi SW of Elrod
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.820, -97.630

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 3.03 mi WNW of Willow Lake
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
44.630, -97.680

Hail, Hand

When
June 2, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Hand County, 4.15 mi S of Miller
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.460, -98.980

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 5:50 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 5.83 mi W of Houghton
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.760, -98.340

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 5:53 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 2.86 mi SE of Willow Lake
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.590, -97.580

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 6:02 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 5.61 mi N of Carpenter
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.710, -97.880

Flash Flood, Clark

When
June 2, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 5.63 mi WNW of Willow Lake to 5.24 mi E of Carpenter
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.642, -97.730

Emergency management reported water over 422nd ave and 424th ave around highway 28.

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 6:06 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 5.64 mi NNE of Columbia
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.690, -98.260

Hail, Hand

When
June 2, 6:13 PM CST
Where
Hand County, 2.81 mi S of St Lawrence
Measured
2.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.480, -98.940

Hail, Brown

When
June 2, 6:50 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 2.29 mi SSE of Claremont
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
CoCoRaHS
Coordinates
45.640, -98.000

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 6:59 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 0.98 mi W of Elrod
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.880, -97.590

Flash Flood, Hamlin

When
June 2, 7:07 PM CST
Where
Hamlin County, 5.99 mi ENE of Bryant to 6.69 mi ENE of Bryant
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
44.616, -97.359

Sheriff reports flooding south of the intersection of 443rd ave and 191st street.

Hail, Marshall

When
June 2, 7:17 PM CST
Where
Marshall County, 1.93 mi W of Langford
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
45.600, -97.870

Flash Flood, Hand

When
June 2, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Hand County, 4.16 mi WSW of Vayland to 5.2 mi W of Vayland
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.450, -98.853

Emergency management reported flooding from thunderstorms.

Hail, Clark

When
June 2, 7:42 PM CST
Where
Clark County, 0.85 mi NW of Bradley
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
45.090, -97.640

Hail, Day

When
June 2, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Day County, 3.75 mi NNW of Roslyn
Measured
1.25 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.550, -97.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamlin

When
June 2, 7:56 PM CST
Where
Hamlin County, 1.47 mi SSE of Stone Bridge
Measured
61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
44.580, -97.040

Campers tipped over by estimated 70 mph winds.

Hail, Day

When
June 2, 7:58 PM CST
Where
Day County, 1.38 mi S of Webster Muni Arpt
Measured
2 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.260, -97.520

Hail, Day

When
June 2, 7:58 PM CST
Where
Day County, 0.69 mi N of Webster Muni Arpt
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
45.290, -97.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When
June 2, 8:51 PM CST
Where
Brown County, (Abr)aberdeen Rgnl A
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.450, -98.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Hamlin

When
June 2, 8:51 PM CST
Where
Hamlin County, 4.45 mi WSW of Estelline Muni Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.540, -96.980

The public estimated wind gusts ranged from 50 to 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Day

When
June 2, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Day County, 3.47 mi WNW of Waubay
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.340, -97.390

Thunderstorm Wind, Codington

When
June 2, 10:32 PM CST
Where
Codington County, 1.38 mi S of (Aty)watertown Arpt
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
44.900, -97.150

Hail, Deuel

When
June 2, 10:47 PM CST
Where
Deuel County, 6.54 mi NE of Tunerville
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
44.950, -96.580

Flood, Codington

When
June 2, 11:12 PM CST
Where
Codington County, 0.49 mi W of Watertown to 0.85 mi W of Watertown
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
44.900, -97.110

A vehicle was reported stalled in flood waters in the northwest portion of the city of Watertown.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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.
Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in South Dakota in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, June 2024

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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1183069, 1183070, 1183071, 1183072, 1183073, 1183074, 1183075, 1183076, 1183077, 1183078, 1183079, 1183064, 1183080, 1183081, 1183082, 1183083, 1183065, 1183084, 1183066, 1183085, 1183086, 1183089, 1183068, 1183087, 1183090, 1183093, 1183091, 1183092, 1183088, 1183067.