South Dakota, 2024

Damaging Winds in South Dakota, September 17, 2024

September 17, 2024 · NWS UNR · 11 events in 4 counties and zones

A line of severe thunderstorms developed just to the east of the Black Hills and tracked north-northeast across the west central South Dakota plains into portions of northwest South Dakota.

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
11

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 line of severe thunderstorms developed just to the east of the Black Hills and tracked north-northeast across the west central South Dakota plains into portions of northwest South Dakota.

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 Sep 17, 4:32 PM MST, 1 hour 50 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Sep 17, 4:32 PM MST, 1 hour 50 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Sep 17, 1:52 AM MST, 16 hours 30 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
252 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024

SDZ001-002-012>014-024>032-041>044-072>078-WYZ056>060-181300-
Harding-Northern Perkins-Butte-Northern Meade Co Plains-Ziebach-
Northern Black Hills-Northern Foothills-Rapid City-
Southern Foothills-Central Black Hills-Southern Black Hills-
Custer Co Plains-Pennington Co Plains-Haakon-Western Fall River-
Northern Oglala Lakota-Northern Jackson-Bennett-
Sturgis/Piedmont Foothills-Southern Meade Co Plains-
Hermosa Foothills-Eastern Fall River-Southern Oglala Lakota-
Southern Jackson-Southern Perkins-Western Crook-
Wyoming Black Hills-Weston County Plains-Newcastle-
Northeastern Crook-
252 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024

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

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a slight risk (level 2 of 5) of severe thunderstorms
today, meaning that scattered severe storms are possible. The Primary
hazard is damaging winds. A bit of small hail is also possible.

Breezy winds will result in elevated fire weather conditions this
afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Warm, dry, and locally breezy winds will result in elevated fire
weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday.

.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

WYZ054-055-181300-
Northern Campbell-Southern Campbell-
252 AM MDT Tue Sep 17 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of northeast
Wyoming.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms
today, meaning that isolated severe storms are possible. The Primary
hazard is damaging winds. A bit of small hail is also possible.

Breezy winds and low humidity will result in elevated fire weather
conditions this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Warm, dry, and locally breezy winds will result in elevated fire
weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday.

.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

SDZ046-047-049-181300-
Mellette-Todd-Tripp-
352 AM CDT Tue Sep 17 2024

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central
South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

There is a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) of severe thunderstorms
today, meaning that isolated severe storms are possible. The Primary
hazard is damaging winds. A bit of small hail is also possible.

Southeast winds will gust 40 to 50 mph this afternoon and evening. Low
relative humidity and wind will result in elevated fire weather
conditions this afternoon.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday

Warm, dry, and locally breezy winds will result in elevated fire
weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday.

.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

In the hours before

Local storm report, Sep 17, 5:59 PM MST, 23 minutes before
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Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:08 PM MST, 14 minutes before
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Special weather statement, Sep 17, 6:11 PM MST, 11 minutes before
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Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:14 PM MST, 8 minutes before
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Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:17 PM MST, 5 minutes before
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Local storm report, Sep 17, 6:21 PM MST, 1 minute before
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The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 61 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:23 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

11 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
September 17, 6:22 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 3 mi WSW of Fairburn
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.673, -103.266

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When
September 17, 6:30 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 7 mi SSW of Folsom
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
43.726, -102.924

Thunderstorm Wind, Pennington

When
September 17, 6:46 PM MST
Where
Pennington County, 2 mi ENE of Rapid City
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
NWS Employee
Coordinates
44.091, -103.193

Thunderstorm Wind, Pennington

When
September 17, 6:50 PM MST
Where
Pennington County, (Rap)rapid City Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
44.050, -103.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Pennington

When
September 17, 7:00 PM MST
Where
Pennington County, 5 mi WNW of New Underwood
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.118, -102.933

Thunderstorm Wind, Pennington

When
September 17, 7:10 PM MST
Where
Pennington County, 3 mi NW of Wasta
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.101, -102.493

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
September 17, 7:36 PM MST
Where
Meade County, 1 mi ENE of Mud Butte
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.005, -102.861

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
September 17, 8:03 PM MST
Where
Meade County, Howes
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
44.620, -102.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
September 17, 8:25 PM MST to 8:30 PM MST
Where
Meade County, Faith
Measured
80 kt (92 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
45.030, -102.030

Strong winds gusting up to 90 mph damaged and downed power poles. A shed was blown onto a highway and four outbuildings were destroyed, including a barn that was ripped out of the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meade

When
September 17, 8:27 PM MST
Where
Meade County, (D07)faith Arpt
Measured
81 kt (93 mph) measured gust
Reported by
ASOS
Coordinates
45.030, -102.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Perkins

When
September 17, 8:35 PM MST
Where
Perkins County, Usta
Measured
56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
45.220, -102.160

What these are

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.

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, September 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1208213, 1208214, 1208221, 1208223, 1208224, 1208225, 1208226, 1208227, 1208231, 1208229, 1208232.