Strong storms during the early morning hours of August 15th would generate winds in excess of 70 mph at Sunset Colony, and half-dollar to ping pong sized hail observed by the Marshall County Emergency Manager in Britton. 5 inches, with this latest round of storms overwhelming drainage systems and causing flooding in town.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
Strong storms during the early morning hours of August 15th would generate winds in excess of 70 mph at Sunset Colony, and half-dollar to ping pong sized hail observed by the Marshall County Emergency Manager in Britton. Total rainfall in Britton over a 48 hour period exceeded 4.5 inches, with this latest round of storms overwhelming drainage systems and causing flooding in town.
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 Aug 15, 3:12 AM CST, 2 hours 8 minutes earlier. Its key messages:
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 412 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... - Marginal risk (1 of 5) for severe weather tonight, Saturday, and again Sunday. - Mainly elevated smoke from fires to our southwest will remain through at least Saturday. && .DISCUSSION... Issued at 411 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025 Thunderstorms are ongoing over central SD. Strong winds gusting 40- 50mph and small hail have been the main concerns so far. These storms are moving into a more favorable area hail wise. DCAPE values are also more favorable, around 1k to 1.5k J/kg. We'll continue to monitor the latest surface observations for strong winds with these storms. These storms will continue to track northeast through the early morning hours today. A pocket of warmer air of 12-15C sets up at 700mb this afternoon, with a warmer nose developing around 800mb. CAMs support the idea of little to no showers or storms during the late morning and afternoon hours. We're stuck in a similar environment as a week or so ago, with mainly nocturnal thunderstorms. While most CAMs do show shower and thunderstorm activity, they are vastly different in coverage area and intensity. Unfortunately, this again leads to only a moderate to low confidence forecast. A lee of the Rockies surface trough is forecast to have an area stretch east through the day Monday. The location this surface trough sets up over will be the main factor that determines where storms and precipitation occur through Sunday. Models vary the location of the trough, with some showing it causing more precipitation over northeastern SD and west central MN while other models have the precipitation to the south. With storms and showers looking to develop along the trough and move over the same areas Saturday evening through Sunday evening, there is a slight risk for flooding to occur. The risk for flooding increases depending on where the storms set up, as some models are forecasting storms over areas that have received copious amounts of rain recently and have had some flooding already. The chances for storms and precipitation starts to decrease Sunday evening into Monday as the section of the surface trough reaching east starts to weaken. Models suggest that upper and mid level high pressure moves west and strengthens over southwestern US at the beginning of the work week. This pressure keeps building through the week and starts to develop a ridge that moves into SD around mid-week. As this ridge develops, the mid-levels and near the surface start to dry out. Most of the drier air stays to the west, though a few models show some of the dry air moving over central SD. In addition to the dry air, temperatures look to increase again, leading to high temperatures in central SD to be in the 90s after Monday. && .AVIATION /12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z SATURDAY/... Issued at 411 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025 Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG While mainly VFR conditions will continue during the late morning and afternoon hours, ongoing showers and storms near PIR/MBG will continue to track northeast and impact ABR by 12Z. Very moist air is in place at ABR and PIR, with MVFR to IFR ceilings and visibility through around 14Z with fog. && .ABR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...None. MN...None. && DISCUSSION...06/12 AVIATION...06
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Aberdeen SD 618 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025 MNZ039-046-SDZ003>011-015>023-033>037-045-048-051-161130- 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- 618 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025 /518 AM MDT Fri Aug 15 2025/ 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. Strong to severe storms will remain possible early this morning over northeastern South Dakota and west central Minnesota. A marginal risk for severe storms, or level 1 out of 5, of severe storms tonight. The strongest storms will be capable of producing winds to around 60 mph and hail to around 1 inch in diameter. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday. A marginal risk, or level 1 out of 5, is in place for severe storms Saturday and again Sunday. Main threats will be damaging winds winds to around 60 mph and large hail to around 1 inch in diameter. .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. 06
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
519 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
SDZ005-010-151045-
McPherson SD-Edmunds SD-
519 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN EDMUNDS AND
SOUTHEASTERN MCPHERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 545 AM CDT...
At 519 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Ipswich, moving northeast at 35 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Deerfield Colony, Plainview Colony, and Long Lake Colony.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4545 9912 4554 9920 4568 9889 4549 9874
TIME...MOT...LOC 1019Z 245DEG 29KT 4549 9905
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
06Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
528 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
SDZ005-006-151100-
Brown SD-McPherson SD-
528 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN BROWN AND
NORTHEASTERN MCPHERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 600 AM CDT...
At 528 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms along a line extending from near Ellendale to near Long
Lake. Movement was east at 25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Spring Creek Colony, Long Lake, and Elm Lake.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4568 9923 4594 9937 4593 9819
TIME...MOT...LOC 1028Z 270DEG 23KT 4594 9857 4580 9926
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
06Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
536 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0529 AM Tstm Wnd Gst Cravens Corner 45.45N 98.93W
08/15/2025 M54 MPH Edmunds SD Mesonet
Mesonet station 173 Craven (SDDOT).
&&
NVSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
544 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
SDZ005-006-010-151130-
Brown SD-McPherson SD-Edmunds SD-
544 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHEASTERN EDMUNDS...WESTERN
BROWN AND SOUTHEASTERN MCPHERSON COUNTIES THROUGH 630 AM CDT...
At 543 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms over Mina, or 12 miles west of Aberdeen, moving east at
25 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Aberdeen, Warner, Leola, Mina Lake Rec Area, Frederick, Bath,
Columbia, Westport, Deerfield Colony, Grassland Colony, Stratford,
Wetonka, Long Lake Colony, Mina, Barnard, Richmond Lake Rec Area, and
Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4534 9886 4571 9907 4587 9832 4529 9827
TIME...MOT...LOC 1043Z 270DEG 23KT 4543 9871
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
06Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
554 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
SDZ006-007-151115-
Marshall SD-Brown SD-
554 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN MARSHALL AND
NORTHERN BROWN COUNTIES THROUGH 615 AM CDT...
At 554 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong
thunderstorms near Hecla, or 13 miles southeast of Ellendale, moving
east at 45 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Hecla, Frederick, and Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4577 9823 4581 9866 4594 9851 4593 9782
TIME...MOT...LOC 1054Z 266DEG 39KT 4589 9829
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
06Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
605 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
SDZ006-018-151130-
Brown SD-Spink SD-
605 AM CDT Fri Aug 15 2025
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN BROWN AND NORTHEASTERN
SPINK COUNTIES THROUGH 630 AM CDT...
At 605 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from near Barnard to Bath to near Stratford.
Movement was east at 40 mph.
HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.
SOURCE...Radar indicated.
IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is
possible.
Locations impacted include...
Aberdeen, Groton, Bath, Columbia, Westport, Claremont, Putney,
Hutterville Colony, Stratford, Ferney, Verdon, Barnard, Tacoma Park,
and Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.
&&
LAT...LON 4575 9805 4565 9798 4521 9799 4523 9844
4546 9855 4574 9858
TIME...MOT...LOC 1105Z 256DEG 33KT 4575 9844 4549 9833 4528 9835
MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH
06The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 53 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:22 UTC.
3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Branches were reported down by thunderstorm winds west of Britton.
Total rainfall in Britton over a 48-hour period exceeded 4.5 inches, overwhelming city drainage systems. This caused flooding in town, with up to six inches of water moving over roads and into some buildings and basements.
Public reported tree damage by estimated thunderstorm winds around 60 mph.
Winds in excess of 70 mph were measured at Sunset Colony.
Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter was reported.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in South Dakota in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, August 2025
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: 1290363, 1293391, 1290364, 1290365, 1290366, 1290367.