South Dakota, 2026

Flash Flooding and Flood in South Dakota, June 2 to 3, 2026

June 2 to 3, 2026 · NWS UNR · 21 events in 6 counties and zones

From June 2-4, 2026, a series of disturbances tracking across the region within broad zonal flow set off several rounds of thunderstorms to the region. A slow-moving front on June 2 set off the first round of thunderstorms, producing widespread heavy rain and localized flash flooding.

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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2.0 million
Crop damage
$500,000
Events
21

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.

From June 2-4, 2026, a series of disturbances tracking across the region within broad zonal flow set off several rounds of thunderstorms to the region. A slow-moving front on June 2 set off the first round of thunderstorms, producing widespread heavy rain and localized flash flooding. The most significant impacts occurred in Oglala and surrounding communities, where 6 to 7 inches of rain fell in a short period, causing streets and ditches to fill extremely quickly. Some storms also produced large hail and strong winds. Some storms also produced large hail and strong winds.

June 3 brought another round of storms as a disturbance moved across the Northern Plains. Clearing over Wyoming and the Black Hills allowed storms to redevelop along a boundary across southern South Dakota. Several became supercells, including the storm that produced the rain-wrapped Ideal tornado in Tripp County. The tornado mainly affected agricultural land but damaged multiple outbuildings and caused additional RFD related damage to a nearby modular home.

On June 4, the severe threat was more limited. Lower dewpoints over Wyoming and a strong cap over the Black Hills and western South Dakota kept storm coverage down, though a few storms still became severe with larger hail and strong wind gusts. A landspout also occurred in northeast Wyoming with one of the isolated storms.

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 81 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 hail, 6 thunderstorm wind, 4 flash flood, 1 funnel cloud, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jackson

When
June 2, 1:19 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 0.69 mi N of Cactus Flats
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.840, -101.900

Spotter submitted report of large hail.

Hail, Jackson

When
June 2, 1:21 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, Cactus Flats
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.830, -101.900

Falling at the Conoco gas station. Time estimated based on radar and social media video.

Hail, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 1:25 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 0.86 mi NW of Oglala
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.190, -102.760

Hail beginning to accumulate.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 2, 1:42 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 4.05 mi E of Cactus Flats
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
43.840, -101.820

Dept of Highways estimated wind gust at this location.

Hail, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 1:46 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 0.86 mi NE of Oglala
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.190, -102.740

Emergency manager reported quarter sized hail.

Hail, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 2:07 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 1.22 mi NE of Oglala
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.190, -102.730

Trained spotter reported large hail.

Flash Flood, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 2:30 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 10.39 mi WSW of Slim Butte to 7.7 mi W of Pine Ridge
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1.0 million
Crop damage
$250,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.002, -103.006

Thunderstorms repeatedly developed over the same areas on June 2, 2026 leading to flash flooding. Runoff from an estimated 5 to 7 inches of rain caused considerable damage in Oglala. Seven buildings were destroyed, 24 buildings had major damage, and 10 other structures reported minor damager. Highway 18 and BIA 41 were also inundated.

Hail, Jackson

When
June 2, 2:39 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 8.1 mi SE of Interior
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.650, -101.850

Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 3:25 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 0.5 mi E of Manderson
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.230, -102.470

Local spotter reported an estimated wind gust at this location.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When
June 2, 4:10 PM MST to 6:00 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 1.7 mi NW of Cedar Pass to 8.91 mi SE of Cedar Pass
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.770, -101.970

Up to three inches of rain fell in less than two hours causing flooding along Cottonwood Creek and the South Fork of the Bad River. Pasture and farmland was inundated.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 2, 4:33 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 9.75 mi ENE of Belvidere
Measured
51 kt (59 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
43.900, -101.100

Dept of Highways official reported strong wind gusts at this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When
June 2, 4:38 PM MST
Where
Jackson County, 9.75 mi ENE of Belvidere
Measured
55 kt (63 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Department of Highways
Coordinates
43.900, -101.100

Dept of Highways reported a strong wind gust at this location.

Hail, Mellette

When
June 2, 5:43 PM CST
Where
Mellette County, 0.5 mi E of White River
Measured
1.5 in hail
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.570, -100.740

Estimated ping pong ball size hail, zero visibility, very strong winds at least over 60 mph rocking truck back and forth. Street flooding now occurring across White River. Time estimated based on radar.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mellette

When
June 2, 5:43 PM CST
Where
Mellette County, 0.5 mi E of White River
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
43.570, -100.740

Very strong winds at least over 60 MPH rocking truck back and forth. Time estimated based on radar.

Flash Flood, Custer

When
June 2, 5:00 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Custer County, 4.77 mi WNW of Folsom to 2.89 mi E of Buffalo Gap
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.844, -102.960

Runoff from heavy rainfall caused flooding of farmland along the Cheyenne River. Standing water was reported in fields of over a foot deep. In-bank rises of over 9 feet occurred along the Cheyenne River causing flooding of the lower banks.

Flash Flood, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 5:00 PM MST to 8:00 PM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 14.05 mi SSW of Red Shirt to 14.05 mi E of Red Shirt
Cause
Heavy Rain
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.480, -103.000

Runoff from heavy rainfall caused flooding of farmland along the Cheyenne River. Standing water was reported in fields of over a foot deep. In-bank rises of over 9 feet occurred along the Cheyenne River causing flooding of the lower banks.

Funnel Cloud, Butte

When
June 2, 5:45 PM MST
Where
Butte County, 3.03 mi ENE of Nisland
Reported by
Storm Chaser
Coordinates
44.680, -103.490

Photo of brief funnel cloud between Newell and Nisland. Time estimated based on photo report and radar.

Hail, Todd

When
June 2, 7:29 PM CST
Where
Todd County, 7.86 mi SSW of Okreek
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
43.260, -100.420

Office received picture via social media.

Hail, Todd

When
June 2, 8:58 PM CST
Where
Todd County, 0.5 mi W of Mission
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.310, -100.670

Trained spotter reported large hail at this location.

Thunderstorm Wind, Todd

When
June 2, 8:58 PM CST
Where
Todd County, 0.5 mi W of Mission
Measured
52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
43.310, -100.670

Trained spotter reported strong wind gusts at this location.

Flood, Oglala Lakota

When
June 2, 8:00 PM MST to June 3, 4:00 AM MST
Where
Oglala Lakota County, 9.37 mi WSW of Slim Butte to 2 mi NE of Porcupine
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$1.0 million
Crop damage
$250,000
Reported by
Emergency Manager
Coordinates
43.009, -102.988

Thunderstorms repeatedly developed over the same areas on June 2, 2026 leading to flash flooding, that turned into pluvial flooding. Runoff from an estimated 5 to 7 inches of rain caused considerable damage in Oglala. Seven buildings were destroyed, 24 buildings had major damage, and 10 other structures reported minor damager. Highway 18 and BIA 41 were also inundated.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
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 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in South Dakota, June 2026

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: 1342779, 1342780, 1342782, 1342783, 1342784, 1342785, 1335460, 1342786, 1342787, 1335457, 1342789, 1342790, 1342791, 1342792, 1335458, 1335672, 1342793, 1342794, 1342796, 1342797, 1335671.