Flash Flood and Hail in South Dakota, June 3 to 4, 2026

Name: Flash Flood and Hail in South Dakota, June 3 to 4, 2026
Start: 2026-06-03T16:25
End: 2026-06-04T07:00
Location: South Dakota

June 3 to 4, 2026 · NWS ABR · 16 events in 8 counties and zones

Several clusters of severe thunderstorms tracked across portions of central and northeast South Dakota during the late afternoon and evening hours of June 3, generating high winds, large hail, and heavy rainfall. One cluster tracked along the North Dakota border, where a personal weather station in Frederick recorded a peak wind gust of 84 mph.

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: 16

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.

One cluster tracked along the North Dakota border, where a personal weather station in Frederick recorded a peak wind gust of 84 mph. These high winds destroyed the football field scoreboard and a storage shed in Frederick, knocked down trees and a radio tower, downed power lines in Hecla, and snapped power poles and flipped an irrigation pivot six miles north of Britton. The city of Britton lost electrical power. Three additional weather stations in Marshall County clocked wind gusts in excess of 60 mph.

A second storm cluster moved out of eastern South Dakota into the southern Glacial Lakes region. Quarter-sized hail occurred at several locations. Heavy rainfall topping out at 4.40 inches in Clear Lake resulted in water six inches deep running over roads and caused a creek near the golf course to overflow its banks. Across central South Dakota, storms produced hail ranging from penny to golf ball size south of Interstate 90.

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 3, 12:33 PM CST, 3 hours 52 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather this afternoon and evening, mainly east of the Missouri River. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are the main threats. An isolated tornado or two will be possible. Additionally, there is the potential for flash flooding due to heavy rainfall. Areas west of the Missouri River are under a Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5).
Thursday, another Slight Risk for severe weather is in effect along and south of US Highway 12. Areas to the north of US Highway 12 are under a Marginal Risk. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter will be the main threat, with wind gusts of 60 mph as a secondary threat.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 3, 12:33 PM CST, 3 hours 52 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
133 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- There is a Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather this
afternoon and evening, mainly east of the Missouri River. Large hail
of 1-2" in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph are the main
threats. An isolated tornado or two will be possible. Additionally,
there is the potential for flash flooding due to heavy rainfall.
Areas west of the Missouri River are under a Marginal Risk (Level 1
of 5).

- Thursday, another Slight Risk for severe weather is in effect
along and south of US Highway 12. Areas to the north of US Highway
12 are under a Marginal Risk. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter will be
the main threat, with wind gusts of 60 mph as a secondary threat.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 133 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

As an upper-level low over Saskatchewan moves east today into
Thursday, a cold front will be pushing through central and northeast
SD this afternoon and through the evening. The RAP is forecasting
1500-2000 J/kg of MLCAPE over areas west of the James River during
the afternoon spreading east through the afternoon into the evening.
There is also forecast effective bulk shear values of 40-45kts in
these areas, which will help with the development of supercells.
Discrete supercells look to develop this afternoon between 2-4pm cdt
in areas mainly east of the Missouri River. While these storms are
more discrete, all severe threats will be possible. Mid-level lapse
rates of 7 to over 8 C/km as well as favorable freezing levels are
supportive of significant hail development (2+ inches in diameter).
DCAPE values of 800-1000 J/kg could help get strong to severe winds
to the surface (gusts of 60-70+ mph). Additionally, an isolated
tornado or two cannot be ruled out. Later in the afternoon into the
evening, as the cold front catches up to the storms, the storms look
to become more linear in nature over northeastern SD. These storms
will decrease the significant hail chances, and strong to severe
wind gusts will become the primary hazard. The storms look to move
out of northeastern SD and west central MN after midnight giving the
area a little bit of a break. There is a risk for heavy rains in
these storms as well as some flooding risk. PWAT values, of 1.2-1.4
inches, are above the 90th percentile for the area compared to
climate values. Storms are forecast to not be slow moving, which
does decrease the flooding potential a little bit. However, if
multiple storms move over the same area or there are stronger
storms, then a lot of heavy rainfall could happen and cause the rain
accumulations to add up. Additionally, if storms move over areas
that have recieved lots of rain in the past few days, then the
saturated ground might not be able to hold very much rain and there
could be some flooding potential.

After the storms move through, the rest of the overnight hours will
stay fairly quiet. Calm winds over the James River Valley and other
areas to the east as well as moisture left from the storms during
the evening will lead to the development of some patchy fog. This
fog should dissipate during the morning. During the morning, there
could be some scattered showers and storms that develop over central
SD.

Thursday afternoon into the evening, another front will be moving
through central and northeastern SD. With MLCAPE values in the
afternoon getting up between 1000-2000 J/kg and lingering moisture,
thunderstorms will likely develop during Thursday afternoon into the
evening. Shear values of 35-40kts will help the storms to develop
into supercells or multicell clusters of storms. The SPC has a
slight risk (level 2 of 5) for severe storms to develop south of HWY
12. Lapse rates of 7-8 C/km over central SD will help with the
development large hail as the primary threat, with strong to severe
wind gusts possible as a secondary threat. Higher low level shear
values are currently forecast to stay to the southwest of Jones
county, which will help to limit the potential for tornado
development in central and northeastern SD. While the greatest
severe weather threat will move out of the area during the late
evening, there are still chances for some scattered storm and shower
development overnight into the morning. There is a marginal risk for
some severe storm development over northeastern SD Friday from a
warm front trying to move north into SD, MN, and WI. Northeastern SD
could see some isolated storm development during the afternoon that
could have some hail and wind.

As a small upper-level ridge is forecast to build over SD this
weekend, a surface high pressure will move over central and
northeastern SD. This high pressure will help to keep showers and
storms from developing Saturday. Additionally, with the warm front
Friday, temperatures will get up into 80s to low 90s during the
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY/...
Issued at 1227 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

Terminals KABR,KATY,KPIR,KMBG

Some scattered showers early this afternoon will lead to some lower
ceilings over KPIR, and KMBG for a bit while other areas will see
VFR to MVFR conditions. There is a slight risk (level 2 of 5) for
severe storms to occur this afternoon over KMBG, KABR, and KPIR and
during the evening for KATY. Once these storms move through,
conditions should get better. Southerly to southeasterly winds will
be possible this afternoon, with gusts of 20 to 30 mph (highest over
KATY). Once a cold front moves through with the storms, the wind
will switch to be coming from the northwest and then become fairly
light and variable into Thursday morning. Additionally, patchy fog
will be possible in the morning, which could decrease visibilities
over KABR.

&&

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

&&

DISCUSSION...BC
AVIATION...12

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 3, 12:51 PM CST, 3 hours 34 minutes before

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
151 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

MNZ039-046-SDZ005>011-016>023-034>037-048-051-041900-
Traverse-Big Stone-McPherson-Brown-Marshall-Roberts-Walworth-Edmunds-
Day-Potter-Faulk-Spink-Clark-Codington-Grant-Hamlin-Deuel-Sully-
Hughes-Hyde-Hand-Lyman-Buffalo-
151 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

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.

A Slight Risk (Level 2 of 5) for severe weather is in place for
storms this afternoon and evening. Storms will develop east of the
Missouri River during the afternoon and progress eastward through
the
evening. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter and wind gusts of 60 to 70
miles per hour are the main threats. Tornadoes will be a secondary
threat, as will flash flooding due to heavy rainfall.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

On Thursday, another Slight Risk for severe weather is in effect
along and south of US Highway 12. Areas to the north of US Highway
12 are under a Marginal Risk. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter will be
the main threat, with wind gusts of 60 mph possible as a secondary
threat.

.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.

SDZ003-004-015-033-045-041900-
Corson-Campbell-Dewey-Stanley-Jones-
151 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026 /1251 PM MDT Wed Jun 3 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for central South Dakota and
north central South Dakota.

.DAY ONE...This afternoon and tonight.

A Marginal Risk (Level 1 of 5) for severe weather is in effect for
storms developing this afternoon. Large hail of 1" in diameter and
wind gusts of 60 miles per hour are the main severe threats. Storms
are expected to progress out of the area by this evening.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday.

On Thursday, another Slight Risk for severe weather is in effect
along and south of US Highway 12. Areas to the north of US Highway
12are under a Marginal Risk. Large hail of 1-2" in diameter will be
the main threat, with wind gusts of 60 mph possible as a secondary
threat.

.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.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 3, 11:19 AM CST, 5 hours 6 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 3, 11:45 AM CST, 4 hours 40 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
1245 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1244 PM     Rain             7 NNW Stephan           44.35N 99.50W
06/03/2026  M5.00 Inch       Hyde               SD   Emergency Mngr

            24 hour rainfall report, with most of that
            falling in approximately 2 hours.

1243 PM     Rain             6 SSE Highmore          44.44N 99.40W
06/03/2026  M3.00 Inch       Hyde               SD   Emergency Mngr

            24 hour rainfall report, with most of that
            falling in approximately 2 hours.

1238 PM     Rain             2 SW Harrold            44.51N 99.76W
06/03/2026  E3.00 Inch       Hughes             SD   Public

            Estimated around 3 inches of rain in the
            past 24 hours.

1232 PM     Rain             Harrold                 44.52N 99.74W
06/03/2026  M2.50 Inch       Hughes             SD   Public

            Rainfall over the past 24 hours.

&&

Local storm report, Jun 3, 12:14 PM CST, 4 hours 11 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
114 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1254 PM     Hail             3 NE Green Grass        45.19N 101.19W
06/03/2026  M1.00 Inch       Dewey              SD   Public

&&

Local storm report, Jun 3, 12:40 PM CST, 3 hours 45 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
140 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0126 PM     Hail             2 NE White Horse        45.29N 100.88W
06/03/2026  E1.00 Inch       Dewey              SD   Public

            Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). Time
            adjusted from radar.

&&

MC

Local storm report, Jun 3, 2:15 PM CST, 2 hours 10 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Aberdeen SD
315 PM CDT Wed Jun 3 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 PM     Hail             5 SW Counselor Creek Re 43.98N 99.58W
06/02/2026  E1.75 Inch       Lyman              SD   Public

            time estimated from radar.

&&

The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 185 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:22 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

8 thunderstorm wind, 7 hail, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Jones

When: June 3, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Jones County, 6.3 mi S of Draper
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.830, -100.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: June 3, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Brown County, 0.48 mi E of Frederick
Measured: 73 kt (84 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.830, -98.510

A personal weather station in Frederick recorded a peak thunderstorm wind gust of 84 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: June 3, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Brown County, 0.48 mi E of Frederick
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 45.830, -98.510

Wind damage was reported across Frederick. Several trees were snapped, and a radio tower was reportedly blown over. The scoreboard and a storage shed were destroyed at the football field. A nearby weather station recorded a peak wind gust of 84 mph.

Hail, Lyman

When: June 3, 5:26 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 7.69 mi SW of Presho
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 43.830, -100.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When: June 3, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Brown County, Hecla
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 45.880, -98.150

A resident of Hecla shared a video of strong winds and tree damage from the storm via facebook.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: June 3, 6:10 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 1.44 mi W of Kidder
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 45.880, -97.750

The Emergency Manager reported trees and power lines down 6 miles north of the city of Britton. An irrigation pivot was flipped over during the storm. Britton lost power due to the damage to powerlines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: June 3, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 0.48 mi W of Britton Muni Arpt
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph) measured gust
Reported by: AWOS
Coordinates: 45.820, -97.740

Hail, Hamlin

When: June 3, 6:18 PM CST
Where: Hamlin County, 1.47 mi NNW of Thomas
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.790, -97.210

Hail, Codington

When: June 3, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Codington County, 2.94 mi E of Grover
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 44.820, -97.210

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: June 3, 6:30 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 6.41 mi ESE of Britton Muni Arpt
Measured: 56 kt (64 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.780, -97.610

Thunderstorm Wind, Marshall

When: June 3, 6:42 PM CST
Where: Marshall County, 3.18 mi SW of Hillhead
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 45.800, -97.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Lyman

When: June 3, 6:52 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 8.72 mi WNW of Iona
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.580, -99.590

A member of the public estimated winds of 60 mph with the storm.

Hail, Hamlin

When: June 3, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Hamlin County, 3.45 mi S of Castlewood
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.670, -97.030

A trained spotter noted hail damage to crops 3 to 4 miles south of Castlewood.

Hail, Lyman

When: June 3, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Lyman County, 4.46 mi NW of Iona
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: Public
Coordinates: 43.570, -99.500

Hail, Clark

When: June 3, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Clark County, 1.2 mi NW of Willow Lake
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 44.630, -97.640

Flash Flood, Deuel

When: June 3, 10:00 PM CST to June 4, 7:00 AM CST
Where: Deuel County, 1.2 mi SW of Clear Lake Muni Arpt to 1.2 mi SW of Clear Lake
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 44.760, -96.700

Six inches of water was observed running over and along Parkway Drive on the south side of Clear Lake. Water in the creek had also topped its bank on the southwest side of the road adjacent to the golf course. A resident in Clear Lake recorded 4.40 inches of moisture with the system.

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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in South Dakota in 2026 Every state in 2026 This day in weather history Warnings 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1329670, 1329671, 1329672, 1329674, 1329675, 1329677, 1329678, 1329679, 1329680, 1329681, 1329682, 1329683, 1329684, 1329685, 1329686, 1332123.