Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 6, 2026

Name: Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 6, 2026
Start: 2026-06-06T20:35
End: 2026-06-06T23:12
Location: South Dakota

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

Isolated storms produced minor severe weather across western SD.

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: 2

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.

Isolated storms produced minor severe weather across western SD.

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 Jun 6, 4:49 PM MST, 3 hours 46 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

High-based storms capable of gusty winds are possible over northeast Wyoming, far western South Dakota, and the Black Hills through the overnight hours.
A cold front moves slowly through the area Sunday and Sunday night, bringing showers and thunderstorms, severe storms are possible.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 6, 4:49 PM MST, 3 hours 46 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion For Western SD and Northeastern WY
National Weather Service Rapid City SD
549 PM MDT Sat Jun 6 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

- High-based storms capable of gusty winds are possible over
  northeast Wyoming, far western South Dakota, and the Black Hills
  through the overnight hours.

- A cold front moves slowly through the area Sunday and Sunday
  night, bringing showers and thunderstorms, severe storms are
  possible.

&&

.DISCUSSION...(This Evening Through Saturday)
Issued at 110 PM MDT Sat Jun 6 2026

Upper level analysis has a shortwave ridge centered over the Eastern
Dakotas with a low dropping into the Pacific Northwest. At the
surface a cold front extends from northeastern Montana into
southwestern Idaho, with a weak lee trof developing near the
Bighorns. Visible satellite indicates a few mid level clouds ahead
of the front with the lower portions of the UNR 18Z sounding
showing very dry air off the surface.

For tonight, a high-based storm or two could get going over the
Black Hills or northeastern Wyoming due to daytime heating and the
forcing of the lee trof. Hi-res models are indicating a broken line
of strong showers and storms along the trof, extending along the
WY/SD border by 02Z-ish. With limited low-level moisture, the
primary threat would be gusty winds.

The cold front approaches the area around 06Z tonight, reaching
the SD/WY border near 12Z. From there, it is expected to stall-
out. This stalled boundary will be the primary focus for
convection during the afternoon and evening. Supercell development
is possible with 0-6 km shear estimated to be 40-50 kts, steep
lapse rates, MLCAPE of 1700 J/kg, and MUCAPE 2400 J/kg. With drier
air still expected off the surface and dewpoints ranging from 35
to 55 degrees, expect LP supercells capable of producing
significant hail and very strong winds. A tornado could also be
possible.

Monday will be cooler behind the cold front, with highs only in the
70s and 80s. Surface high pressure will slide through the CWA,
resulting in increasing southeasterly winds of 10-25 mph during the
afternoon. Another hot day is ahead on Tuesday with prefrontal
warming back into the 90s. Once again the NBM is probably running
too, due to the greenness. A deep upper low and another cold front
impact the area on Wednesday and Thursday, resulting in a chance for
scattered storms.

&&

.AVIATION...(For the 00Z TAFS Through 00Z Sunday Evening)
Issued At 547 PM MDT Sat Jun 6 2026

VFR conditions are generally expected through most of the
forecast period. Isolated high-based thunderstorms are possible
this evening across portions of northeast Wyoming, the Black
Hills area, and northwest South Dakota where transient MVFR
conditions are possible, along with gusty/erratic winds. Isolated
gusts to 45kt or higher are possible in the strongest storms.

&&

.UNR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
SD...Wind Advisory until 9 PM MDT this evening for SDZ001-002-012>014-
     078.
WY...None.
&&

DISCUSSION/KEY MESSAGES...MLS
AVIATION...13

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Jun 6, 6:31 PM MST, 2 hours 4 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 6, 6:34 PM MST, 2 hours 1 minute before

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Local storm report, Jun 6, 6:41 PM MST, 1 hour 54 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 6, 8:01 PM MST, 34 minutes before

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Special weather statement, Jun 6, 8:26 PM MST, 9 minutes before

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Local storm report, Jun 6, 8:29 PM MST, 6 minutes before

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The radar

The Rapid City radar (KUDX), 96 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:36 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Custer

When: June 6, 8:35 PM MST
Where: Custer County, 5.71 mi WNW of Jewel Cave Natl Mon
Measured: 51 kt (59 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Mesonet
Coordinates: 43.770, -103.930

SD Mesonet recorded wind gust.

Thunderstorm Wind, Butte

When: June 6, 11:12 PM MST
Where: Butte County, 12.8 mi NE of Newell
Measured: 54 kt (62 mph) measured gust
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 44.820, -103.210

Estimated wind gust as this location.

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

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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1349011, 1349012.