Lightning in South Dakota

Events

127

Deaths

5

Injuries

20

Damage

$5.0 million

• Tornado and Flash Flood in South Dakota, August 6, 20192 injured · $7.2 million · EF1 · 19 eventsA very unstable atmosphere was in place across south central and southeast South Dakota with around 2000 J/kg MLCAPE.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, June 24, 20011 death · 2 injured · 1 eventNine people were standing on the beach and in the water at Sheridan Lake when lightning hit the beach. Six of the people including one who was in water were dazed and confused. Two injuries (direct), a one year old child and a teen-age girl, were treated at a hospital.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, June 9, 20011 death · 1 injured · $1,000 · 1 eventTwo teenagers on horseback encountered a thunderstorm as they were traveling from Pine Ridge to Manderson. One rider told authorities he was knocked unconscious after seeing a bright flash of light.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, July 20, 20031 death · 1 injured · 1 eventTwo brothers, age 19 and 17, were struck by lightning while swimming in Lewis and Clark Lake. The 19 year old died later the same day, while the 17 year old survived his injuries.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, July 12, 20151 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA young man died and another was injured when they were struck by lightning at the Spearfish Canyon Disk Golf Course.
• Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, June 13, 2016$120,000 · EF2 · 14 eventsA severe thunderstorm developed over the eastern slopes of the central Black Hills and tracked northeastward onto the plains. The storm produced large hail and eventually formed into a line of storms with strong wind gusts as it moved across the plains.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, August 3, 20111 death · 1 eventA motorcyclist was struck and killed by lightning as he was driving on Interstate-90 near Wasta.
• Tornado and Flash Flood in South Dakota, July 17, 20193 injured · $405,000 · EF1 · 27 eventsA complex of thunderstorms developed during the evening across western South Dakota, moving east and becoming more organized as the low-level jet increased focus into south central and southeast South Dakota late at night.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, August 10, 2020$2.5 million · 2 in hail · 15 eventsA cold front pushing across central South Dakota and Nebraska ignited severe storms overnight. With elevated instability of 1000-1500 J/kg and an increasing low-level jet, numerous storms formed along the 700 hPa baroclinic zone with a few taking on bowing characteristics.
• Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, May 27, 20141 injured · $500,000 · EF1 · 13 eventsA supercell thunderstorm developed over the northern Black Hills early in the afternoon and moved south-southeast across the Black Hills along an outflow boundary. The storm produced large hail and a brief tornado near Silver City. The tornado caused tree damage along its path.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, August 5, 20084 injured · $161,000 · 1.75 in hail · 21 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved from northeastern Wyoming across the northern Black Hills and onto the plains to the east, producing golf ball sized hail and strong wind gusts.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in South Dakota, June 8, 2004$900,000 · 1.75 in hail · 9 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved across northeastern parts of Todd County and central Tripp County, producing hail to the size of golf balls and heavy rains.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, August 1 to 8, 2001$500,000 · 1 eventTwo large lightning fires ignited on July 30 and continued until Aug 8. The two fires grew until they were only a few miles apart in Custer County. No injuries were reported, however 26,800 total acres burned with these two fires.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strikes in South Dakota, August 27, 2015$360,000 · 4 eventsHeavy rainfall of 3 to 8 inches in a few hours caused widespread flash flooding of streets, parks, ditches, homes and businesses, and other low areas in the central and southern parts of Sioux Falls, and just south of the city.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, May 7, 2005$200,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a house, starting a fire which destroyed the house and its contents.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 9 to 10, 20012.5 in hail · 55 eventsGolfball to tennis ball size hail broke many windows out of several buildings along with severely damaging the siding on the house. Also, the roofs were damaged with holes in the roof of the barn.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 24, 2011$46,000 · 3 in hail · 19 eventsA line of severe thunderstorms moved from northeastern Wyoming across the northern Black Hills and west central South Dakota plains.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, June 25, 2000$100,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a tree, part of which fell on a house, heavily damaging the roof and upper floor. A fire. either from the lightning or from the tree falling on the house, caused further damage.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, May 19, 2025$100,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a Watertown church and caused a fire in the roof. Wind were gusting to 40 mph during the fire, making it more difficult to extinguish. Between the fire, the water from rain, and firefighting efforts the damage to the building is extensive.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, May 25, 2016$45,000 · 1.75 in hail · 15 eventsThunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds at several locations in southeast South Dakota, mainly near the Missouri River, on the late afternoon and evening of May 25th. There was also lightning damage with 21 head of cattle killed at a metal feeder in McCook County.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, April 22, 2001$80,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a house, causing a fire which destroyed the house.
• Lightning Strike in South Dakota, June 3, 2000$70,000 · 1 eventLightning struck a house, starting a fire which caused heavy damage.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 23, 2009$40,000 · 52 kt wind · 7 eventsThunderstorms produce hail in Charles Mix County, and damaging winds and lightning damage near Sioux Falls during the morning of June 23rd.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in South Dakota, June 20, 2015$50,000 · 1.25 in hail · 2 eventsA thunderstorm briefly became severe over the central Black Hills and produced large hail near Silver City.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in South Dakota, August 14, 2016$50,000 · 0.75 in hail · 2 eventsA thunderstorm moved through the Rapid City area and produced hail to penny size on the west side of the city.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in South Dakota

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.