Tornado in South Dakota
Every tornado event the National Weather Service has filed in South Dakota, year by year, with the most significant episodes. A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
The most significant on the map
The most significant tornado episodes in South Dakota.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 1,947
- Deaths
- 19
- Injuries
- 488
- Damage
- $260 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Tornadoes in South Dakota, May 30, 1998A large and strengthening tornado destroyed buildings and other property on five farms and also destroyed trees and power lines before crossing the eastern edge of Hanson County.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in South Dakota, June 2 to 30, 1999Strong winds from thunderstorms blew over several trees and fences in the community.
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, June 7, 1965
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, July 31, 1966
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, May 8, 1965
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, May 7, 1993Tennis ball-size hail pounded a farm, killing two calves, breaking windows, damaging tractors, and leaving two inch holes in a utility shed and in the lawn. Other farms in the area also sustained some hail and wind damage.
- Tornadoes in South Dakota, May 21, 1962
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, June 18, 2014Thunderstorms during the evening of June 18th produced tornadoes in Jerauld County, with one tornado crossing briefly into Beadle County. The tornadoes included one that caused severe damage to Wessington Springs. There was also a report of large hail.
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, May 11, 1991
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, June 16, 1992
- Tornado in South Dakota, June 24, 2003A tornado destroyed or heavily damaged all buildings, other structures, and vehicles in the small town of Manchester. Propane and fuel oil tanks were destroyed. Many homes were stripped to the foundation.
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, June 21, 1961
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, July 1, 1973
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, June 19, 1979
- Tornado and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 11, 1984
- Tornado and Hail in South Dakota, July 14, 1970
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, September 24, 1986
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in South Dakota, May 22, 2010Several supercell thunderstorms developed along a very strong warm front and produced nine tornadoes from Akaska to Bowdle to Hecla. The largest of the tornadoes was an EF4 tornado which occurred near Bowdle. This tornado produced devastating damage in the Bowdle area.
- Tornado and Damaging Wind in South Dakota, July 23, 1973
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in South Dakota, May 5, 2007Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations.
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, July 7, 1969
- Tornadoes in South Dakota, June 23, 2002A powerful supercell thunderstorm produced six tornados from eastern McPherson county and across northern Brown county during the evening hours of June 23rd. The first weak tornado (F0) touched down briefly 6.4 miles northeast of Leola and resulted in no damage.
- Tornado in South Dakota, August 24, 2006A tornado, entering Beadle County from Hand County to the west, destroyed 8 houses, damaged at least 7 other houses, and destroyed or damaged numerous farm buildings.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in South Dakota, June 25, 1969
- Tornadoes and Hail in South Dakota, May 12, 1984
More
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 2026-09-24.