Tornadoes · United States · South Dakota · 2020

EF1 tornado, Holabird, South Dakota, June 7, 2020

This EF1 tornado ran 0.4 miles across Hyde County on June 7, 2020, touching down at 6:05 PM CDT and reaching 50 yards wide. It killed nobody.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Enhanced Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. EF065 to 85 mph

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. EF186 to 110 mphthis tornado

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. EF2111 to 135 mph

    Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.

  4. EF3136 to 165 mph

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. EF4166 to 200 mph

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. EF5over 200 mph

    Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.

  7. Unrated

    The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

The record

Rating
EF1
Date
June 7, 2020
Touchdown
6:05 PM CDT (23:05 UTC)
Lifted
6:07 PM CDT (23:07 UTC)
On the ground
2 minutes
Path length
0.4 miles (0.6 km)
Path width
50 yards (46 m)
Deaths
0
Injuries
0
County
Hyde County
Touchdown point
44.777, -99.570
Lift-off point
44.782, -99.569
Record number
2006071705-01

The damage survey

24 damage points were recorded along this path by NWS ABR, in the Damage Assessment Toolkit the survey teams carry. The strongest indicator was rated EF1. The highest wind the damage implies is 100 mph.

  • Sheet metal debris ENE from abandoned farm across the hwy
  • Awning over dog kennels tossed 200 feet NNE
  • calf shed blown to NE 100 feet
  • Calf barn moved 100 feet lofted over trees

Survey points are preliminary and are the raw material the published rating was built from. Source: NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit.

What the Weather Service recorded

A strong surface low pressure area in central South Dakota along a stalled southwest to northeast surface boundary brought numerous severe thunderstorms to central and northeast South Dakota. The severe storms moved over the same areas multiple times into the early morning hours of June 8th. Large hail from quarter to golf ball size, wind gusts of 60 to 90 mph, along with four tornadoes occurred. Numerous structures and trees were damaged or destroyed from these storms.

South of the main farm, calving sheds were pushed to the north. On the main property a machine shed was destroyed with debris tossed roughly 100 feet to the northeast. Several trees were snapped and a livestock trailer was tipped over. A long barn also lost its roof and the main barn doors were pushed in. Wet grass from rain and wind accumulated on the east side of a machine shed.

From NOAA NCEI's Storm Events Database, the narrative the local forecast office wrote for Storm Data.

The warnings

No tornado warning for this county appears in the archive as in force at the moment the tornado touched down.

The county was under a severe thunderstorm watch, issued at 20:31 UTC and running to 05:00 UTC.

Issued (UTC)ExpiredProductOffice
20:31 UTC05:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WatchABR
22:07 UTC22:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
22:32 UTC23:15 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
23:13 UTC23:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
00:15 UTC01:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
00:24 UTC00:46 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:08 UTC01:45 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:15 UTC01:39 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:30 UTC02:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:34 UTC02:00 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
01:59 UTC02:30 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
02:27 UTC02:39 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR
03:11 UTC03:32 UTCSevere Thunderstorm WarningABR

Every warning and watch covering the touchdown point that day, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service products. Lead time is measured from the issue of the warning in force to the touchdown time in the database, both of which were recorded to the minute by different people.

The forecast that day

The Storm Prediction Center had this point in a Enhanced Risk, with a 0.05 chance of a tornado within 25 miles. The outlook in force was issued at 19:59 UTC.

SPC's Day 1 convective outlook as it stood when the tornado began, read at the touchdown point. The same archive is on the radar archive.

The air that afternoon

The radiosonde launches on either side of the tornado, from the nearest station that was launching then, drawn and analyzed the way Storm Lab does: the same diagram, the same parcel and shear definitions SPC's mesoanalysis uses.

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), 12:00Z

11.1 hours before the tornado, 93 km from the path. June 7, 2020.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Aberdeen, SD at 12:00Z on 2020-06-07Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1690 joules per kilogram, CIN -147, lifted condensation level 1215 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Aberdeen, SD at 12:00Z on 2020-06-07The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 539 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 51 knots.19395878Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1690 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-147 J/kg
Surface CAPE
1943 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1215 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
51 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
46 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
539 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
503 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
1.5
Supercell composite
17.5
0-3 km lapse rate
4.9 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

Aberdeen, SD (KABR), 00:00Z

0.9 hours after it, 93 km from the path. June 8, 2020.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 2020-06-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel lifted from the surface. Mixed-layer CAPE 1869 joules per kilogram, CIN -15, lifted condensation level 2410 meters above ground. Wind barbs in knots down the right edge.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed. The warm shading is its CAPE, the cool shading the inhibition it has to break through.
HodographHodograph, Aberdeen, SD at 00:00Z on 2020-06-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers as a curve, rings every 10 meters per second labeled in knots. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 136 square meters per square second, 0 to 6 km bulk shear 39 knots.1939587897Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km. RM and LM are the right and left moving storms Bunkers' method gives; the shaded area is the 0 to 1 km storm-relative helicity.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1869 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-15 J/kg
Surface CAPE
2765 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
2410 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km bulk shear
23 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
118 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
4.1
0-3 km lapse rate
8.0 K/km

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The surface observations

Pierre (PIR), 72 km from the path, in the two hours either side.

Time (UTC)Temp (°F)Dew point (°F)WindGust (kt)Pressure (mb)Weather
21:05 UTC200° 19 kt27996.6
21:15 UTC190° 16 kt996.3
21:20 UTC190° 17 kt995.9
21:25 UTC190° 17 kt995.9
21:30 UTC190° 17 kt22995.9
21:35 UTC190° 18 kt22995.6
21:50 UTC200° 11 kt994.9
21:53 UTC9660180° 16 kt23994.9
21:55 UTC190° 15 kt994.9
22:00 UTC180° 16 kt994.9
22:03 UTC9660190° 15 kt994.9VCTS
22:05 UTC220° 15 kt22994.9
22:10 UTC220° 14 kt21994.6
22:15 UTC200° 14 kt994.9
22:20 UTC170° 13 kt22994.9
22:25 UTC 24 kt31995.3
22:30 UTC130° 16 kt22995.3
22:32 UTC8164130° 19 kt33995.3VCTS
22:35 UTC 17 kt994.9
22:40 UTC150° 13 kt18994.9
22:45 UTC150° 11 kt994.9
22:46 UTC8164150° 10 kt19994.9
22:53 UTC8164150° 12 kt19994.6
22:55 UTC150° 9 kt994.9
23:00 UTC140° 9 kt994.9
23:03 UTC8164170° 10 kt994.9TS
23:05 UTC170° 11 kt994.9
23:10 UTC160° 19 kt23995.9-RA
23:15 UTC140° 997RA
23:20 UTC 24 kt31995.9RA
23:24 UTC7062160° 19 kt51995.6-TSRA
23:30 UTC180° 20 kt35997-RA
23:31 UTC7262180° 28 kt44996.6-TSRA
23:35 UTC160° 997-RA
23:40 UTC130° 18 kt27994.6RA BR
23:45 UTC160° 11 kt18995.3-RA BR
23:50 UTC140° 18 kt995.6-RA
23:53 UTC6965150° 12 kt25995.6-TSRA
23:55 UTC150° 13 kt995.6-RA
00:00 UTC150° 10 kt995.3-RA
00:05 UTC140° 10 kt995.6-RA
00:10 UTC150° 5 kt995.9-RA
00:20 UTC170° 16 kt26996.3RA
00:30 UTC140° 15 kt994.9-RA
00:35 UTC150° 14 kt19995.3
00:40 UTC140° 10 kt16995.9-RA
00:45 UTC130° 11 kt995.3-RA
00:50 UTC130° 14 kt19995.6-RA
00:53 UTC7062120° 15 kt21995.6-TSRA
00:55 UTC 15 kt995.6-RA
01:00 UTC150° 10 kt995.3-RA

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of airport observations.

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 118 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the touchdown began at 23:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment, over the track

Reflectivity and velocity, decoded from the Level II archive in the browser. Volumes take a few seconds to open the first time.

What was reported nearby

Local storm reports within 60 km of the path, in the three hours either side.

Time (UTC)ReportWhereCountyRemark
22:16 UTCHAIL 1.51 W BluntHughes, SD
22:50 UTCHAIL 1.257 Ssw LebanonPotter, SDRADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
23:00 UTCTSTM WND DMG18 N HolabirdHyde, SDROOF OFF 60X100 FOOT MACHINE SHED, WALL IN ON BARN. RADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
23:05 UTCTORNADO18 N HolabirdHyde, SDSOUTH OF THE MAIN FARM, CALVING SHEDS WERE PUSHED TO THE NORTH. ON THE MAIN PROPERTY A MACHINE SHED WAS DESTROYED WITH DEBRIS TOSSED ROUGHLY 100 FEET TO THE NORTHEAST. SEVERAL TREES WERE SNAPPED AND A LIVESTOCK TRAILER T
23:17 UTCTORNADO11 Sse SenecaFaulk, SDWEST OF SD HWY 47, MINOR ROOF DAMAGE OCCURRED TO A HOUSE, A CALVING SHED WAS PUSHED 10 FEET TO THE NORTHEAST AND SHEET METAL FROM A BARN WAS TOSSED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY TO THE EAST NORTHEAST INTO AN OPEN FIELD. ON THE MAIN
23:19 UTCTSTM WND GST 6917 W PoloHyde, SD
23:20 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 Sw BurkmereFaulk, SDSEVERAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
23:25 UTCTSTM WND DMG3 Ssw FaulktonFaulk, SDTWO GREENHOUSES DESTROYED. SOME DAMAGE TO SIDING, A BROKEN WINDOW ON THE HOUSE, AN AUGER TIPPED OVER, A HOPPER BIN DENTED IN AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TIPPED OVER. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
23:25 UTCHAIL 0.76 Nnw TolstoyEdmunds, SD
23:25 UTCTORNADO4 W BurkmereFaulk, SDA POLE BARN WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH ANCHORING POLES PULLED STRAIGHT UP OUT OF THE GROUND, A SECOND WELL ANCHORED OUTBUILDING RIPPED OFF THE FOUNDATION AND A THIRD OUTBUILDING TOSSED. DEBRIS FROM ALL THREE DESTROYED
23:26 UTCTSTM WND DMGSenecaFaulk, SDSEVERAL BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
23:30 UTCTSTM WND DMG1 W FaulktonFaulk, SD1 TREE DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED BY RADAR.
23:31 UTCTSTM WND DMGFaulktonFaulk, SDPOWER POLES DOWN. 3 INCH TREE LIMBS DOWN.
23:34 UTCTSTM WND GST 634 W FaulktonFaulk, SDREPORT FROM PERSONAL WEATHER STATION.
23:34 UTCTSTM WND GST 67Brentwood ColonyFaulk, SD
23:53 UTCTSTM WND DMG4 Ene CanningHughes, SDPARTIAL ROOF OFF BARN, 2 CALVES KILLED, OVERHEAD DOOR ON ANOTHER OUTBUILDING BLOWN IN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
00:07 UTCHAIL 17 Nnw TolstoyEdmunds, SD
00:09 UTCTSTM WND GST 781 Ene HarroldHughes, SDMESONET STATION 19 HARROLD (SDDOT).
00:34 UTCTSTM WND GST 7617 W PoloHyde, SDCORRECTS PREVIOUS NON-TSTM WND GST REPORT FROM 17 W POLO. MESONET STATION 215 JCT SD47/SD26 (SDDOT).
00:34 UTCNON-TSTM WND GST 7617 W PoloHyde, SDMESONET STATION 215 JCT SD47/SD26 (SDDOT).
00:45 UTCTORNADO2 Ese BurkmereFaulk, SDLOCATION ESTIMATED BASED ON STORM CHASER REPORT AND RADAR.
00:50 UTCTSTM WND DMG2 Ssw LoyaltonEdmunds, SD5 OUTBUILDINGS DAMAGED. APPROXIMATE TIMING.
01:15 UTCTSTM WND DMG12 Ese CanningHughes, SDELECTRICAL POLE DOWN. 1 INCH HAIL. SEVERAL BROKEN TREE LIMBS.
01:27 UTCHAIL 1.759 W OrientFaulk, SDRADAR ESTIMATED TIME.
01:40 UTCHAIL 1.51 Sw HighmoreHyde, SD
01:40 UTCHAIL 1.5HighmoreHyde, SD
01:40 UTCHAIL 1.753 S HighmoreHyde, SD
01:59 UTCHAIL 1.259 Sw PoloHand, SDRADAR ESTIMATED TIME.

From the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service local storm reports.

This ground now

The live radar over the trackEvery 2020 tornado in South DakotaEvery tornado in South Dakota since 1950Warnings in force in South Dakota nowThe forecast where you are

The other tornadoes of June 7, 2020

10 more were confirmed in the United States that day.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
June 73:30 PM EDTEF0Columbia, FL1.4100
June 73:40 PM EDTEF0Lake, FL0.025
June 74:05 PM EDTEF0Union, FL0.025
June 76:41 PM EDTEF0Lake, FL0.520
June 76:17 PM CDTEF1Faulk, SD1.070
June 76:25 PM CDTEF1Faulk, SD0.7150
June 76:45 PM CDTUnratedMcIntosh, ND0.230
June 77:20 PM CDTUnratedDickey, ND0.430
June 78:30 PM CDTEF0Brown, SD5.350
June 78:52 PM CDTEF0Nelson, ND0.150

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.