South Dakota Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1996, South Dakota has logged 50,087 severe-weather events — about 1,616 a year — with 73 direct deaths, 561 injuries and $854.1M in reported property damage.
By event type
Hail14,715—$163.2M
Thunderstorm Wind10,4375 d$79.1M
High Wind4,961—$6.4M
Winter Weather3,1148 d$613K
Winter Storm2,8951 d$92.1M
Flood2,5345 d$226.9M
Blizzard2,49913 d$112.8M
Drought1,986——
Heavy Snow1,416—$341K
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill1,3886 d—
Tornado8418 d$87.3M
Flash Flood8344 d$54.3M
Excessive Heat6121 d$30K
Cold/Wind Chill6056 d—
Strong Wind279—$265K
Heat2461 d—
Events by year
19962026
Notable events (89)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDecember 24, 2017
Grant · 1 killed ·
LightningJuly 12, 2015
Lawrence · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Thunderstorm WindJune 20, 2015
Buffalo · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillFebruary 2, 2015
Brown · 1 killed ·
Flash FloodJune 17, 2014
Butte · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
BlizzardFebruary 10, 2013
Spink · 1 killed ·
LightningAugust 3, 2011
Pennington · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillMarch 8, 2011
Brown · 1 killed ·
Winter WeatherJanuary 17, 2011
Brookings · 1 killed ·
Winter WeatherJanuary 9, 2011
Minnehaha · 1 killed ·
HeatJuly 15, 2006
Pennington Co Plains · 1 killed ·
LightningJuly 20, 2003
Yankton · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
LightningJune 24, 2001
Pennington · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
BlizzardJanuary 9, 1997
Corson · 1 killed ·
BlizzardJanuary 9, 1997
Mcpherson · 1 killed ·
BlizzardDecember 16, 1996
Brown · 1 killed ·
Cold/Wind ChillDecember 8, 1996
Roberts · 1 killed ·
FloodJune 21, 2024
Union · $54.5M damage
BlizzardApril 5, 1997
Bennett · $50.0M damage
FloodApril 1, 2019
Yankton · $20.0M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Minnehaha · $20.0M damage
FloodSeptember 12, 2019
Davison · $15.4M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Lincoln · $15.0M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Turner · $15.0M damage
Tornado (F3)August 24, 2006
Beadle · 2 injured · $15.0M damage
HailAugust 30, 2013
Pennington · $12.0M damage
FloodJune 20, 2024
Davison · $10.3M damage
HailAugust 30, 2013
Pennington · $10.0M damage
HailAugust 30, 2013
Pennington · $10.0M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Douglas · $10.0M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Hutchinson · $10.0M damage
Winter StormApril 9, 2013
Mccook · $10.0M damage
Flash FloodJune 16, 2004
Minnehaha · $10.0M damage
Tornado (F4)June 24, 2003
Kingsbury · 4 injured · $3.0M damage
Tornado (F3)June 24, 2003
Beadle · $1.5M damage
Tornado (F3)May 30, 1998
Hanson · $1.0M damage
Ice StormNovember 14, 1996
Minnehaha · 41 injured · $800K damage
Tornado (F3)May 31, 1996
Brown · 1 injured · $750K damage
Tornado (F3)June 24, 2003
Sanborn · $500K damage
Tornado (EF4)June 18, 2014
Jerauld · 2 injured · $300K damage
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database. Counts are every logged event since 1996; the "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.