Sioux Falls Dodges Strong Wind Friday Night - July 23, 2010

Sioux Falls dodged strong winds Friday night. Numerous lines of thunderstorms occurred Friday evening and night throughout this area. One line was situated right along Interstate 90 and was moving straight eastward at 40 to 50 mph during Friday evening. This line was producing 60 to 80 mph winds along the I 90 corridor from about 815 pm to 920 pm west of Sioux Falls, causing damage in some locations. Just west of Sioux Falls beginning in western Minnehaha county, the storms began to rapidly weaken, producing wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph on average. Then by about 1030 pm, the line of storms very rapidly reintensified east of Sioux Falls along I 90 in southwest Minnesota in central and eastern Rock county. With the damage reported, some of these winds along I 90 corridor in southwest Minnesota likely exceeded 80 mph.

Here are some selected wind reports from the evening of July 23rd, 2010 highlighting this phenomenon. Notice how strong winds occurred as far east as the Salem SD exit on I 90 - then stopped. The strong winds then picked up again in Rock county, continuing eastward through southwest Minnesota.

Time Report Location

826 pm 60 mph wind 5 NNE Stickney, Aurora county

845 pm Power lines and trees down Mitchell, Davison county

845 pm 70 mph wind 6 NNW Ethan, Davison county

845 pm House on HWY 37 lost part of roof 3 S Mitchell, Davison county

848 pm 70 mph wind 4 S Mitchell, Davison county

855 pm 70 mph wind Fulton, Hanson county

910 pm 70 mph wind, billboards down 4 S Spencer, McCook county

920 pm 63 mph wind 4 S Salem, McCook county

1025pm House and barn down, trees down 7 NNW Luverne, Rock county

1030pm Barn down killing cattle 2 N Hardwick, Rock county

1045pm 60 mph wind 1 SW Adrian, Nobles county

1048pm 67 mph wind Adrian, Nobles county

1050pm Large trees down Adrian, Nobles county

1050pm Storage shed collapsed Adrian, Nobles county

1054pm 71 mph wind 2 N Rushmore, Nobles county

1055pm Roof blown off barn 2 S Rushmore, Nobles county

1105pm Semi blown off I 90 Worthington, Nobles county

1105pm Numerous trees down Worthington, Nobles county

1110pm 60 mph wind Round Lake, Nobles county

1125pm 60 mph wind, branches down Heron Lake, Jackson county