National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. Read More >

Event Summary:

During the late afternoon and evening of 17 June 2012, an upper level disturbance tracking across the Northern Plains interacted with a moist and unstable airmass over northeastern South Dakota and west-central Minnesota resulting in the development of scattered severe thunderstorms.  The most severe damage occurred near the communities of Peever and Big Stone City in South Dakota and Ortonville, Minnesota.  Numerous tree and power poles were reported down in this area, with significant damage to several homes and businesses.  Cramer's Resort on Big Stone Lake also suffered fairly extensive damage.  The results from an NWS storm survey can be found in the link section below.  

Other brief tornado touchdowns were reported in Roberts and Traverse Counties although no damage has been attributed to these tornadoes. Funnel clouds were also sighted near Watertown. In addition to the tornadoes, large hail was reported over Brown, Marshall, and Codington Counties, including some to the size of tennis balls (2" or greater in diameter).  Significant crop damage was reported from the hail with several vehicles sustaining damage.

 

Storm Reports Here

 

Storm and Damage Photos:

Near Peever, SD (Photos Courtesy of the Sisseton Courier Newspaper)

 

 

Near Kranzburg, SD (Photos Courtesy of Kyle Horst)

 

 

Cramer's Resort, Big Stone Lake 

 

Big Stone City, SD & Ortonville, MN

 

 

Storm reports