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Back-to-Back Pacific Storms to Impact the West Coast; Heavy Snow in the Central Appalachians

Back-to-back powerful Pacific storm systems to impact the Pacific Northwest and northern California through the end of this week with heavy rain, flooding, strong winds, and higher elevation mountain snow. A strong, long-duration atmospheric river will accompany the Pacific storms, bringing excessive rainfall and flash flooding to southwest Oregon and northwest California through the week. Read More >

Overview

A low pressure system and attached cold front triggered storms in a ripe environment across southern North Dakota during the mid-afternoon, and these storms quickly became strong to severe. Through the remainder of the afternoon and evening, these storms maintained their strong to severe intensity and even became destructive in some areas as they drifted southeast across the border into South Dakota. Extensive crop and property damage resulted from up to 80 mph wind gusts and/or large hail to baseball sized plus across portions of Corson, Dewey, Walworth, Potter, Sully, Hughes and Lyman Counties. Two rounds of severe storms about an hour apart affected those roughly from Blunt to Lower Brule to Iona.

As storms continued south of the NWS Aberdeen forecast area into Gregory county in south central South Dakota, a tornado rapidly developed in the town of Burke.  This EF-1 tornado produced significant damage to portions of the city center. For more information, visit this summary page from NWS Sioux Falls. 

2.3" Hail one mile west of Blunt, SD (Credit Derek Thompson)
2.3" Hail one mile west of Blunt, SD (Credit Derek Thompson)
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