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Overview
Multiple tornadoes with two separate storms tracked across eastern Meade and Perkins Counties, South Dakota, on Monday afternoon, May 24, 2010. At times, two tornadoes occurred simultaneously. The widest tornado was near a quarter mile wide, and two of the tornadoes traveled at least 20 miles. Significant tornado damage occurred with both storms, resulting in EF-2 damage ratings (estimated wind gusts 111 to 135 mph) by the National Weather Service (NWS) assessment teams.
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Tornado west of Howes, SD, on 24 May 2010 (courtesy Bill Hark) |
Tornadoes:
Tornado - 5 mi Southeast of Plainview to 14 mi Southwest of Faith
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Tornado - 6 mi Southwest of Faith to 3 mi West of Faith
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Tornado - 4 mi South/southeast of Usta to 2 mi South of Meadow
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Tornado - 7 mi Southeast of Meadow to 1 mi North of Meadow
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Tornado - 3 mi West of Shadehill
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The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories:
EF0 Weak 65-85 mph |
EF1 Moderate 86-110 mph |
EF2 Significant 111-135 mph |
EF3 Severe 136-165 mph |
EF4 Extreme 166-200 mph |
EF5 Catastrophic 200+ mph |
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Photos
Here are some photos from the two NWS service assessment teams that evaluated the damage on May 25, 2010.
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Damage to manufactured home southwest of Howes (NWS storm survey) |
Damage to uninhabited cinder block home (NWS storm survey) |
Gleaner combine damaged (NWS storm survey) |
Destruction of pole barn (foreground), with van and hay swather thrown into trees (NWS storm survey) |
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Destroyed round baler thrown about 300 yards from destroyed pole barn (distant, behind baler) (NWS storm survey) |
Destruction of Progress School (chimney helped interior walls remain standing) (NWS storm survey) |
Debris from the roof of Progress School 175 yards to the northwest (NWS storm survey) |
Damage to SD DOT weather sensor near intersection of Highways 20 and 73 (NWS storm survey) |
Radar
Here is a radar animation at 15-min intervals from 11 am to 7 pm on May 24, 2010. The tornadic storm developed in eastern Pennington County and then moved almost due north across eastern Meade and Perkins Counties, producing at five tornadoes along its path. Later, a line of severe storms moved through much of western South Dakota (see storm reports section). Finally, toward the end of the animation some light rain and even some snow began to move into the Black Hills area.
NWS Rapid City radar animation from 11 am to 7 pm on May 24, 2010 |
Storm Reports
Below is a map of preliminary storm reports for western South Dakota and surrounding areas, followed by a list of storm reports for the NWS Rapid City area of responsibility.
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Storm reports for May 24, 2010 |
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE RAPID CITY SD 837 PM MDT MON MAY 24 2010 ..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON... ..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.... ..REMARKS.. 1215 PM HAIL 11 SW OELRICHS 43.07N 103.39W 05/24/2010 E2.75 INCH FALL RIVER SD PUBLIC BASEBALL SIZE HAIL SMASHED VEHICLE WINDOWS. 1236 PM HAIL 19 ESE HERMOSA 43.73N 102.84W 05/24/2010 E2.00 INCH CUSTER SD TRAINED SPOTTER 1250 PM HAIL 1 N MAVERICK JUNCTION 43.42N 103.40W 05/24/2010 E4.25 INCH FALL RIVER SD BROADCAST MEDIA 1250 PM HAIL MAVERICK JUNCTION 43.40N 103.40W 05/24/2010 E1.75 INCH FALL RIVER SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0100 PM HAIL 2 NW BUFFALO GAP 43.52N 103.34W 05/24/2010 E4.00 INCH CUSTER SD TRAINED SPOTTER HAILSTONES FROM 3.5 TO 4 INCHES IN DIAMETER. 0108 PM HAIL 12 SSW PLAINVIEW 44.44N 102.25W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0110 PM HAIL 3 NNE DOWNTOWN NEWCASTL 43.89N 104.18W 05/24/2010 E1.25 INCH WESTON WY TRAINED SPOTTER 0124 PM TORNADO 9 SSW HOWES 44.50N 102.12W 05/24/2010 MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER STORM SPOTTER REPORTED A TORNADO NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 73 AND 34 NEAR THE MEADE COUNTY ZIEBACH COUNTY LINE. 0125 PM HAIL 3 W DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.08N 103.29W 05/24/2010 E1.50 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0125 PM HAIL 4 W COTTONWOOD SPRINGS 43.43N 103.64W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH FALL RIVER SD TRAINED SPOTTER QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED FROM 125 PM TO 135 PM. 0128 PM HAIL 2 S HAYWARD 43.84N 103.33W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH CUSTER SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0202 PM TSTM WND GST VALE 44.62N 103.40W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH BUTTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER TIME ESTIMATED. 0208 PM TORNADO 8 SW FAITH 44.93N 102.15W 05/24/2010 MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER LARGE TORNADO 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF FAITH. 0232 PM HAIL 13 NE NEWELL 44.84N 103.22W 05/24/2010 E1.25 INCH BUTTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0235 PM HAIL ORAL 43.40N 103.27W 05/24/2010 E1.25 INCH FALL RIVER SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0238 PM HAIL 12 SSE HOOVER 44.96N 103.13W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH BUTTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER VERY HEAVY RAIN ALONG WITH QUARTER SIZE HAIL. 0239 PM HAIL 10 E MAURINE 45.04N 102.39W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0245 PM TSTM WND GST 8 WNW USTA 45.25N 102.31W 05/24/2010 E70.00 MPH PERKINS SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0246 PM HAIL 15 SE HERMOSA 43.69N 102.98W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH CUSTER SD TRAINED SPOTTER TIME ESTIMATED. 0250 PM HEAVY RAIN 2 N BLACK HAWK 44.18N 103.32W 05/24/2010 M2.10 INCH MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER WATER OVER SECONDARY ROADS 0308 PM TORNADO MEADOW 45.53N 102.22W 05/24/2010 PERKINS SD LAW ENFORCEMENT TORNADO NEAR MEADOWS CORNER AND HIGHWAY 73 0309 PM FLASH FLOOD KEYSTONE 43.89N 103.43W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER WATER IN BASEMENTS 0309 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 N DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.13N 103.23W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT NIKE ROAD IMPASSABLE DUE TO FLOODING 0310 PM TSTM WND GST WHITE RIVER 43.57N 100.74W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH MELLETTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0315 PM TSTM WND GST OGLALA 43.18N 102.73W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH SHANNON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0318 PM HEAVY RAIN HISEGA 44.05N 103.40W 05/24/2010 E1.86 INCH PENNINGTON SD PUBLIC SINCE NOON. 0320 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 W DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.08N 103.27W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD NWS EMPLOYEE SIOUX PARK UNDER WATER AT SHERIDAN LAKE ROAD 0325 PM HAIL BISON 45.52N 102.46W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH PERKINS SD CO-OP OBSERVER 0335 PM TSTM WND GST 1 S OGLALA 43.17N 102.73W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH SHANNON SD CO-OP OBSERVER 0343 PM FUNNEL CLOUD ROCKYFORD 43.50N 102.50W 05/24/2010 SHANNON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT 0345 PM TSTM WND GST 16 E HERMOSA 43.84N 102.87W 05/24/2010 E65.00 MPH CUSTER SD PUBLIC ESTIMATED 60 TO 70 MPH WIND GUST. TIME ESTIMATED. 0347 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 W HERMOSA 43.84N 103.27W 05/24/2010 CUSTER SD NWS EMPLOYEE SEVERAL ROADS ALONG BATTLE CREEK UNDER WATER INCLUDING BATTLE CREEK ROAD...CROOKED CANYON ROAD...AND TIFFANY LANE. 0356 PM FLASH FLOOD DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY 44.08N 103.23W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD NWS EMPLOYEE RAPID CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS FROM FOUNDERS PARK TO MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD. 0402 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 SE KEYSTONE 43.85N 103.37W 05/24/2010 CUSTER SD TRAINED SPOTTER IRON CREEK OUT OF ITS BANKS. 0405 PM HAIL 3 N ROCKYFORD 43.54N 102.49W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH SHANNON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0418 PM HAIL WASTA 44.07N 102.45W 05/24/2010 E1.75 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0435 PM HAIL 6 SW WHITE BUTTE 45.88N 102.44W 05/24/2010 E1.50 INCH PERKINS SD TRAINED SPOTTER PING PONG BALL SIZE HAIL WITH 50 MPH WINDS. 0436 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 ESE BOX ELDER 44.10N 103.02W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT HOUSE AT 229TH EAST OF 156TH IS SURROUNDED BY WATER 0445 PM FLOOD 4 S BUFFALO GAP 43.43N 103.31W 05/24/2010 FALL RIVER SD EMERGENCY MNGR WATER ACROSS BEAVER CREEK ROAD AT BEAVER CREEK. 0449 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 NE DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.11N 103.19W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT INTERSECTINO OF DYESS AVE AND SEGER DRIVE UNDER WATER. 0450 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 E BOX ELDER 44.12N 103.01W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT GREATER THAN SIX INCHES OF WATER OVER 156TH AVE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 1416. 0453 PM HAIL 2 NE WHITE OWL 44.61N 102.40W 05/24/2010 E1.25 INCH MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0500 PM FLASH FLOOD 6 NE DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.14N 103.15W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD EMERGENCY MNGR WATER OVER ELK VALE ROAD NORTH OF EXIT 61. 0500 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 ESE FARMINGDALE 43.96N 102.88W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT WATER OVER HIGHWAY 44 AND 160TH AVE. 0500 PM FLASH FLOOD 15 E DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.07N 102.93W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD EMERGENCY MNGR WATER IS OVER 156TH ST AND 159TH ST. 0502 PM HEAVY RAIN 4 ESE KEYSTONE 43.87N 103.35W 05/24/2010 M2.50 INCH PENNINGTON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0506 PM HAIL 10 NE MARCUS 44.77N 102.12W 05/24/2010 E1.00 INCH MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER HAIL LASTED FROM 506 PM TO 508 PM. 0517 PM FLASH FLOOD 1 NW RAPID CITY AIRPORT 44.05N 103.07W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT LONG VIEW ROAD WASHED OUT. 0522 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 NNE DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.12N 103.21W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT WATER OVER INTERSECTION. CAR STUCK IN WATER WITH DRIVER BEING RESCUED. 0524 PM FLASH FLOOD 3 NW BUFFALO GAP 43.52N 103.36W 05/24/2010 CUSTER SD PUBLIC WATER OVER THE BANKS ON BEAVER CREEK. CREEK IS ABOUT 50 YARDS WIDE. 1 MILE WEST OF HIGHWAY 79. 0530 PM FLASH FLOOD 4 ENE DOWNTOWN RAPID CI 44.10N 103.16W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT WATER OVER ELK VALE ROAD A HALF MILE NORTH OF FLYING J TRUCK STOP. 0537 PM TSTM WND GST 1 NE CEDAR BUTTE 43.59N 101.01W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH MELLETTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0539 PM TSTM WND GST MIDLAND 44.07N 101.15W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH HAAKON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0540 PM TSTM WND DMG 13 S MIDLAND 43.88N 101.15W 05/24/2010 JACKSON SD PUBLIC SEMI TRAILER TIPPED OVER BETWEEN MILE MARKER 165 AND 170 ON INTERSTATE 90. RELAYED THROUGH PHILIP STATE RADIO. 0545 PM TSTM WND GST 7 S CHERRY CREEK 44.50N 101.50W 05/24/2010 E65.00 MPH HAAKON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0545 PM TSTM WND GST 17 NW MIDLAND 44.25N 101.39W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH HAAKON SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0550 PM TSTM WND GST 2 E OKREEK 43.37N 100.34W 05/24/2010 M82.00 MPH TODD SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0552 PM FLASH FLOOD 10 N DOWNTOWN RAPID CIT 44.22N 103.23W 05/24/2010 MEADE SD EMERGENCY MNGR FLOODING AT HUSKER PLACE. 0556 PM HEAVY RAIN 10 NE RED OWL 44.80N 102.41W 05/24/2010 M1.50 INCH MEADE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0605 PM TSTM WND GST 15 SE DUPREE 44.90N 101.37W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH ZIEBACH SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0617 PM TSTM WND GST 6 NE WOOD 43.55N 100.39W 05/24/2010 E60.00 MPH MELLETTE SD TRAINED SPOTTER 0630 PM FLASH FLOOD 2 W FARMINGDALE 43.97N 102.94W 05/24/2010 PENNINGTON SD LAW ENFORCEMENT WATER OVER HIGHWAY 44 2 MILES WEST OF FARMINGDALE 0650 PM FLASH FLOOD 9 NNE BOX ELDER 44.24N 103.00W 05/24/2010 MEADE SD PUBLIC ANTELOPE CREEK NORTH OF ELK CREEK ROAD IS FLOODED. THIS IS A LOW LYING ROAD.
Environment
A special NWS Rapid City balloon launch at noon showed a very unstable midlevel air mass, but with cool and cloudy/foggy conditions next to the surface. The vertical wind shear was exceptionally strong and was favorable for supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes. The surface map shows that a cold front (blue line) had moved southeast of Rapid City by 1 pm, while a warm front was located along the eastern fringes of Meade and Perkins Counties. Temperatures (black numbers) were in the loewr 70s along and just to the west of this front, and dewpoint (blue numbers) were in the mid to upper 60s along and east of this warm front. This resulted in an unstable low-level environment over eastern Meade and Perkins Counties. Finally, the winds were blowing from the south throughout much of the atmosphere, which helped steer storms toward the north, right along the warm front, which is a favorable setup for tornadic storms.
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Sounding for Rapid City at 12 pm MDT 24 May 2010 (18z UTC) | Hodograph for Rapid City at 12 pm MDT 24 May 2010 (18z UTC) | Surface map valid 1 pm MDT 24 May 2010 |
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