Overview
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A powerful upper-level disturbance moving through the Rockies and Plains on June 6, 2020 sparked the development of a line of thunderstorms that brought widespread damaging winds from Utah and Colorado through northeastern Wyoming, western South Dakota, and southwestern North Dakota. Given the scope and intensity of the damaging winds, the storm system was classified as a "derecho" by the Storm Prediction Center. Derechos are characterized by a several hundred mile-long swath of persistent severe wind gusts (58 mph or greater), with embedded wind gusts that are considered significantly severe (75 mph or greater). There is more information about derechos here. This derecho rocked our county warning area during the afternoon and evening of June 6th, leading to over 100 reports of wind gusts of at least 58 mph and multiple reports of 80 to 95 mph winds. This derecho caused widespread damage, with 60 to 90+ mph winds reported. Sections of I-90 needed to be closed for a time due to construction site damage and vehicle rollovers. The derecho also produced at least two brief tornadoes. One was west of Billsburg, SD, in Haakon County. The other did damage to the Badlands/White River KOA campground southeast of Interior in Jackson County. The CIMMS Satellite Blog has additional details about this event: |
 North of Belle Fourche, SD Courtesy Conquer The Storm |
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The Storm Prediction Center created a graphic with the most significant wind gusts in a day since 2004. June 6, 2020 is #1 with 44 reports. |
Courtesy Storm Prediction Center |
Photos & Video
Social Media - Note: If the video does not play, click on the post.
While running to keep in front of the shelf cloud of the June 6th derecho, I snapped this photo near Castle Rock, SD because I saw a suspicious lowering in the kink. No tornado, but this turned out pretty cool. @NWSRapidCity #sdwx pic.twitter.com/yUllxGJO8K
— Nick Nolte (@NickNolteWx) June 11, 2020
Shelf just East of Bison, SD around 8pm #sdwx @NWSRapidCity @NWSBismarck @ReedTimmerAccu @StormChaseGeeks pic.twitter.com/vERWqwjHO2
— Timothy Baca (@TimBacaWeather) June 7, 2020
I spent most of my day yesterday getting sunburned. Reluctantly, I got ahead of an incoming severe warned line north of Newell SD. Well, that derecho smacked into the warm front and did this insanity! What a day! #sdwx #wxtwitter #StormHour @spann @WeatherGoinWILD @NycStormChaser pic.twitter.com/0efkpQ5FI6
— Marcus Diaz (@TheTXWXchaser) June 7, 2020
Check out this funnel that formed as the squall line passed overhead! (Northeast of Sturgis)@NWSRapidCity #SDwx #severeweather #tornado pic.twitter.com/8hKzcxMimy
— Scott Nicholson (@MobileWxOffice) June 7, 2020
This bad boy in the Badlands made the day today! Incredibly fun day. No bust here! #sdwx #StormHour pic.twitter.com/8B4fjlcIMT
— Jim Tang (@wxmann) June 7, 2020
It was amazing to watch the structure of this MCS improve rapidly as it moved into a more unstable environment. These storms were not messing around. Awesome dynamics at play! #sdwx #beastmode pic.twitter.com/W3n6bSp6XJ
— John Homenuk (@jhomenuk) June 7, 2020
--- Andrew Guidarelli 🌹 (@a_guidarelli) June 7, 2020
Here is another view from more straight on...@StormHour @NWSRapidCity #sdwx #severeweather #thunderstorm #Shelfcloud pic.twitter.com/nnUMe6DGNm
— Scott Nicholson (@MobileWxOffice) June 7, 2020
Left and right sides of shelf cloud South of Buffalo, SD 6/6/20. #sdwx pic.twitter.com/ohjwtAqICn
— Phil Johnson (@Philstormpod) June 7, 2020
#sdwx Couple more of the intense shelf cloud over Faith, SD pic.twitter.com/XakPaVe1bZ
— Michael Snyder (@SeattleWXGuy) June 7, 2020
#sdwx #cows Was pretty mesmerizing watching this shelf cloud with QLCS circulations embedded in it come at us. The cows were looking to us for shelter I think! pic.twitter.com/6gRhaxvuvB
— Michael Snyder (@SeattleWXGuy) June 7, 2020
Here's a video of the shelf as it was moving through Wall, SD. It tried to produce a brief tornado at the beginning of the video with some good rotation but quickly disapparated. Also, it was really neat to see the wind direction in the grass it rolled through! #sdwx pic.twitter.com/fW0F47vA2V
— Hunter Fowkes (@StrmchsrHunterF) June 7, 2020
Brief mesovortex and attendant funnel north of Bear Butte, #SDwx @NWSRapidCity pic.twitter.com/Yg5goczEtP
— Cameron Nixon (@CameronJNixon) June 7, 2020
Here’s the full length time lapse from approaching squall to funnel. The evolution was awesome! @StormHour @NWSRapidCity #SDwx #Tornado #severeweather pic.twitter.com/kAqRASSdtA
— Scott Nicholson (@MobileWxOffice) June 7, 2020
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| Bison, SD Courtesy Asha F. |
Radar
0.5km Visible 1-Minute Imagery with Storm Reports
IR Satellite
Lightning
Storm Reports
The preliminary storm reports listed below are in descending order and may not necessarily be the final storm reports. Tstm wind reports listed by speed (mph) SPEED LOCATION ST COUNTY TIME ------ ----------------------- -- -------------- ------- 94.00 13 NW BELLE FOURCHE SD BUTTE 0634 PM 92.00 4 E CACTUS FLAT SD JACKSON 0759 PM 85.00 FOUR CORNERS WY WESTON 0552 PM 81.00 3 SE NEWELL SD BUTTE 0655 PM 79.00 5 NE PORCUPINE SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0725 PM 78.00 1 N BUFFALO SD HARDING 0733 PM 78.00 1 NE ECHETA WY CAMPBELL 0522 PM 78.00 16 WSW DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0502 PM 77.00 8 N REDIG SD HARDING 0724 PM 77.00 10 W EDGEMONT SD FALL RIVER 0534 PM 76.00 9 W KADOKA SD JACKSON 0758 PM 75.00 1 NNE FAITH SD MEADE 0825 PM 75.00 8 W JEWEL CAVE SD CUSTER 0544 PM 74.00 7 E WANBLEE SD JACKSON 0805 PM 74.00 ELLSWORTH AFB SD MEADE 0639 PM 74.00 DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0615 PM 74.00 2 SSE DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0515 PM 74.00 5 NNW DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0513 PM 74.00 25 ESE WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0505 PM 72.00 2 SW BRIDGER SD ZIEBACH 0830 PM 72.00 3 W FAITH SD MEADE 0815 PM 72.00 4 E DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0635 PM 71.00 9 ENE BELVIDERE SD JACKSON 0834 PM 71.00 12 WSW CASTLE ROCK SD BUTTE 0644 PM 71.00 3 WSW FAIRBURN SD CUSTER 0634 PM 70.00 1 NE MIDLAND SD HAAKON 0834 PM 70.00 2 E COTTONWOOD SD JACKSON 0800 PM 70.00 8 SE INTERIOR SD JACKSON 0753 PM 70.00 3 SE DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0711 PM 70.00 4 SSW DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0636 PM 70.00 6 ESE CLARETON WY WESTON 0538 PM 70.00 16 WSW DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0456 PM 69.00 17 WSW WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0432 PM 68.00 3 NW WASTA SD PENNINGTON 0754 PM 68.00 8 N REDIG SD HARDING 0719 PM 67.00 4 S DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0630 PM 67.00 1 E LEAD SD LAWRENCE 0615 PM 66.00 27 WNW CASTLE ROCK SD BUTTE 0656 PM 66.00 4 N SILVER CITY SD LAWRENCE 0619 PM 65.00 5 ESE NORRIS SD MELLETTE 0816 PM 65.00 3 WSW FAIRBURN SD CUSTER 0624 PM 65.00 19 SW UPTON WY WESTON 0515 PM 64.00 2 W HAMILL SD TRIPP 0940 PM 64.00 4 E CACTUS FLAT SD JACKSON 0754 PM 64.00 9 SW BATESLAND SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0715 PM 64.00 10 ESE PINE HAVEN WY CROOK 0542 PM 64.00 3 E DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0515 PM 64.00 16 WSW DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0512 PM 64.00 13 NNE WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0502 PM 64.00 SAVAGETON WY CAMPBELL 0437 PM 63.00 5 WNW NEW UNDERWOOD SD PENNINGTON 0700 PM 63.00 1 NNW NISLAND SD BUTTE 0640 PM 63.00 HILL CITY SD PENNINGTON 0624 PM 63.00 2 SSW CUSTER SD CUSTER 0602 PM 62.00 3 ESE PINE RIDGE SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0709 PM 62.00 4 SE DWTN GILLETTE WY CAMPBELL 0520 PM 61.00 3 W LEMMON SD PERKINS 0834 PM 61.00 PINE HAVEN WY CROOK 0534 PM 60.00 SHADEHILL SD PERKINS 0845 PM 60.00 7 ESE ROSEBUD SD TODD 0845 PM 60.00 16 WNW MILESVILLE SD HAAKON 0820 PM 60.00 10 ESE ZEONA SD PERKINS 0808 PM 60.00 2 ENE WHITE OWL SD MEADE 0756 PM 60.00 1 N CAMP CROOK SD HARDING 0735 PM 60.00 KYLE SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0733 PM 60.00 1 WNW OGLALA SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0705 PM 60.00 2 NE DWTN RAPID CITY SD PENNINGTON 0643 PM 60.00 4 N SILVER CITY SD PENNINGTON 0620 PM 60.00 6 W BEULAH WY CROOK 0615 PM 60.00 9 W JEWEL CAVE SD CUSTER 0549 PM 60.00 6 WNW NEWCASTLE WY WESTON 0535 PM 60.00 7 WNW CLARETON WY WESTON 0515 PM 60.00 4 N ROCHELLE WY WESTON 0508 PM 59.00 11 SW PARMELEE SD TODD 0804 PM 59.00 5 SW BROWNSVILLE SD LAWRENCE 0610 PM 58.00 1 ENE MUD BUTTE SD MEADE 0839 PM 58.00 6 W PARMELEE SD TODD 0828 PM 58.00 3 W UNION CENTER SD MEADE 0719 PM 58.00 12 E OELRICHS SD FALL RIVER 0639 PM 58.00 4 NNE ANGOSTURA RES SD FALL RIVER 0615 PM 58.00 6 W ROCHFORD SD PENNINGTON 0608 PM 58.00 17 WSW WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0446 PM 57.00 3 NW WASTA SD PENNINGTON 0719 PM 56.00 7 NNE RALPH SD HARDING 0759 PM 56.00 27 WNW CASTLE ROCK SD BUTTE 0756 PM 55.00 13 NW BELLE FOURCHE SD BUTTE 0734 PM 55.00 8 WNW FAIRBURN SD CUSTER 0718 PM 55.00 ELLSWORTH AFB SD MEADE 0640 PM 55.00 13 NNE WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0456 PM 54.00 1 NE WINNER SD TRIPP 0939 PM 54.00 4 SSE WITTEN SD TRIPP 0916 PM 54.00 15 SSE MISSION SD TODD 0845 PM 54.00 3 ESE LEMMON SD PERKINS 0835 PM 54.00 2 ESE DWTN SPEARFISH SD LAWRENCE 0634 PM 53.00 8 S WALL SD PENNINGTON 0820 PM 53.00 1 ENE MUD BUTTE SD MEADE 0734 PM 53.00 8 N REDIG SD HARDING 0714 PM 53.00 6 W ROCHFORD SD PENNINGTON 0708 PM 53.00 17 WSW WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0452 PM 52.00 3 E PHILIP SD HAAKON 0823 PM 52.00 9 SW BATESLAND SD OGLALA LAKOTA 0810 PM 52.00 1 NNW PIEDMONT SD MEADE 0630 PM 52.00 PRINGLE SD CUSTER 0559 PM 51.00 7 ESE ROSEBUD SD TODD 0835 PM 51.00 2 ENE SHERIDAN LAKE SD PENNINGTON 0635 PM 51.00 7 E STRUGIS SD MEADE 0635 PM 51.00 1 E LEAD SD LAWRENCE 0625 PM 51.00 2 NNW PACTOLA RES SD PENNINGTON 0619 PM 51.00 PRINGLE SD CUSTER 0609 PM 51.00 8 W JEWEL CAVE SD CUSTER 0604 PM 51.00 13 NNE WRIGHT WY CAMPBELL 0512 PM 50.00 15 SSE MISSION SD TODD 0840 PM 50.00 7 SSE MEADOW SD PERKINS 0829 PM 50.00 4 N LUDLOW SD HARDING 0805 PM 50.00 BEULAH WY CROOK 0712 PM
Environment
The environment supporting the derecho as it moved across western South Dakota was characterized by anomalously high moisture content and very strong vertical wind shear. The routine evening sounding released from the Rapid City Weather Forecast Office showed a precipitable water value of 1.20", which was the highest on record here for the evening of June 6th. Furthermore, the 60 knot magnitude of 0-3 km bulk shear was the highest on record for this date and time by over 10 knots.
The combination of anomalous moisture and vertical wind shear, coupled with large instability and strong forcing associated with an approaching intense upper-level disturbance, provided a volatile environment that supported the significant and widespread damaging wind event.
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| Figure 1: 00z June 7, 2020 KUNR Sounding | Figure 2: June 7, 2020 KUNR Hodograph | Figure 3: Historical Context Courtesy @WxLiz |
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