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Dangerous heat will persist across the Southwest U.S. through Friday with daytime highs of 110-115°F. Heat across the southern Plains will briefly ease to near-normal by late week. Strong to severe thunderstorms may produce damaging wind, hail, a tornado or two, heavy rain and flash flooding across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Heavy rainfall threat continues across the Gulf Coast. Read More >

Rapid City, SD

Weather Forecast Office

July 10, 2020 Tornadoes and Severe Storms

Weather.gov > Rapid City, SD > July 10, 2020 Tornadoes and Severe Storms

Overview

Thunderstorms developed over southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming in the mid-afternoon, then quickly become severe as they tracked southeast through the northern Black Hills, Rapid City, the Badlands, and areas within and east of the Pine Ridge Reservation. Very large hail bigger than baseballs and severe wind gusts in excess of 80 mph occurred, along with a couple tornadoes.
View of storm looking west from Skyline Drive in Rapid City, courtesy of David Stradling

Tornadoes:

Tornado - Between Batesland and Allen
Bennett County

Date July 10, 2020
Time (Local) 6:43 to 7:02 pm MDT
EF Rating 1
Est. Peak Winds 110 mph
Path Length 11.91 miles
Max Width 500 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0

Summary:

The Bennett County tornado formed north of Batesland and southwest of Allen. The tornado continue southeastward and crossed Highway 18 before dissipating southwest of Martin. A few structures were impacted by the tornado along with numerous pine and cottonwood trees. Much of this damage was consistent with EF1 damage. Straight-line wind damage southwest of the tornado track caused minor tree and structure damage near the Little White River, consistent with maximum wind gusts of 75 to 100 mph.

Track Map

EF-Scale

Tornado - Spearfish Canyon
Lawrence County

Date July 10, 2020
Time (Local) 335 pm MDT
EF Rating 1
Est. Peak Winds 105 mph
Path Length 15.5 miles
Max Width 250 yards
Injuries/Deaths 0

Summary:

The tornado touched down near Tinton near the Wyoming state line southwest of Spearfish. It tracked to the east-southeast, crossed Spearfish Canyon south of Savoy, and weakened around the Terry Peak Ski Area. It snapped and uprooted Ponderosa pine trees, which resulted in an estimated wind speed of 105 mph and EF1 rating. No structural damage was observed or reported. 

Track Map

EF-Scale

 

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
ef-scale

Photos & Video

Below is a picture of the storm as it approached Rapid City, courtesy Matthew Morse.

 

Below is a photo of the largest documented hail stone, which fell in Swett, SD.  Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Rayhill.

 

Below are photos of the hail around Rapid City.

Courtesy LeAnna Dugue' Courtesy Tatiana Spain Courtesy Shane Eagan
Courtesy Jim Bussell Courtesy Shane Eagan Courtesy Jon Chamberlain Courtesy Jon Chamberlain

 

Below are storm damage photos in/around the northern Black Hills.

Hail photo from near Box Elder Hail photo from near Box Elder
Near Beulah, WY, courtesy Nadia Simons Near Terry Peak, courtesy Haley Bachler Near Terry Peak, courtesy Haley Bachler Near Terry Peak, courtesy Haley Bachler

 

Below are storm damage photos in eastern Oglala Lakota and western Bennett counties.

Hail photo from near Box Elder
Batesland, courtesy Dawn Marie Shelbourn Swett, courtesy Kaitlyn Rayhillr Sharps Corner, courtesy Jon Siedschlaw Batesland, courtesy Jon Siedschlaw

 

 

 

Radar

Radar-accumluated rotation in the northern Black Hills, which shows where the supercell's strongest low-level circulation was and can be indicative of a potential tornado Radar-accumluated rotation in Oglala and Bennett counties, which shows where the supercell's strongest low-level circulation was and can be indicative of a potential tornado

Storm Reports

Here are the preliminary severe thunderstorm storm reports for July 10, 2020. 

HAIL REPORTS LISTED BY SIZE (INCHES)

 SIZE    LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  4.00   SWETT                    SD  BENNETT          0655 PM
  3.25   4 W DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0450 PM
                 SEVERAL WINDSHIELDS BROKEN IN THE
                 NEIGHBORHOOD
  3.25   4 SW DWTN RAPID CITY     SD  PENNINGTON       0440 PM
                 LASTED 13 MINUTES
  3.25   5 SW BEULAH              WY  CROOK            0332 PM
  3.00   1 SSE DWTN RAPID CITY    SD  PENNINGTON       0454 PM
  3.00   2 SW DWTN RAPID CITY     SD  PENNINGTON       0443 PM
  3.00   4 SW DWTN RAPID CITY     SD  PENNINGTON       0440 PM
  3.00   4 W DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0435 PM
  2.75   9 S MARTIN               SD  BENNETT          0715 PM
  2.75   1 SE SHARPS CORNER       SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0625 PM
  2.75   2 SW DWTN RAPID CITY     SD  PENNINGTON       0444 PM
  2.50   5 W ROCKYFORD            SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0550 PM
  2.50   3 W DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0440 PM
  2.25   4 S DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0448 PM
  2.25   1 E DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0443 PM
  2.00   3 W DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0446 PM
  2.00   3 S DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0444 PM
  1.75   5 E PORCUPINE            SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0637 PM
  1.75   9 SW FARMINGDALE         SD  PENNINGTON       0530 PM
  1.75   2 WSW DWTN RAPID CITY    SD  PENNINGTON       0436 PM
                 REPORTED AT JACKSON BLVD AND 32ND ST
  1.75   4 WNW DWTN RAPID CITY    SD  PENNINGTON       0430 PM
  1.75   2 NNE JOHNSON SIDING     SD  PENNINGTON       0420 PM
  1.75   DWTN SPEARFISH           SD  LAWRENCE         0345 PM
  1.75   6 W BEULAH               WY  CROOK            0323 PM
                 HAIL AND WIND LASTED 10 MINUTES
  1.50   1 NNW PIEDMONT           SD  MEADE            0424 PM
  1.50   16 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1035 AM
                 HEAVY RAIN IS CAUSING FLOODING.
  1.25   1 SSW RAPID VALLEY       SD  PENNINGTON       0453 PM
  1.25   5 NE ROCKERVILLE         SD  PENNINGTON       0450 PM
  1.25   1 E DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0435 PM
  1.25   1 NNW SUMMERSET          SD  MEADE            0422 PM
                 QUARTER SIZED HAIL STARTED AT 420 PM,
                 INCREASED TO PING-PONG BALL SIZE AT 428 PM.
  1.25   19 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1045 AM
  1.00   5 ENE CUSTER             SD  CUSTER           0540 PM
  1.00   7 SW RAPID CITY ARPT     SD  PENNINGTON       0500 PM
  1.00   4 NE ROCKERVILLE         SD  PENNINGTON       0451 PM
                 HAIL LASTED ABOUT 8 MINUTES
  1.00   1 NNW SUMMERSET          SD  MEADE            0434 PM
                 AT I-90 EXIT 52
  1.00   SUMMERSET                SD  MEADE            0430 PM
  1.00   1 S DWTN SPEARFISH       SD  LAWRENCE         0351 PM
  1.00   9 W DWTN SPEARFISH       SD  LAWRENCE         0340 PM
  1.00   8 NNE SUNDANCE           WY  CROOK            0325 PM
  1.00   ALADDIN                  WY  CROOK            0320 PM
  1.00   4 SE ALVA                WY  CROOK            0310 PM
  1.00   12 WNW COLONY            WY  CROOK            0245 PM
  0.88   9 WSW HILL CITY          SD  PENNINGTON       0525 PM
  0.88   1 N HEREFORD             SD  MEADE            0458 PM
  0.88   ROCKERVILLE              SD  PENNINGTON       0456 PM
  0.88   1 NNE ROSEBUD            SD  TODD             1015 AM
  0.75   3 NW NEW HAVEN           WY  CROOK            0230 PM
  0.50   3 NNW HULETT             WY  CROOK            0300 PM

TSTM WIND REPORTS LISTED BY SPEED (MPH)

 SPEED   LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
 97.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1034 AM
 85.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             0807 PM
 85.00   8 ESE SAINT FRANCIS      SD  TODD             1040 AM
                 8 INCH TREE BRANCHES DOWN AND TOPS OF CEDAR
                 TREES SNAPPED
 85.00   16 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1035 AM
                 LARGE COTTONWOOD AND ELM TREES BLOWN DOWN AND
                 BROKEN. 
 80.00   9 SW FARMINGDALE         SD  PENNINGTON       0530 PM
 80.00   19 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1045 AM
                 SEVERAL TREE BRANCHES 6 TO 8 INCH IN DIAMETER
                 BROKEN AND SNAPPED FROM TREES.
 79.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             0802 PM
 70.00   1 N HEREFORD             SD  MEADE            0458 PM
 70.00   6 W BEULAH               WY  CROOK            0323 PM
                 HAIL AND WIND LASTED 10 MINUTES
 68.00   7 ESE ROSEBUD            SD  TODD             1025 AM
 64.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             0757 PM
 64.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             1029 AM
 63.00   BEULAH                   WY  CROOK            0336 PM
 60.00   SUMMERSET                SD  MEADE            0430 PM
 60.00   2 NNE JOHNSON SIDING     SD  PENNINGTON       0420 PM
 60.00   10 E DEVILS TOWER        WY  CROOK            0315 PM
                 POSSIBLY MORE THAN 60 MPH
 60.00   3 NNW HULETT             WY  CROOK            0300 PM
 60.00   3 NW NEW HAVEN           WY  CROOK            0230 PM
 60.00   1 NNE ROSEBUD            SD  TODD             1015 AM
 59.00   7 ESE ROSEBUD            SD  TODD             1020 AM
 58.00   11 SW PARMELEE           SD  TODD             0737 PM
 57.00   11 SW PARMELEE           SD  TODD             0732 PM
 56.00   9 SW BATESLAND           SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0657 PM
 56.00   BEULAH                   WY  CROOK            0346 PM
 55.00   3 ESE PINE RIDGE         SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0644 PM
 55.00   3 NW WASTA               SD  PENNINGTON       0532 PM
 55.00   3 WSW FAIRBURN           SD  CUSTER           0530 PM
 54.00   15 SSE MISSION           SD  TODD             0817 PM
 54.00   3 NW WASTA               SD  PENNINGTON       0542 PM
 54.00   1 E DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0440 PM
 54.00   12 WSW CASTLE ROCK       SD  BUTTE            0400 PM
 53.00   5 WNW NEW UNDERWOOD      SD  PENNINGTON       0507 PM
 53.00   2 SE HULETT              WY  CROOK            0255 PM
 52.00   11 SW PARMELEE           SD  TODD             0727 PM
 52.00   1 ESE MARTIN             SD  BENNETT          0715 PM
 52.00   3 ESE PINE RIDGE         SD  OGLALA LAKOTA    0654 PM
 52.00   5 WNW NEW UNDERWOOD      SD  PENNINGTON       0517 PM
 52.00   1 NE ECHETA              WY  CAMPBELL         0251 PM
 51.00   WEWELA                   SD  TRIPP            0817 PM
 51.00   1 ESE MARTIN             SD  BENNETT          0735 PM
 51.00   3 WSW FAIRBURN           SD  CUSTER           0545 PM
 51.00   3 WSW FAIRBURN           SD  CUSTER           0540 PM
 51.00   4 S DWTN RAPID CITY      SD  PENNINGTON       0500 PM
 50.00   WEWELA                   SD  TRIPP            0827 PM

RAIN AMOUNTS (INCHES)

 AMOUNT  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------
  2.20   4 NNE DWTN RAPID CITY    SD  PENNINGTON       0448 PM
                 WIND GUSTS 30-35 MPH
  1.02   1 NNW PIEDMONT           SD  MEADE            0450 PM
                 RAINFALL FELL IN 30 MINUTES.
  0.75   SUMMERSET                SD  MEADE            0430 PM
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