Severe Wind Conditions Cause Accidents in Custer County
- WeatherSD
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Strong winds have created hazardous driving conditions on State Highway 79 in Custer County, South Dakota. The Custer County Sheriff's Office responded to multiple accidents involving semi-trucks that were blown over by severe gusts. These incidents highlight the risks of traveling during high-wind events, especially for large vehicles.
Overview of the Accidents
Two separate accidents involving semi-trucks occurred on State Highway 79 due to strong wind gusts:
Near mile marker 44: A semi-truck was blown over and is partially blocking the northbound lane. This incident is causing traffic delays and requires cautious navigation for drivers in the area.
Near mile marker 54: Another semi-truck was overturned but is not blocking the highway, allowing traffic to flow more freely.
The Custer County Sheriff's Office is actively managing the scenes and advising motorists to drive carefully.
Wind Gusts Reports
Strong wind gusts recorded around the Black Hills so far today:
58 MPH at 3.1 miles west of Spearfish, SD
53 MPH at 0.2 miles south of Interior
53 MPH at Custer State Park Airport
49 MPH at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Custer Airport
48 MPH near Angostura Recreation Area and Cheyenne Crossing
41 MPH at Wind Cave National Park and Hot Springs Airport
40 MPH in Rapid City areas
These wind speeds are strong enough to destabilize large vehicles, especially semi-trucks, which have a high profile and are more susceptible to tipping over.
Wind Alerts in Effect
The National Weather Service has issued the following:
High Wind Warnings for parts of western South Dakota, including Custer County.
Wind Advisories for northern and central regions of the state.
