South Dakota Suffers Wind Damage as Hurricane Force Gusts Disrupt Travel

Strong winds swept across South Dakota on Thursday and Thursday night, reaching hurricane-force strength and causing disruptions. The South Dakota Highway Patrol responded to numerous incidents involving semis that were overturned on highways. In addition, trees were damaged in the Sisseton area, increasing road hazards. The National Weather Service had issued High Wind Warnings for the entire state, highlighting the severity of the storm.

Photo Credit: South Dakota Highway Patrol

The wind gusts recorded on Thursday and Thursday night were exceptionally strong, with speeds exceeding 70 mph in many locations. The National Weather Service reported gusts such as:

• 81 mph near Pierre Regional Airport (1 mile east)

• 79 mph near Summit (1 mile west-northwest)

• 77 mph near Reliance (3 miles southeast)

• Multiple locations with gusts between 70 and 75 mph across the state

  
  

These wind speeds are comparable to a Category 1 hurricane, which explains the significant damage and travel disruptions experienced.

Photo Credit: South Dakota Highway Patrol

Photo Credit: Sisseton Police Department

City crews are working to assess and clear affected areas as quickly and safely as possible.

Sisseton Police Department

National Weather Service Wind Gusts Reports: 1 mi E Pierre Regional Air - 81.00mph

1 mi WNW Summit - 79.00mph

3 mi SE Reliance - 77.00mph

11 mi S Bullhead - 76.00mph

2 mi N Pierre Regional Air - 75.00mph

10 mi SW Chantier Creek Re - 75.00mph

12 mi ESE Sunshine Bible A - 75.00mph

1 mi NNW Lees Corner - 75.00mph

6 mi W Henry - 75.00mph

Tunerville - 75.00mph

3 mi SW Big Stone City - 75.00mph

4 mi W Trail City - 74.00mph

Roscoe - 74.00mph

Sisseton Municipal Airp - 74.00mph

6 mi SSW Peever - 74.00mph

4 mi W Trail City - 74.00mph

3 mi SE Reliance - 73.00mph

5 mi NNW Bunker - 73.00mph

13 mi NNW Sansarc - 72.00mph

6 mi W Henry - 72.00mph

1 mi NE Ridgeview - 72.00mph

5 mi E Orient - 72.00mph

13 mi NNW Sansarc - 72.00mph

11 mi S Bullhead - 71.00mph

4 mi ESE Akaska - 71.00mph

6 mi SW Joe Creek Rec Area - 71.00mph

9 mi NNW Vivian - 71.00mph

3 mi WNW Wallace - 71.00mph

3 mi N Gann Valley - 71.00mph

1 mi ENE Harrold - 71.00mph

9 mi ESE Rosseau - 70.00mph

1 mi NE Timber Lake - 70.00mph

13 mi NNW Sansarc - 70.00mph

6 mi SSW Peever - 70.00mph

1 mi E Parade - 70.00mph

10 mi SW Long Lake - 70.00mph

5 mi N Reliance - 70.00mph

2 mi N Herreid - 70.00mph

1 mi NE Stephan - 70.00mph

9 mi ESE Rosseau - 70.00mph

1 mi E Pierre Regional Air - 69.00mph

Cravens Corner - 69.00mph

4 mi SSE Canning - 69.00mph

2 mi W Onida - 69.00mph

1 mi N Ree Heights - 69.00mph

2 mi N Britton - 69.00mph

Cravens Corner - 69.00mph

1 mi NE Ridgeview - 68.00mph

4 mi SSE Canning - 68.00mph

1 mi ENE Harrold - 68.00mph

6 mi NNW Lantry - 68.00mph

5 mi WNW Mclaughlin - 68.00mph

2 mi N Herreid - 68.00mph

5 mi WNW Mclaughlin - 68.00mph

4 mi N Agar - 68.00mph

17 mi W Polo - 68.00mph

1 mi SW Timber Lake - 68.00mph

1 mi NW Mobridge Municipal - 68.00mph

4 mi W Waubay - 68.00mph

4 mi WNW Cresbard - 68.00mph

4 mi N Agar - 68.00mph

17 mi W Polo - 68.00mph

4 mi ENE Poinsett Colony - 68.00mph

3 mi S Conde - 68.00mph

4 mi NNW Victor - 68.00mph

3 mi ENE Milbank - 68.00mph

9 mi NNW Vivian - 67.00mph

1 mi ENE Hayes - 67.00mph

5 mi SSW Klein Ranch - 67.00mph

Roscoe - 67.00mph

8 mi ENE Okobojo Creek Rec - 67.00mph

1 mi ESE Bowdle - 67.00mph

13 mi N Vivian - 67.00mph

7 mi NW Harrold - 67.00mph

1 mi SSW Redfield - 67.00mph

1 mi SE Watertown Airport - 67.00mph

1 mi E Pierre Regional Air - 66.00mph

2 mi S Lowry - 66.00mph

1 mi WNW Highmore - 66.00mph

1 mi WNW Mellette - 66.00mph

10 mi W Long Lake - 66.00mph

2 mi ESE Brentford - 66.00mph

8 mi SSW Capitol - 65.00mph

3 mi SE Reliance - 65.00mph

1 mi WNW Mellette - 65.00mph

6 mi NW Sansarc - 65.00mph

5 mi W Frankfort - 65.00mph

3 mi SE Vayland - 65.00mph

6 mi SSE Kennebec - 65.00mph

4 mi WSW Stone Bridge - 65.00mph

5 mi SSW Klein Ranch - 64.00mph

4 mi NW Lantry - 64.00mph

5 mi E Orient - 64.00mph

Aberdeen Regional Airpo - 64.00mph

3 mi SSW Whitlocks Bay Rec - 64.00mph

4 mi ESE Mina - 64.00mph

2 mi W Oacoma - 64.00mph

Aberdeen Regional Airpo - 64.00mph

Lake City - 64.00mph

1 mi W Sica Hollow - 64.00mph

3 mi SE Reliance - 63.00mph

1 mi NNW Lees Corner - 63.00mph

Leola - 63.00mph

7 mi N Okobojo Creek Rec A - 63.00mph

Tolstoy - 63.00mph

5 mi W Seneca - 63.00mph

1 mi WNW Lower Brule - 63.00mph

7 mi S Claremont - 63.00mph

8 mi W South Shore - 63.00mph

15 mi SSE Seneca - 63.00mph

12 mi S Vivian - 63.00mph

1 mi WNW Lake Cochrane Rec - 63.00mph

5 mi NNW Bunker - 62.00mph

4 mi WSW Blunt - 62.00mph

1 mi E Parade - 62.00mph

1 mi WNW Laplant - 62.00mph

4 mi SW Hillhead - 62.00mph

1 mi SW Bowdle - 62.00mph

5 mi NW Long Lake - 62.00mph

5 mi SW Java - 61.00mph

5 mi ENE Frankfort - 61.00mph

Andover - 61.00mph

5 mi SSW Wilmot - 61.00mph

13 mi N Vivian - 60.00mph

10 mi SW Long Lake - 60.00mph

13 mi N Vivian - 60.00mph

5 mi SW Java - 60.00mph

7 mi E Britton - 60.00mph

1 mi ESE Bristol - 60.00mph

6 mi S Rockham - 60.00mph

5 mi ENE Raymond - 60.00mph

4 mi W Bryant - 60.00mph

Tolstoy - 59.00mph

4 mi SSW Mound City - 59.00mph

2 mi NNW Herreid - 59.00mph

8 mi SSW Capitol - 58.00mph

1 mi S Gettysburg - 58.00mph

2 mi WSW Brampton - 51.00mph

Find additional Weather Reports from the past seven days in South Dakota.