Storm Events Database
- Data Access
- Search
- FTP Access
- Database Download
- Storm Data Publication
- Documentation
- Storm Data FAQ
- Storm Data Preparation
- Tornado EF Scale
- External Resources
- NOAA's SPC Reports
- NOAA's SPC WCM Page
- SHELDUS
Storm Events Database
Event Details
| Event | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Magnitude | 63 kts. |
| State | SOUTH DAKOTA |
| County/Area | MCPHERSON |
| WFO | ABR |
| Begin Date | 07/31/2008 02:04:00 CST-6 |
| Begin Range | 9 |
| Begin Azimuth | W |
| Begin Location | LONG LAKE |
| Begin Lat/Lon | 45.86/-99.41 |
| End Date | 07/31/2008 02:04:00 CST-6 |
| Deaths Direct/Indirect | 0/0 (fatality details below, when available...) |
| Injuries Direct/Indirect | 0/0 |
| Property Damage | |
| Crop Damage | |
| Episode Narrative | In the early morning hours of July 31st, a line of storms originating in North Dakota began to expand and surge southeast into northeast South Dakota. As the storms moved southeast, they began to tap into warmer, more humid air and rapidly evolve into a line of severe thunderstorms. Widespread damage occurred in a wide swath extending from Long Lake in McPherson County all the way into eastern Grant County and southern Big Stone County in Minnesota. The most extensive damage was generally found along and near US Highway 12 from Aberdeen to Milbank. Several observing stations in the path of this system measured wind speeds ranging from 70 mph to over 115 mph. Estimated wind speeds from damage surveys indicated even stronger winds with peak speeds of 120 mph. Over fifty communities in northeast South Dakota and the surrounding rural areas received minor to major tree and structural damage as straight line winds from 70 to 120 mph raced across the area. Webster and Waubay received the most extensive damage from the storms. Thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted, hundreds of grain bins were damaged or destroyed, hundreds of homes, businesses, and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed along with many power poles and miles of power lines downed. Many mobile homes, campers, and boats were damaged or destroyed along with many road and business signs. Countless homes, vehicles, and campers were also damaged by fallen trees. Thousands of acres of crops were also damaged or completely destroyed by the winds and hail. The greatest crop damage occurred in the Roslyn, Grenville, Eden, and Pickeral Lake areas in Marshall and Day counties. Many acres of corn were blown down and not able to come back. The large hail combined with the strong winds also broke out countless windows in homes and vehicles along with damaging the siding on homes. Thousands of people were left without power for up to several days. Large hay bales were moved up to 700 yards by the high winds. A semi was overturned on Highway 12 near Webster, injuring the driver. Near Milbank on Highway 12, two other semis were blown off the road resulting in injuries to both drivers. A State Forestry Specialist said it was one of the worst tree damage events he has ever seen in the Webster area. A fifty-eight year old man died two miles north of Waubay during the cleanup after the storms when he was pinned between a backhoe and a tree. |
| Event Narrative |
All events for this episode:
| Location | County/Zone | St. | Date | Time | T.Z. | Type | Mag | Dth | Inj | PrD | CrD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totals: | 0 | 12 | 0.00K | 0.00K | |||||||
| BULLHEAD | CORSON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 00:40 | MST-7 | Hail | 1.00 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LONG LAKE | MCPHERSON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:04 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LANGLAKE | MCPHERSON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:16 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LEOLA | MCPHERSON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| CRAVEN | EDMUNDS CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 51 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LEOLA | MCPHERSON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:40 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.00 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MINA | EDMUNDS CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:47 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 54 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| RICHMOND | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:53 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 88 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WESTPORT | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 02:53 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| ABERDEEN | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WARNER | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| COLUMBIA | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MANSFIELD | SPINK CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:02 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| (ABR)ABERDEEN RGNL A | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:02 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| PUTNEY | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:08 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| PUTNEY | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:10 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| STRATFORD | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:13 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MELLETTE | SPINK CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:15 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| HILLHEAD | MARSHALL CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:15 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.00 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GROTON | BROWN CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:16 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| PIERPONT | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:25 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| AMHERST | MARSHALL CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:30 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WEBSTER | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 104 kts. EG | 0 | 10 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| ROSLYN | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:45 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WEBSTER | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:47 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WEBSTER | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:47 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 104 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| LAKE CITY | MARSHALL CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WAUBAY | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:50 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WEBSTER MUNI ARPT | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 03:55 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GRENVILLE | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:00 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| HILAND | GRANT CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:05 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| WEBSTER | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:05 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 kts. EG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| GRENVILLE | DAY CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:15 | CST-6 | Hail | 1.50 in. | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| (ATY)WATERTOWN ARPT | CODINGTON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:16 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 54 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| SOUTH SHORE | CODINGTON CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:20 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 53 kts. MG | 0 | 0 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| MILBANK | GRANT CO. | SD | 07/31/2008 | 04:40 | CST-6 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 kts. EG | 0 | 2 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
| Totals: | 0 | 12 | 0.00K | 0.00K |
