Severe Weather Impacts Sioux Falls and Surrounding South Dakota Communities
Severe Weather Context: A Pattern of Intensity
South Dakota’s recent weather history reveals a troubling trend of extreme wind events. On June 29, 2026, Highmore recorded a 131-mph wind gust, one of the strongest in U.S. history and the second-highest in the state’s records. The National Weather Service confirmed the winds originated from a thunderstorm, not a tornado, though the damage mirrored tornado impacts, including downed power lines and structural harm. Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension state climatologist, noted such gusts are “uncommon” but possible under specific meteorological conditions. “I think they had just the right perfect conditions with the strengthening storm as it was approaching that area,” she said.
Historical data from the National Weather Service Archive shows 18 instances of 100+ mph winds in 2008, eight in 2015, and 13 in 2022. The December 2025 winter storm, which swept Custer, Fall River, and Pennington counties, produced sustained winds and gusts exceeding 90 mph, prompting Gov. Larry Rhoden to request a presidential disaster declaration. Over the past nine years, South Dakota has seen 16 federal major disaster declarations, according to FEMA, including events like flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds.
Local Impact: Infrastructure and Community Resilience
Drought and Weather: A Compounding Crisis
While the current storm brings heavy rain, South Dakota’s southern regions face drought-like conditions, complicating recovery efforts. Darren Clabo, associate professor of practice and state fire meteorologist at South Dakota Mines, explained the jet stream’s role: “So far this summer, we’ve largely been under what we say is northwesterly flow, so that’s a jet stream that runs kind of from the northwest to the southeast,” Clabo said.
