STURGIS, S.D. – A line of severe thunderstorms that began in northeast Wyoming strengthened as they moved over the Black Hills Friday.
The National Weather Service in Rapid City says the thunderstorms began around 2:30 in the New Haven area with three-quarter inch hail. As the storms moved into western South Dakota, they got stronger, prompting a tornado warning in southern Lawrence and western Meade counties.
In Sturgis, the tornado warnng siren sounded just after 4:00 p.m., but the tornado warned area remained to the south. Witnesses in the Summerset and Rapid City area shared photos on social media of a funnel cloud dropping out of the storm as it moved south and east.
In Summerset, quarter size to golf ball sized hail was reported and Piedmont also reported 1.5-inch hail.
In Rapid City, hail the size of baseballs was reported 4 miles west of the downtown area. In downtown Rapid City, 2.25 to 3.00 inch hail was reported. There are numerous reports of broken windshields, damaged siding and roofs.
In the Northern Hils, power lines and trees were down over Highway 14A between Cheyenne Crossing and Savoy. The National Weather Service was reporting the damage was caused by thunderstorm winds, although it was in the area of the earlier tornado warning.
In Spearfish, 1.75 inch hail was reported in the downtown area. And, in Sturgis, heavy rain fell, but there were no reports of large hail.
As the storms moved out onto the plains, tornado warnings were issued in Bennett County. Multiple reports of a tornado from storm chasers and the public were reported near Swett.
In Oglala Lakota County, 2.75-inch hail was reported near Sharps Corner.
