Thunderstorm Wind in Miner County, South Dakota

Thunderstorm wind gusts downed several 4-inch diameter tree limbs from a large cottonwood tree.

In response to a subtle short-wave aloft, a cluster of thunderstorms moved along the North Dakota-South Dakota border during the early morning hours of July 20, and then slowly expanded to the south as it pushed east. By early afternoon, northern portions of the cluster weakened, while southern portions intensified as it encountered an environment of higher instability and shear. Damaging wind gusts developed across Jerauld and Sanborn Counties with estimated wind gusts up to 90 mph. The town of Woonsocket, South Dakota was particularity hard hit, with significant tree and structural damage across the city. A National Weather Service survey of drone images determined the damage to be a result of severe downburst winds.