High Wind — Minnehaha, South Dakota

2025-12-10 · Minnehaha, South Dakota

Event narrative

Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 48 mph with a peak gust of 71 mph at an Automated Surface Observing System site at Sioux Falls and a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 3 miles west of Dell Rapids. The high winds collapsed an incomplete wood-frame metal-covered outbuilding on the north side of Sioux Falls.

Wider weather episode

An amplifying clipper system raced from southern Alberta to Wisconsin from later on December 9 through midday on December 10. Intense synoptic winds developed on the back side of the system behind the surging cold front. Widespread northwest wind gusts reached 50 to 70 mph over several hours and resulted in considerable small limb damage and some spotty infrastructure damage.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1307035. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.