Lightning in Union County, South Dakota

Lightning August 10, 2020 · Union County, South Dakota

$2.5M

Damage as recorded

Where the report was made, with tornadoes recorded within 15 miles over the years.

What the National Weather Service wrote

Lightning struck a single-story apartment building and initiated a fire which burned through the entire attic of the building. Crews from North Sioux City and three nearby cities attacked the fire for around two hours. All twenty apartments were severely damaged, displacing all residents. Property damage costs are rough estimates.

The wider storm

A cold front pushing across central South Dakota and Nebraska ignited severe storms overnight. With elevated instability of 1000-1500 J/kg and an increasing low-level jet, numerous storms formed along the 700 hPa baroclinic zone with a few taking on bowing characteristics.

Began near Mc Cook Lake (42.5391, -96.5026).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event 917371. Narratives are written by the National Weather Service forecast office that issued the report.

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