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Codington County, South Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
35
Tornado reports
225
Hail reports
88
Floods since 1996
782
All events
8
Deaths
$10.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Codington County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 35 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
With low visibilities near mile marker 178 on Interstate-29 near Watertown, a pickup struck the back of a car on Sunday afternoon of the 26th. Two people were injured with a teenager dying a few days later as result of her injuries.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured on the Emergency Managers personal weather station.
Tornado EFU Tornado
Law enforcement reported a tornado briefly touched down in an open field near Henry. The Emergency Manager confirmed with land owners and via Search and Rescue drone that no damage had occurred with this tornado.
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Rain changing to ice, followed by snow and high winds, caused a semi-trailer to jackknife on Highway 212 east of Henry. At the time of the incident, the South Dakota Department of Transportation mesonet station seven miles east of Clark reported gusts between 55 and 65 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Near the South Shore exit on Interstate 90, while rendering assistance for a slide-in, the emergency vehicle was struck by another vehicle, resulting in significant damage to both and minor injuries for the occupants. The accident was caused by strong winds, low visibility, and i…
High Wind High Wind
High Wind High Wind
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow resulted in hazardous travel along Interstate 29, with the South Dakota Highway Patrol warning motorists that slick conditions had resulted in numerous slide-ins. A storm total of 5.7 inches of snow was measured by the Watertown COOP observer.
Blizzard Blizzard
Winds recorded at Watertown ASOS increased to 40 to 50 mph with snow, resulting in 1/4 to 1/2 mile visibility beginning at 3:30 pm and continuing through 6:40 pm. A peak wind gust of 55 mph was recorded at 4:14 pm. Interstate 29 was closed north of Watertown due to hazardous trav…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
High Wind High Wind
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A trained spotter submitted a photo of a funnel cloud near Waverly.
Hail Hail
Flood Flood
The Big Sioux River at Watertown Sioux Conifer Road gauge briefly hit flood stage for a few hours on the morning of August 23rd.
Flood Flood
The South Branch Tributary Mud Creek near Rauville went into flood during the early morning hours of August 22nd, cresting at 4.91 feet, 0.91 feet above flood stage around mid-day. The creek would remain in flood through the early afternoon of August 23rd.
Flood Flood
The Big Sioux River below Watertown river gauge would exceed flood stage starting in the morning of August 22nd, peaking at 11.68 or 0.68 feet above flood stage. The river crested in the evening and was back below flood stage by the late morning of August 23rd.
Flood Flood
The Big Sioux River at Watertown Broadway Avenue stream gauge would report flooding during the late morning of August 22nd, peaking on the evening of the 22nd at 10.90 or 0.90 feet above flood stage. The river would remain in flood at this section through the early morning of Aug…
Flood Flood
Willow Creek near Watertown went into flood on the evening of August 21st, topping out at 12.86 feet, or 2.86 feet above flood stage during the early morning hours of August 22nd before slowly falling, dropping below flood stage at 1230 AM August 23rd.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall on saturated soils resulted in flooding in and around Watertown, with street flooding reported across the city. Northeast of Watertown, a vehicle left the Interstate after encountering some 10 inches of water on the roadway that flooded both lanes near mile marker …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees down in and around the city of Watertown. The ASOS at Watertown Regional Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 71 mph.
Flood Flood
The South Branch Tributary of Mud Creek near Rauville went into flood during the morning hours of August 6th. A peak crest of 4.91 feet was recorded at 1045 am CST on August 6th, with the creek falling below flood stage on the afternoon of August 7th.
Flood Flood
Willow Creek near Watertown would go into flood on the morning of August 6th, cresting at 10.88 feet, or 0.88 above flood stage by the afternoon, and drop below flood stage by that evening.
Flood Flood
Mud Creek at Rauville would go into flood during the early morning hours of August 6th, cresting in the late morning 1.34 feet above flood stage, before dropping below flood on August 7th in the afternoon.
Flood Flood
The Big Sioux River near Watertown would go into flood around mid-day on August 6th, reaching 10.65 feet, or 0.65 feet above flood stage on the evening of the 6th. This portion of the river would remain in flood through the morning of the 7th. Flooding would mainly impact agricul…
Flood Flood
The portion of the Big Sioux River at Watertown Sioux Conifer Road went into flood at 845 am CST August 7th, cresting at 9.15 feet, or 0.15 feet above flood stage. The river fell below flood at 9 pm CST August 7th with the flooding primarily limited to low spots.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The Codington County Emergency manager reports water has filled the ditches and is up to the bottoms of several bridges on the main highways with water over some secondary roads northeast of Watertown. Photos were also submitted via Facebook of flooded residences in northeast Wat…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Images posted to social media of multiple uprooted trees near Lake Kampeska, including one that landed on a garage. A nearby weather station recorded a 99 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A peak wind gust of 99 mph was recorded by a personal a weather station at Sandy Shore State Park.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Watertown Regional Airport Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) recorded a peak gust of 68 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Codington County Emergency Manager called in to report at least 40 large pines had been uprooted or knocked over along the south side of Lake Kampeska. One of these trees fell on a substation and power was knocked out to portions of Watertown for a few hours.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter reported that hay bales had been rolled over 100 ft across a field with thunderstorm winds. The nearby ASOS at Watertown Regional Airport recorded a peak wind gust of 68 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter reported numerous tree branches up to 6 inches in diameter had come down. Some had blown nearly 100 feet across into a field.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Codington County Emergency Manager reported multiple trees had been snapped due to strong thunderstorm winds. An empty grain bin had also been blown open at this location.
Flood Flood
Due to heavy rainfall from persistent thunderstorms, the South Branch Tributary of Mud Creek near Rauville went into flood and crested at 5.13 feet, 1.13 feet above flood stage. This was the 5th highest crest on record for this location. The COOP observer in Rauville measured 3.6…
Flood Flood
Mud Creek near Rauville would briefly flood on the morning of July 28th, cresting at 9.15 or 0.15 inches above flood stage, before quickly dropping below flood stage.
Flood Flood
Willow Creek near Watertown would go into flood due to heavy rain from persistent thunderstorms. The creek would crest July 28th during the mid-morning hours, dropping below flood during the afternoon of the same day. A crest of 10.64 feet was observed, 0.64 feet above flood stag…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Baseball-sized hail was reported near Lake Kampeska. Numerous additional reports of golf-ball sized hail were received from in and around Watertown.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 1 |
| 2025 | 51 | 2 |
| 2024 | 28 | 0 |
| 2023 | 40 | 1 |
| 2022 | 47 | 1 |
| 2021 | 19 | 0 |
| 2020 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 35 | 1 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 25 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 17 | 0 |
| 2013 | 20 | 0 |
| 2012 | 28 | 0 |
| 2011 | 23 | 0 |
| 2010 | 23 | 0 |
| 2009 | 20 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 31 | 0 |
| 2006 | 21 | 0 |
| 2005 | 19 | 3 |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 1 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 1 |
| 1999 | 16 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 1 |
| 1997 | 21 | 2 |
| 1996 | 27 | 4 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 7 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 | 2 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | 6 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 8 | 2 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 6 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 6 | 1 |
| 1968 | 3 | 2 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 5 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 3 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 0 |
| 1958 | 3 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 4 | 0 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Codington County, measured to its path.
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